Farmyard Manure Research Articles

Kinetics of lead sorption by farm yard manure

Aim: Removal of lead through adsorption and immobilization using processed or composted farm wastes is one of the effective methods to reclaim contaminated waste water. This study deals with the lead removal potential of farm yard manure (FYM) from contaminated waste water. Methodology: A batch incubation experiment was conducted to study the effect of sorbent dosage, initial lead concentration, and incubation intervals on lead adsorption and desorption and the data was fitted to various kinetic models. Results: The rate of lead adsorption increased with increasing sorbent dosage and time with a mean adsorption rate of 78.1%. Fitting the adsorption data to various kinetic models revealed that, pseudo second-order kinetic model described the adsorption process better than other models and chemisorption was the dominant mechanism of lead removal. The lead desorption rate also decreased with sorbent dosage and lead concentration at successive time intervals with a mean of 0.37%, which further confirmed its efficiency in lead removal. Interpretation: Farm yard manure could be utilised as an effective biosorbent for removing lead from wastewaters. Key words: Adsorption, Farm yard manure, Kinetic models, Lead

Enhancing Growth and Yield of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.): Influence of Organic Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer Applications

The indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers depletes soil fertility and reduces crop yields. Limited information exists on nutrient management for Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.). A field experiment conducted from 2016-17 to 2019-20 at Rahuri (MS) evaluated the effects of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer levels on Tulsi yield. The randomized block design (RBD) experiment included 12 treatments combining chemical fertilizers (N:P2O5:K2O) at three levels (30:20:10, 40:30:20, and 50:40:30 kg ha⁻¹) with or without farmyard manure (FYM) at 5 or 10 t ha⁻¹, alongside FYM-only and control treatments. The results showed that, the treatment T9 (50:40:30 kg ha⁻¹ + FYM 10 t ha⁻¹) significantly improved plant height, branches per plant, fresh and dry herbage yield, and soil nutrient status (N, P, and K) over the control. T9 also achieved the highest economic returns with a superior B:C ratio, closely followed by T8 (40:30:20 kg ha⁻¹ + FYM 10 t ha⁻¹). This study concludes that combining higher inorganic fertilizer levels with FYM (10 t ha⁻¹) optimizes growth, yield, and soil fertility in Tulsi cultivation.

Influence of Seed Priming, Plant Geometry and Conjunctive Use of Fertilizers, FYM and Vermicompost on Productivity and Economics of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)

Background: Nutrients requirement of crops can easily be met by the application various fertilizers alone but in long run their continuous use deteriorate soil health and may retard the productivity of crops also. Further cost escalation and timely availability of fertilizers and other inputs lead to uneconomic production. Integrated nutrient management (INM) practices including reduced levels of fertilizers with locally available organic sources of plant nutrients, low cost and no cost inputs may be answer to the problems. Very meagre work has been done in past on different aspects on green gram crop. Present study aimed at evaluating and quantify the performance of summer green gram (Vigna radiata L.) crop as affected by seed hydropriming, plant geometry and nutrient applications through fertilizers, FYM, vermicompost and their combinations for maximizing the productivity and economic viability. Methods: The low cost seed hydropriming, no cost treatments of 2 plant geometries of (i) G1 (30´10 cm) and (ii) G2 (30´20 cm) and 5 treatments of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices (N) viz; (i) N1 (20+40+20 kg NPK/ha (RDF), (ii) N2 (100% RDF equivalent FYM), (iii) N3(100% RDF equivalent vermicompost) (iv) N4(50% RDF from fertilizer+50% RDF equivalent FYM) and (v) N5 (50% RDF from fertilizer+50% RDF equivalent vermicompost) were evaluated in field experiments using split-split plot design having 3 replications. Result: The main conclusion is that practices of seed hydropriming and planting geometry of 30´10 cm proved superior for realizing maximum productivity and profitability. Integrated application of fertilizer equivalent to 50% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) coupled with 50% nutrients through organic sources like farmyard manure and or vermicompost (treatments N4 and N5) proved most effective over organic sources alone (FYM and vermicompost through treatments N2 and N3) and 100% RDF through fertilizers (N1) for summer green gram cultivation on sustainable basis. The results of the present work will be useful for majority of farmers particularly pulse crops growers to bridge the gap between present level of productivity and potentially realizable productivity of moong bean crop on cost effective and sustainable basis.

