This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient composition of an organic fertilizer derived from sugarcane sludge (mudpress), its impact on selected soil properties and efficacy in improving cowpea yield. The study was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Isabela State University, San Mariano campus, from February to April 2017. The organic fertilizer was a mixture of mudpress, poultry manure and carbonized rice hull in a 6:3:1 ratio. The efficacy of this fertilizer on cowpea was evaluated through treatments: 20-40-45 kg nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) ha-1 as per the recommended rate, 20 bags of organic fertilizer ha-1 and combinations of organic fertilizer with full and half rates of inorganic fertilizer, with the untreated plants that served as the control. The organic fertilizer contained substantial amounts of NPK, which significantly impacted soil pH, organic matter content and microbial count. The combination of organic fertilizer with full and half rates of inorganic fertilizer resulted in the highest cowpea yields, ranging from 5.80 to 5.86 t ha-1. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of organic fertilizer in improving soil quality and enhancing crop yield, highlighting the potential for agricultural waste to be transformed into productive resources. The findings promote efficient management and utilization of agricultural wastes, providing a sustainable solution to environmental concerns while enhancing agricultural productivity. The technology and data generated can support organic agriculture initiatives (RA 10068) and solid waste management (RA 9003), benefiting researchers, organic advocates and farmers in the Philippines.

Pulses, including peas, have long been essential to the human diet due to their high carbohydrate, protein and other nutrient content. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in pulse consumption's health benefits beyond nutrition. The systematic review focuses on the established and potential health benefits of eating peas, Pisum sativum L. and specifically green and yellow cotyledon dry peas, often known as smooth peas or field peas. Thus, the review regarding biochemical composition, nutritional aspects and health advantages of pea will be beneficial for new researchers. The outer pod comprises around 35-40 % of the pea's weight. Globally, considerable amounts of pea residue are generated, the vast majority of which is used as animal feed. Pea pods not only offer an appropriate quality of dietary fibre, but also supply a significant amount of proteins, carbohydrates and minerals. The pea pods contain significant amounts of polyphenols, including phenolic acids such as 5-caffeoylquinic acid and flavanols such as catechin and epicatechin. Pea pods provide pharmacological advantages, including antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, Reno protective, reproductive-protective, antimicrobial and α-amylase inhibitory action. The trend towards a healthier lifestyle has raised concerns about a fibre-rich diet. The review concludes that pea pods have the potential for usage in the bakery and ready-to-eat product industries. When pea pod powder is added to food products, it has been shown to improve nutritional value and structural integrity. Additionally, suggestions for improving pea use are given in order to support the grain's growth into a useful and sustainable crop. Peas and their constituent parts can be improved further to provide more value and nourishing food materials. This study summarises the relevant literature and available data on the nutritional profile, pharmacological advantages and application in functional meals. Pea pods' prospective applications outside of the food industry have also been detailed. Despite extensive studies on the nutritional profile of garden peas, comprehensive evaluations linking specific biochemical constituents to their health-promoting effects remain limited. Further research is needed to identify bioactive compounds and elucidate their mechanisms for functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Rice cultivation in coastal river deltaic regions faces increasing challenges due to declining on-time river water availability, soil salinity and stagnating yields, which limit income growth for smallholder farmers. This study hypothesised that integrating water-saving irrigation, hydrogel application and intercropping could significantly improve aerobic rice performance and economic returns in coastal conditions. A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2022 at Karaikal, a coastal region in southern India, to assess the effects of two irrigation methods (drip irrigation and surface irrigation), two hydrogel levels (with and without application) and four intercropping systems (no intercrop, black gram, green gram and onion) on aerobic rice. The treatments were arranged in two separate two-factor randomised block designs under each irrigation method. The results showed that hydrogel application increased the grain yield of aerobic rice by 2.5 % from 4807 to 4923 kg ha-1. Surface irrigation produced 28 % higher yield of aerobic rice (5464 kg ha-1) than drip irrigation (4266 kg ha-1). The most profitable treatment was surface-irrigated aerobic rice intercropped with black gram and supplemented with hydrogel, which achieved the highest gross return (₹ 219450 ha-1), net return ( ₹ 162103 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.83). Here, we demonstrate that the strategic integration of surface irrigation, hydrogel application and legume intercropping can substantially improve rice yield and profitability under coastal conditions. This is the first study to evaluate such combined interventions for aerobic rice in the deltaic ecosystem of Karaikal. The findings offer a practical and scalable approach to enhance resource-use efficiency, income and sustainability in climate-vulnerable rice farming systems.

