Banaras Hindu University

About: Banaras Hindu University is a education organization based out in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 11858 authors who have published 23917 publications receiving 464677 citations. The organization is also known as: Kashi Hindu Vishvavidyalay & Benares Hindu University.

Carbon and phosphorus in the soil biomass of some tropical soils of India

Abstract: Microbial biomass C and P were measured for six tropical soils. Biomass C ranged from 149 to 667 μg g−1 soil and biomass P from 17 to 35 μg g−1 soil and the two were linearly related with the soil biomass having a mean P concentration of 3.5%. Soil biomass accounted for 2.5–5.6% of total soil organic C and 9.2–19.2% of the total soil organic P. The amount of biomass P was positively related with NaHCO3-extraclable soil inorganic P. P concentration in biomass on the other hand exhibited an inverse relationship with NaHCO3-extractable soil Pi.

Recycling of Organic Wastes in Agriculture: An Environmental Perspective

Abstract: Inadequate organic waste management leads to a plethora of problems such as environmental pollution, eutrophication, esthetic damage to urban landscape, greenhouse gases emission and effects on human health. Unwise and non-scientific disposal of wastes not only poses a grave threat to environmental quality but also results in loss of economic value of wastes. Since organic wastes are an abundant pool of organic matter and valuable plant nutrients, agricultural recycling of these wastes appears to be a promising alternative enabling value addition and their resourceful utilization. Land application of organic wastes stabilized through techniques such as composting, vermicomposting and anaerobic digestion yielding excellent organic fertilizer like compost augments soil fertility and crop yield. Additionally, the practice incorporates indirect environmental benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, land conservation due to reduced landfilling of wastes and substitute to chemical fertilizers. Economically also, agricultural utilization of organic wastes reduces the cost of landfilling, transportation of wastes, imports and production cost of chemical fertilizers and opens avenues for rural employment. However, effective utilization of organic wastes for agricultural purposes requires thorough and strict risk assessment to prevent the adverse effects of contaminants like heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants to ensure agro-environmental sustainability. The present article aims to enlist the positives and negatives associated with this practice enabling to devise an approach or strategy deriving maximum environmental and economic benefits.