Determining the Effect of Different Organic Nutrient Sources on the Growth and Yield of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers is a common practice which is hazardous both for soil health and environment. Chemical fertilizers have been widely used due to their immediate availability of nutrients; however, their long-term effects on soil and crop sustainability necessitate alternatives such as organic fertilizers. It has been more than three decades that global agriculture has been depicted towards organic agriculture owing to sustainability and reduced environmental effects. A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus from December 2022 to February 2023, with the objective to study the effect of various sources of organic manure on the growth and yield of radish. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Design using 7 treatments (Control, Farm Yard Manure(FYM), Poultry Manure(PM), Goat Manure, FYM + Poultry Manure, FYM + Goat Manure, Poultry Manure + Goat Manure) with 3 replications of each. Tokinashi variety of radish was used in the experiment. Radish is an important root vegetable known for its nutritional value and quick growth cycle, making it a key crop for studying the impacts of organic manure. Experiment was done in field with the plot size of (2 x 1) m² and spacings of 30 cm x 20 cm with the total land area of 90 m². The growth and yield of radish were significantly affected by the different treatments. The highest total root yield (204.33) and biological yield (263.67) was found in Poultry manure. The study suggested that the application of poultry manure was more beneficial and resulted in significantly better growth and yield performance of radish.

Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies for Red Gram, Sorghum and Blackgram-Based Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was conducted at the National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, Pudukkottai District, during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 to evaluate integrated nutrient management strategies for redgram-based intercropping systems. The study included two intercropping treatments: (I₁) Redgram + Sorghum (1:2) and (I₂) Redgram + Blackgram (1:2), along with three organic fertilizer treatments: (F₁) Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), (F₂) RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, and (F₃) RDF + Farmyard Manure (FYM) @ 5 t ha-1. Two biofertilizer treatments were also evaluated: (B₁) without Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) and (B₂) with PSB. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The study utilized the red gram variety VBN 3, intercropped with the sorghum variety K 11 and the black gram variety VBN 6. Results indicated that the redgram + blackgram (1:2) intercropping system produced the highest redgram plant height (347.6 cm), branches per plant (21.2), and number of pods (295.8 per plant). This system also achieved the highest redgram seed yield (858 kg ha-1), redgram grain equivalent yield (1139 kg ha-1), and benefit-cost ratio (2.69). The application of RDF + vermicompost at 2.5 t ha-1 produced the tallest redgram plants (348.8 cm) and the highest number of branches (21.6), with significantly higher pod numbers (300.6 per plant) and seed yield (856 kg ha-1). PSB application further enhanced seed yields, with the highest redgram grain equivalent yield (1122 kg ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (2.76). The study concluded that the combination of redgram + blackgram intercropping, RDF + vermicompost, and PSB application offers an effective integrated nutrient management strategy, optimizing both grain yields and profitability.

Synergistic Impact of Biochar and Organic Amendments on Field Bean (Vicia faba) Growth and Soil Characteristics

Many studies have explored the effects of various biochar types and their combinations with inorganic fertilizers, but few have focused on identifying the most effective organic amendments when used with biochar in sandy loam soil. This study aims to determine the impact of different biochar doses combined with organic amendments on plant growth and yield (Vicia faba) in sandy loam soil. Biochar doses of 15, 20, and 25 t/ha were applied in combination with organic amendments such as farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), Ghanajeevamruth (GA), and their various combinations. The effectiveness of these treatments was compared to the use of biochar alone. Results indicated that the combination of biochar and organic amendments significantly increased average pod number (by 36.19% to 88.63%) and pod weight (by 24.11% to 83.18%) compared to biochar alone. Higher biochar doses consistently resulted in increased pH levels in the soil, regardless of the organic amendment used. Additionally, biochar combined with organic amendments led to higher nutrient levels, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, compared to biochar alone. The study concluded that biochar, particularly in combination with Ghanajeevamruth, had superior effects on plant growth and yield. The choice of amendment and biochar dose significantly influenced soil pH, nutrient availability, bulk density, and water holding capacity. These findings confirm the potential of combining biochar with organic amendments to enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity, offering valuable strategies for sustainable nutrient management in sandy loam soils.