Submergence is a significant natural disaster that severely reduces rice yield. The research was conducted at Gazipur Agricultural University, involving 48 rice genotypes that were tested under 14 and 21 of Days of Submergence (DS) to identify rice submergence tolerance genotypes based on morpho-physiological characteristics in the F2 population. The experiment employed a split-plot design with three replications. Significant variation was observed in all traits under submergence, with 21 DS showing a greater detrimental effect than 14 DS. The phenotypic coefficient of variance exceeded the genotypic coefficient of variance for all traits, with most traits exhibiting moderate to high heritability (30–60 %). High Genetic Advance (GA) was noted in days-to-maturity (54.02), Plant Height (PH) (61.57) and Plants per Hill (PPH) (87.36). Grain yield showed significant positive correlations with straw yield (r = 0.571**, r = 0.501**, r = 0.516**), Filled Grain per Panicle (FGP) (r = 0.564**, r = 0.425**, r = 0.770**) and PPH (r = 0.729**, r = 0.511**, r = 0.509**) in control, 14 DS and 21 DS conditions. Principal components analysis revealed that five components accounted for 78.45 % of the total variability, with biplot illustrations depicting genotype-trait relationships. A hierarchical-clustering heatmap classified the genotypes into distinct clusters based on the stress tolerance index. The genotypes SR004, SR005, SR006, SR008, SR010, SR012, SR015, SR016, SR018, SR022, SR026, SR030, SR032, SR033, SR034, SR036, SR038, SR039, SR041, SR044, SR045 and SR047 exhibited tolerance under both 14 and 21 DS.

Soil fertility variability is an important factor that affects nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity in varied landscapes. This variability stands out in semi-arid regions. Here, using general fertilizer recommendations often causes nutrient imbalances, lowers soil health and results in lower crop yields. In this context, present study was conducted in Bankanahalli micro-watershed of Mandya district of Karnataka state to evaluate the spatial variability of soil physico-chemical properties and develop site-specific nutrient management strategies. A total of 45 gridbased soil samples were collected and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P₂O₅) and potassium (K₂O). Geostatistical approaches, including semivariogram modelling and kriging interpolation, were employed to generate spatial variability maps. Best-fitted semivariogram models were identified using RMSE, nugget/sill ratio and range values, highlighting strong to moderate spatial dependence across nutrients. The results revealed that soil pH ranged from slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline, while organic carbon (OC) content ranged from low to medium. Available nitrogen (N) and potassium (K₂O) were deficient, whereas phosphorus (P₂O₅) was relatively abundant across the study area. A correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA) biplot were developed to examine interrelationships among soil parameters. Spatial maps identified nutrient-deficient and nutrient-rich zones, while correlation and PCA analyses showed strong relationships of pH and EC with K₂O and OC with N availability. Based on these outputs, nutrient management strategies were developed under Low-High (L-M-H) and very low-very high (VL-L-M-H-VH) classification schemes, demonstrating significant potential for fertilizer savings and improved input efficiency. Integrating spatial variability analysis with land resource inventory (LRI)-based nutrient management strategies, along with green manuring and mulching, was effective in maintaining soil health and boosting crop productivity within the micro-watershed.

The poor quality irrigation water is a major cause of the development of soil salinity and reduced agricultural production in the arid and semiarid areas. Although pearl millet and wheat are moderately salinity-tolerant crops, their productivity is affected by salinity to a large extent. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and yield attributes of pearl millet and wheat under saline water irrigation during 2022-23 and 2023-24. The experiment consisted of twelve treatments, viz. T1 [(75 % recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF)], T2 (100 % RDF), T3 [75 % RDF + ST-3 (Azotobacter chroococcum)], T4 (100 % RDF + ST-3), T5 [75 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 biogas slurry (BGS) + ST-3], T6 (100 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 BGS + ST-3), T7 [75 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost (VC) + ST-3], T8 (100 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 VC + ST-3), T9 [75 % RDF + 10 t ha-1 farm yard manure (FYM) + biomix], T10 (100 % RDF + 10 t ha-1 FYM + biomix), T11 (75 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 VC + biomix) and T12 (100 % RDF + 2.5 t ha-1 VC + biomix). Results revealed that the number of effective tillers per meter row length, earhead/spike length and the plant height increased with integrated nutrient management and maximum values of these parameters were observed under T10. However, these parameters decreased under the sole application of inorganic fertilisers under saline water irrigation in both pearl millet and wheat crops. The highest grain and stover yield, viz. 27.43 and 78.19 q ha-1 of pearl millet; grain and straw yield of wheat, viz. 38.66 and 55.18 q ha-1 was also reported under treatment T10.