Meta-analysis on the Effects of Organic Fertilizer Application on Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soils

To explore the direct and indirect effects of organic fertilizer application on greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils, a total of 1228 groups of data from 129 published studies were selected. Meta-analysis was used to analyze the effects of organic fertilizer on global greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils and their influencing factors. Meanwhile, a structural equation model （SEM） was further constructed to quantify and determine the causal relationships between the factors. The results showed that, overall, compared with those under no fertilization, organic fertilizer substitution increased CO2 emissions by 70.73% （lnR： 0.53, 95%CI： 0.45-0.62）, CH4 emissions by 52.58% （lnR： 0.42, 95%CI： 0.26-0.59）, and N2O emissions by 208.14% （lnR： 1.13, 95%CI： 1.04-1.21）, respectively. Compared with those under the application of inorganic fertilizers, the substitution of organic fertilizers increased CO2 emissions by 19.24% （lnR： 0.18, 95%CI： 0.13-0.22）, CH4 emissions by 27.72% （lnR： 0.24, 95%CI： 0.15-0.34）, and N2O emissions by -3.66% （lnR：-0.04, 95%CI：-0.11- 0.04）. Under the application of organic fertilizer, the dryland system had the greatest impact on both CO2 and N2O emissions, and the rice system had the most significant effect on CH4 emission effects. The average CO2 growth rate was highest in silty soils, and sandy soils had a greater effect on the average growth rates of N2O and CH4. The average growth rate of CO2 and N2O was extremely large under straw substitution compared to that under commercial organic fertilizer and biogas. The substitution of farmyard manure had significant CH4 emissions from soil promotion. Greenhouse gas emissions were significantly increased under the nitrogen fertilizer and organic fertilizer treatments. The SEM showed that mean annual temperature （MAT） was the most important environmental determinant of CO2 and N2O emissions, in which soil CO2 emissions were significantly positively correlated with MAT （P < 0.01） and soil N2O emissions were negatively correlated with MAT. The main environmental determinants of CH4 emissions in dryland, grassland, and rice systems were annual precipitation （MAP） and mean annual temperature （MAT）, respectively, which were both significantly and positively correlated with each other （P < 0.05）. This research can provide a scientific basis for optimizing fertilizer management and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from farmland.

Wheat cultivar mixtures enhance the delivery of agroecosystem services compared to monocultures under contrasted tillage intensities and fertilization

AbstractWheat cultivar mixtures provide a more complex and functional cropping system than monocultures. Their functionality may result in the delivery of agroecosystem services. However, research on cultivar mixture performance has mainly been done in controlled environments. Greenhouses and laboratory experiments do not account for environmental or agronomic factors that may influence the polyculture’s functionality. To fill this research gap, we set up a novel strip-split-block experimental design with three factors (wheat treatment, tillage, and fertilization) in a field long-term trial. We assessed the performance of the modern wheat cultivar Florence-Aurora and the traditional cultivars Xeixa (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum) and Forment (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) monocultures and their mixture in providing aphid and weed control and promoting crop yield under contrasting tillage practices (moldboard ploughing vs. chisel ploughing) and fertilization (farmyard manure applied or not applied). We analyzed aphid abundance, number of aphids per tiller, parasitism rate, weed abundance and richness, and crop yield. Additionally, we examined wheat establishment, cover, phenology, and height for cultivar characterization. We observed that soil management practices affected some aspects of the cropping system. The wheat cultivars differed in their aphid susceptibility and weed suppression ability, with Florence-Aurora being less suppressant to weeds and more prone to aphid infestation. Most remarkably, our study shows for the first time that mixing wheat cultivars with distinguished traits enhances associational resistance for aphid and weed control. These benefits were specifically important under high weed infestations generated by reduced tillage. Moreover, the yield of Florence-Aurora monoculture and the mixture was found to be influenced by tillage and fertilization. Our study underscores how soil management practices impact the functionality of cultivar mixtures. This emphasizes the need for further field research to better understand the complexity of farming conditions that influence the delivery of agroecosystem services by cultivar mixtures.

Characterization of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) Compost for Plant Nutrient Contents at Ginir District of Bale Zone, South-Eastern Ethiopia

Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) characterization in the southeast of Ethiopia, in the Oromia Region, the compost for Major Plant Nutrient Contents experiment was carried out in the Ginir District of the Bale Zone. As a result, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality and nutrient content of compost made from parthenium combined with wheat byproduct and farmyard manure. Before they began to bloom, the parthenium plants were harvested and cut into smaller pieces. As a result, parthenium compost was made using three different methods, including parthenium biomass plus farmyard manure, parthenium biomass plus crop residue, and parthenium biomass plus both farmyard manure and crop residue. Important chemical characteristics like pH, EC, OC, TN, available P, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, and Na) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) were examined using standard practice laboratory techniques. The compost had high plant nutrients and significantly varied among the three Parthenium compost preparation techniques, according to the results of the final laboratory analysis of the prepared and harvested Parthenium compost. As a result, Parthenium compost provides multiple benefits, including high nutrient content, weed control, and the general environmental friendliness of using organic fertilizers.

Assessment of Integrated Crop Management for Enhancing Mango Yield through Front Line Demonstrations in Sangareddy District, Telangana, India

The study assessed the impact of Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices on mango yield and profitability through frontline demonstrations conducted in Sangareddy district, Telangana, during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. The findings revealed a total yield gap of 63.5% between potential and actual mango yields, comprising a 27.75% gap between demonstration plots and farmers practice plots and a 35.8% technological gap. High adoption rates were recorded for key practices, such as water management during flowering and fruiting (93.3%), harvesting methods (90.0%), the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (83.3%), cultivating legumes as intercrops (80.0%) and applying the recommended amount of farmyard manure (76.6%). Additionally, adoption rates for mango-specific sprays (70.0%) and growth regulator sprays (40.0%) increased significantly following the demonstrations. The demonstration showed a 43.0% increase in mango yield, with demonstration plots outperforming traditional practices in both productivity and profitability. Economic analysis showed higher net returns and benefit-cost (B:C) ratios in the demonstration plots compared to farmers conventional practices. These results underscore the positive impact of ICM practices on mango productivity and profitability, emphasizing the need for adopting improved technologies to promote sustainable mango cultivation.

Studies on Effect of Farm Yard Manure and Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. G-363

This study was conducted during the winter season of 2020–2021 at the Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Plant Sciences, Afghanistan National Agriculture Science & Technology University (ANSTU) in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The experiment evaluated the response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to different applications of NPK fertilizers and their combinations with farmyard manure (FYM) in terms of growth and yield. The experiment included nine treatments, each occupying an area of 2.25 m², arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Fertilizer treatments included applications of 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK and 140:70:70 kg/ha NPK, along with combinations of these with 10 t/ha and 15 t/ha of FYM. Data analyzed using SAS software revealed that both chemical fertilizers (NPK) and their combinations with FYM significantly influenced growth parameters and yield. The highest plant height (30.02 cm), bulb weight (40.71 g), and average yield (10.69 t/ha) were recorded in treatment T3 (FYM 15 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). The maximum leaf length (25.19 cm) was observed in treatment T6 (FYM 10 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). Growth data collected at different intervals (30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 days after sowing) indicated that the maximum leaf length (32.41 cm), number of leaves (8.69), and plant height (40.26 cm) were recorded at 110 days after sowing. Growth and yield parameters were also analyzed across three replications. Among these, replication one (R1) exhibited the best growth parameters, including a leaf length of 25.36 cm, number of leaves of 6.47, and plant height of 30.67 cm. Replication three (R3) showed the highest yield at 9.69 t/ha.

Productivity Analysis of Organic Garlic Production in Bhutan

The study evaluates factors affecting the productivity of organic and conventional garlic production in Bhutan. Employing simple random selection, array of information was collected from 85 organic and 175 conventional garlic farmers respectively with a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of socioeconomic, cost of garlic production, and factors influencing the productivity of garlic. Productivity analysis revealed that seed, farmyard manure, age, and experience significantly influenced organic garlic productivity. Similarly, cultivated area, seed, farmyard manure, literacy, and source of farmyard manure influenced the productivity of conventional garlic production. The study concluded that improving the productivity of garlic farming can be achieved by maximizing the use of available land, expanding the area under garlic cultivation, and using high-quality garlic seeds and farmyard manure. Furthermore, continuous re-training for experienced farmers is crucial to update their farming knowledge and retain them in production. These insights can be useful to policymakers and stakeholders in supporting garlic farmers and enhancing their economic benefits.