An integrated farming system (IFS) is a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture that optimizes resource utilization while ensuring economic viability. The value chain in IFS encompasses several key stages, including input supply, production, processing and marketing, each playing a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and profitability. Effective resource utilization within IFS ensures optimal use of land, water, labour and inputs, minimizing waste and maximizing productivity. The economic benefits of value addition are significant, as they enhance product quality, extend shelf life and create diversified income streams for farmers. Managing the value chain strategically is essential for improving supply chain efficiency, reducing losses and ensuring better price realization for producers. In the livestock component of IFS, a well-structured value chain supports feed management, disease control, quality assurance and market access, leading to higher productivity and profitability. Similarly, in aquaculture and fisheries, value chain integration strengthens sustainable harvesting, efficient processing and reliable distribution, improving both output and economic returns. Agro-tourism integration within IFS provides additional value by promoting farm-based experiences, attracting tourists and generating supplementary income while fostering rural development. Risk management strategies within the value-added chain, such as diversification, insurance mechanisms and technological innovations, play a critical role in mitigating uncertainties related to climate change, market fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. The study takes a forward-looking approach by highlighting how IFS can evolve through stronger value chain integration. Emphasis is placed on enhancing resource-use efficiency, promoting on-farm value addition and aligning production with market demands. Overall, the study outlines how IFS can serve as a future-ready model for sustainable and profitable agriculture.

Quality irrigation water is essential in semi-arid and coastal regions for sustainable crop production. The quality of irrigation water has deteriorated nowadays due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and overexploitation of groundwater. Therefore, the study assessed groundwater quality of the Nainarkoil block of Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, where agriculture is the predominant economic activity. A total of 50 geocoded samples were collected and analysed for hydrochemical parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), major cations (sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+)) and anions like (CO32-, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42). Irrigation quality indices like sodium percentage, Kelly's Index, sodium adsorption ratio, permeability index and residual sodium carbonate were computed to determine overall suitability for irrigation. The Geographic Information System tool ArcGIS was employed to create a spatial distribution map of quality parameters, which offers a clear visual representation of groundwater characteristics. The results revealed wide variations in suitability with several locations exhibiting elevated salinity and hardness. Eighty percent of samples exceeded the allowable limits for pH and EC respectively. Where 56 % and 64 % of locations had Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations respectively, above the limit. Na+ and K2+ ions surpassed the limits of WHO in 78 % and 26 % of samples respectively. Regarding anions, 76 %, 54 % and 68 % of the samples crossed the limits for CO3+, HCO3+ and Cl- respectively. According to the findings, the majority of groundwater samples exceeded the WHO’s standard limits, which are not appropriate for irrigation, crop production and findings highlight the need for regular monitoring and sustainable water management practices.

Organic agriculture presents a promising pathway for sustainable farming, responding to the growing global demand driven by increasing health consciousness and environmental awareness. Owing to its diverse agro-climatic conditions and long-standing traditional farming systems, India possesses significant potential for growth in organic cultivation. However, the sector is constrained by challenges such as market concentration, price competitiveness, complex regulatory frameworks and limited product diversification in comparison to global competitors. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of growth patterns, export instability and geographic concentration in India’s organic exports. Using quantitative methods, SWOT analysis and a detailed policy review, the research identifies actionable strategies to address current limitations. Porter’s Five Forces analysis assesses competitiveness, while key performance indicators (KPIs) track progress. The study proposes a strategic framework designed to streamline regulatory processes, diversify target markets and enhance value-added products within the organic products sector. These measures aim to enhance India's competitiveness and sustainability in the global organic marketplace. With the right strategies and policies, India can lead the global organic market, reach USD 5 billion in exports by 2030 and promote both ecological balance and rural development.