Influence of organic sources of nutrient on mungbean performance in South-eastern Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 at the organic farming block of the Agricultural Research Station, Ummedganj, Agriculture University, Kota (Rajasthan), to study the effects of organic sources of nutrient on mungbean growth and yield in the mungbean-wheat cropping system of southeastern Rajasthan. The experiment included eight treatments: T1 , Absolute control; T2 , 100% N by farm yard manure (FYM) + cow urine @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 days after sowing (DAS); T3, 100% N by FYM + panchagavya @ 5% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T4 , 75% N by FYM + 25% N by vermicompost + vermiwash @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T5 , 50% N by FYM + 50% N by vermicompost + vermiwash @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T6 , 75% N by FYM + jeevamrut @ 500 liters/ha at sowing + vermiwash @ 5% spray @ 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T7 , 100% N by FYM + NPK consortia of biofertilizers + Zinc solubilising bacteria (ZSB) each @ 62.5 ml/kg seed inoculation + amrita sanjeevani @ 500 liters/ha at sowing, 15 and 30 DAS and 75% N by FYM + NPK consortia of biofertilizers @ 62.5 ml/kg seed inoculation + sasyagavya @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS (T8 ). The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with 3 replications. The 2-years pooled results showed that the treatment T5 produced significantly higher values for plant height (54.62 cm), number of branches/plant (9.65), total number of effective nodules/plant (31.65), fresh and dry weight of root nodules/plant (119.94 mg and 23.98 mg, respectively), number of pods/plant (26.28), number of seeds/pod (9.39), pod length (8.17 cm), test weight (34.99 g), seed yield (1242 kg/ha), and straw yield (2,204 kg/ha) compared to the absolute control. These results were statistically on par with the T3 and T7 treatments, and the seed yield was found at par with T3 in the pooled analysis. Hence, the application of 50% N by FYM and 50% N by vermicompost, along with vermiwash spray, is highly effective mungbean yield in the South Eastern Rajasthan for enhancing.

Influence of organic sources of nutrient on mungbean performance in South-eastern Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 at the organic farming block of the Agricultural Research Station, Ummedganj, Agriculture University, Kota (Rajasthan), to study the effects of organic sources of nutrient on mungbean growth and yield in the mungbean-wheat cropping system of southeastern Rajasthan. The experiment included eight treatments: T1 , Absolute control; T2 , 100% N by farm yard manure (FYM) + cow urine @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 days after sowing (DAS); T3, 100% N by FYM + panchagavya @ 5% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T4 , 75% N by FYM + 25% N by vermicompost + vermiwash @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T5 , 50% N by FYM + 50% N by vermicompost + vermiwash @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T6 , 75% N by FYM + jeevamrut @ 500 liters/ha at sowing + vermiwash @ 5% spray @ 15, 30, and 45 DAS; T7 , 100% N by FYM + NPK consortia of biofertilizers + Zinc solubilising bacteria (ZSB) each @ 62.5 ml/kg seed inoculation + amrita sanjeevani @ 500 liters/ha at sowing, 15 and 30 DAS and 75% N by FYM + NPK consortia of biofertilizers @ 62.5 ml/kg seed inoculation + sasyagavya @ 10% spray at 15, 30, and 45 DAS (T8 ). The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with 3 replications. The 2-years pooled results showed that the treatment T5 produced significantly higher values for plant height (54.62 cm), number of branches/plant (9.65), total number of effective nodules/plant (31.65), fresh and dry weight of root nodules/plant (119.94 mg and 23.98 mg, respectively), number of pods/plant (26.28), number of seeds/pod (9.39), pod length (8.17 cm), test weight (34.99 g), seed yield (1242 kg/ha), and straw yield (2,204 kg/ha) compared to the absolute control. These results were statistically on par with the T3 and T7 treatments, and the seed yield was found at par with T3 in the pooled analysis. Hence, the application of 50% N by FYM and 50% N by vermicompost, along with vermiwash spray, is highly effective mungbean yield in the South Eastern Rajasthan for enhancing.

Effect of conjoint application of coated urea and organic manure on growth, productivity, profitability and nutrient acquisition of rice (Oryza sativa)

A 2 years field experiment was carried out at experimental farm of BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal during kharif season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the effect of combined application of coated urea and organic manure on performance of rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replication and treatment comprised of five treatment combination such as T1- Control plot (without N); T2- 100% RDN through neem coated urea (NCU); T3- 75% RDN through NCU + 25% RDN through FYM (farm yard manure); T4- 100% RDN through polymer sulphur coated urea (PSCU); T5- 75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM. The results showed that 75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM have resulted in maximum growth attributes, yield components and yield of rice. The results showed that 75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM have resulted in maximum growth attributes viz. taller plants (110.80 cm), maximum number of effective tillers per square meter (415.90/m2), highest DMA (740.02 g/m2), LAI (4.47) and CGR (6.56 g/m2/day), highest yield components like panicle length (23.5 cm), panicle weight (9.95 g), number of filled grains per panicle (113), and test weight (21.30 g) and maximum grain yield (4.79 t/ha) and straw yield (5.53 t/ha). Similarly significant maximum amount of total nutrient uptake by crop (99.7, 40.1 and 208 kg/ha NPK), protein yield (418 kg/ha), gross returns (71.8 x 103 Rs/ha), net return (52 x 103 Rs/ha) and B: C ratio (2.73) was noticed under T5 treatment as compared to the other treatments. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt a holistic nutrient management approach T5 (75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM) in rice cultivation contribute to optimizing growth, yield, nutrient uptake and quality ultimately improving agricultural productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Soil Health: Concepts, Principles and Road Maps for Management in Regenerative Agriculture

Soil is a crucial nonrenewable resource for agriculture and has a direct impact on food security. However, the decline in crop yield post-Green Revolution suggested soil health deterioration due to soil degradation through harmful chemicals and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, restoring the health of the land and the environment is very important. In the last ten years, there has been a large increase in interest in soil health around the world. Many government, nongovernmental, and private sector groups are working on developing monitoring and assessment techniques. The concept of soil health is defined as the continuous capacity of soil to function as a vital ecosystem service supporting plants, animals, and humans. Biofertilizers, vermicompost, farmyard and green manure, and biopesticides are natural fertilizers that can be used instead of chemical fertilizers. This can help crops grow well while also being good for the land and climate. This brief study focused on soil health indicators such as soil biological, chemical, and physical properties and the urgent need for soil health restoration through the adoption of regenerative agriculture management practices.

Subsistence of soil through organic amelioration to enhance the growth, herbage yield and quality of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)

Trigonella foenum-graecum commonly called fenugreek is an important minor spice belonging to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Its seeds serve as a condiment to flavor food, while its leaves are commonly used as a vegetable. Given the widespread culinary use of fenugreek leaves, enhancing herbage yield and optimizing organic inputs for leaf production is essential. A study was conducted at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, HC & RI, TNAU, Periyakulam, to investigate the impact of organic manures and biostimulants on the growth, yield of herbage and quality of fenugreek. The results demonstrated that the combination of 25% nitrogen (N) from farmyard manure (FYM), 75% N from vermicompost and Panchagavya (3%) as a foliar spray significantly improved various growth parameters. Specifically, this treatment improved plant height (30.38 cm), the number of leaves branch-1 (9.42), the number of branches plant-1 (9.34) and herbage yield metrics, including yield plant-1 (2.85 g), yield plot-1 (2*2 m) (3.39 kg) and estimated herbage yield (16.95 tons ha-1) when compared to the control. Additionally, this treatment enhanced leaf quality by recording the highest contents of carbohydrate (6.63%), fiber (3.31%), iron (35.67 mg 100 g-1), calcium (178.36 mg 100 g-1) and protein (25.17g 100 g-1). Therefore, the application of vermicompost with FYM and Panchagavya is more effective for achieving maximum growth and yield levels compared to using these inputs individually.

Influence of Organic Nutrient on Growth Pattern, Flowering and Biochemical Profiling in Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] Var. Kashi Ganga

The present investigation entitled Influence of Organic Nutrient on Growth Pattern, Flowering and Biochemical Profiling in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)(Mol.)Standl.)Var. Kashi Ganga" was carried out with title at Organic Research Farm (ORF), Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Karguanji, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh during the Kharif-2022 with a view to identify the effects of different combinations of organic nutrition and its role in growth, yield and quality of Bottle gourd variety Kashi Ganga. The experiment was laid in Randomized block design with 8 treatments and 3 replications. Based on above experimental finding it may be concluded that the treatment T7 (33% Farmyard Manure + 33% Poultry Manure + 33% Vermicompost) was found to be best in the terms of morphological characters viz., Vine length (3.33m), number of branches (5.30), days to male flowering (34.76 days), days to female flowering (44.17 days) and days to first fruit picking (75.92 days) yield and quality of Bottle gourd. While the highest net return was found in the T7 and the highest B:C ratio was found in the same with 6.10.

Impact of organic inputs on quality traits and nutrient content of Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.): Heat map, PCA, correlation and path analysis

Nutrient deficiency in vegetables is a significant challenge for meeting the dietary needs of a growing population and improving the nutritional quality of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.) through organic inputs can address this issue. An experiment was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (2023-2024) aimed to enhance the nutritional quality of bottle gourd through organic methods. The research was conducted using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 11 treatment combinations and control, the study focused on improving its nutrient content, avoiding pesticide residues and supporting eco-friendly cultivation. Statistical analyses such as ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), path analysis, phenotypic correlation and heat map analysis were used to evaluate the effects of organic inputs on the nutritional quality and market value of bottle gourd, ensuring better health benefits. Results from Season I and Season II revealed that treatment T9, which incorporated (Farmyard manure, Vermicompost, Neem cake, 3G extract, five-leaf extract, Panchagavya, Fish fermented extract, Egg fermented extract, Bacillus substilis), treatment T9 yielded the highest nutritional quality in bottle gourd, including protein (0.0275%), ascorbic acid (8.61%) and total ash (6.27%). It also had the highest macro and micronutrient levels, such as phosphorus (19.1 mg/g), potassium (1.74 mg/g), calcium (30.2 mg/g), copper (0.066 mg/g), iron (0.038 mg/g) and selenium (0.318 mg/g), showcasing its superior nutritional profile. These findings suggest that organic inputs, particularly in treatment T9, significantly enhance the nutritional quality of bottle gourd, offering a viable eco-friendly alternative to conventional cultivation methods.

Iron release characteristics in groundnut growing red and black calcareous soils of Cuddalore district

The current study was assessed the nutrient release pattern of iron using different sources of iron fertilizer at various levels in groundnut-growing red and black calcareous soils of the Cuddalore district at regular sampling intervals. The study design was completely randomized block design with different levels of iron sulphate (FeSO4) at 25 and 50 kg ha-1, iron-enriched farmyard manure (Fe-EFYM) at 37.5 and 50 kg ha-1 and iron-ethylene diamine dihydroxy phenylacetic acid (Fe-EDDHA) at 1 and 5 kg ha-1 three replicates at different sampling intervals of incubation. The release pattern of iron was analyzed. The study revealed that the releasing rate of iron increased with the advancement of the incubation period up to 42 days and thereafter declined in both type of calcareous soil. The maximum release of iron was found with the application of 50 kg FeSO4 ha-1 as Fe- EFYM, which recorded mean values of 26.92 and 26.13 mg kg-1 on 42nd day in red and black calcareous soils, respectively. Application of Fe-EDDHA at 5 kg ha-1 recorded a gradual increase in DTPA iron availability from 7th day (17.35 mg kg-1 and 12.03 mg kg-1 in red and black calcareous soil, respectively) to 42nd day (21.49 mg kg-1 and 18.87 mg kg-1 in red and black calcareous soil respectively). Then it showed a steady decline in both calcareous soils. The results of the current study showed that the efficient usage of iron in both calcareous soils was greatly increased by the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers.