Counts Of Actinomycetes Research Articles

PGPM Tablets: A Sustainable Solution for Managing Foot Rot Disease in Black Pepper

Black pepper holds significant importance as a spice crop in Kerala, a state often referred to as the "Land of Spices" for its substantial contribution to India's economy through exports. Phytophthora foot rot poses a significant challenge in nurseries across the black pepper-growing regions of Kerala, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. A study was undertaken to develop and evaluate a tablet formulation of Plant Growth Promoting Microbes (PGPM) and other biocontrol agents for promoting growth and managing foot rot disease in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). The findings revealed that the PGPM tablet formulation, along with the liquid formulation of Trichoderma (KAU), emerged as the most effective treatments for suppressing foot rot. Biometric analysis showed that plants treated with the PGPM tablet (Bacillus cereus., Trichoderma spp.) formulation recorded the greatest plant height, number of nodes, and leaves, performing on par with the talc-based PGPM formulation. Soil microbial analysis, conducted before and after treatment using serial dilution and plating techniques, indicated that the PGPM tablet consistently supported the highest counts of viable fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes in the soil. Thus, the tablet formulation of PGPM emerged as the most effective treatment for promoting growth and managing Phytophthora disease in black pepper, showcasing its potential as a promising solution for sustainable crop health and productivity.

Effect of Organic Sources of Nutrients and Bio Inoculants on Diversity of Microbes in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-2024 at Research Farm, Department of environmental science, college of Sehore, Mansarovar Global university Sehore (MP). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with sixteen treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The study on the effect of organic sources of nutrient and bio-inoculants on diversity of microbe under chickpea. It is clear from the data that the highest microbial cells count like Rhizobium (16.43 x 106 cfu/g soil) (cfu- colony forming unit), PSB (Phosphate solubilizing bacteria) (19.03 x 106 cfu/g soil) was recorded under application of vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 followed by FYM (farm yard manure) @ 5 t ha-1 along with Rhizobium and PSB (12.25 x 106 cfu/g soil) and (17.72 x 106 cfu/g soil), respectively. Whereas, highest fungi and actinomycetes count were observed under FYM @ 5 t ha-1 in combination with bio-inoculants and recorded 41.30 x 104 cfu/g and 12.92 x 103 cfu/g soil, respectively followed by vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 with same inoculants. Whereas the lowest population of fungi was recorded under control along with combined application of bio-fertilizers (29.23 x 104 cfu/g and 7.25 x 103 cfu/g soil).

Effect of Crop Establishment Methods on Rhizospheric Soil Microbiota in Mustard Due to Different Land-Use Systems

A field study was conducted to assess the effect of crop establishment methods on rhizospheric soil microbiota in mustard due to different land-use system at the Research Farm, Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur (MP) for two consecutive years (2022–23 and 2023-24). The experiment was assessed in the double-split plot design with three replications. The experiment consisted of two land-use systems as main plot treatment (S1: Agroforestry system and S2: Open system), three crop establishment methods of mustard (M1: Broadcasting, M2: Line sowing, and M3: Transplanting) as sub-plot treatments and four levels of boron (B0: Control, B1: 1 kg ha-1 as basal B2: 2 kg ha-1 and B3: ½ kg ha-1 as basal + ½ kg ha-1 as foliar spray) as sub-sub plot treatments. The soil samples were collected after harvesting of crop during both the years of study to analyse soil microbiota (total bacteria, azotobacter, rhizobium, total fungi and actinomycetes). The results revealed that, significantly higher counts of azotobacter (31.37 CFU x 105), rhizobium (21.99 CFU x 106), total bacteria (42.78 CFU x 106), total fungi (8.30 CFU x 105) and actinomycetes (12.98 CFU x 105) were higher under agroforestry system than the open system. Meanwhile higher counts of azotobacter, rhizobium, total bacteria, total fungi and actinomycetes were found to be significantly superior in broadcasting (29.59 CFU x 105, 20.28 CFU x 106, 37.52 CFU x 106, 7.97 CFU x 105, 12.68 CFU x 105, respectively) over both line sowing and transplanting crop establishment methods. In case of boron levels, no significant changes occurred in the soil biology under both agroforestry and open systems. Hence, it could be concluded that vegetative cover over soil helps to proliferation of population of soil microbiota in the rhizospheric zone of crop.

Assessing the influence of planting time and fertilization on growth, flowering, yield and soil properties of chrysanthemum

ObjectivesTo identify optimal planting time for maximizing growth and flowering, and assess the impacts of various fertilization techniques on plant growth and soil health in chrysanthemum. MethodsThe investigation was conducted at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India from 2022 to 2023. The study aimed to investigate the impact of various planting times and fertilization schedules on the yield, quality, and soil health characteristics of chrysanthemum. Different planting times from 15 June to 30 August under organic and inorganic fertilization regimes were evaluated. Data related to vegetative growth, flowering, soil chemical and biological properties were recorded. ResultsPlantingon15 June along with inorganic fertilization resulted in improved vegetative characters like plant height (74.37 cm) and plant spread (30.56 cm), flowering characters like cut flower stem length (64.07 cm), stem strength (10.40°), flower diameter (11.80 cm) and duration of flowering (22.50 days) and soil chemical properties like available N, P, K (326.53, 40.36 and 359.48 kg/ha, respectively). However, planting on June 15 combined with organic fertilization led to enhancement in soil microbiological properties, including bacterial count (138.33 cfu/g soil), fungal count (31.75 cfu/g soil), actinomycetes count (62.46 cfu/g soil), microbial biomass (52.62 µg/g soil) as well as vase life (19.70 days). ConclusionIn the present study, it was found that planting time and fertilization significantly impacted chrysanthemum growth, yield and soil properties. The 15 June planting with inorganic fertilization boosted growth, yield and macronutrient content, while organic fertilization on the same date enhanced soil microflora. Flowering was influenced by planting time and organic fertilization showed promise as an alternative to chemical fertilization. Optimizing planting schedules and using organic fertilizers would lead to sustainability and offer economically viable alternatives to conventional crop management.

Effect of Bioformulation-based Farming Systems on Soil Nutrient Content and Microbial Properties under Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Cultivation

Background: Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] cultivation faces challenges associated with extensive chemical fertilizer use, prompting a shift towards sustainable practices. Organic inputs like poultry manure offer potential alternatives, yet their impact on soil health and crop productivity warrants investigation. Methods: A two-year field experiment assessed the effects of bioformulation-based farming systems on soil properties and okra growth. Ten treatments incorporating organic amendments and bioformulations (pandchavya and jeevamrut) were evaluated in a randomized block design. Soil nutrient levels, microbial dynamics and enzyme activities were analyzed pre-and post-experiment. Result: Combining 90% recommended nutrient dose with panchagavya and jeevamrut significantly enhanced soil nutrient content and microbial biomass. Increased bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes counts were observed alongside elevated enzyme activities.

Atacama desert actinomycetes: taxonomic analysis, drought tolerance and plant growth promoting potential.

This study was designed to recover representative culturable actinomycetes from the Atacama Desert, and to detect their ability to promote plant growth under drought conditions. Environmental samples were taken from three Atacama Desert habitats, namely, from the Aguas Calientes, Lomas Bayas and Yungay core regions. With one exception higher actinomycete counts were obtained when isolation media were inoculated with mineral particles than with corresponding aliquots of serial dilution. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that representative isolates belonged to thirteen genera including putative novel Blastococcus, Kocuria, Micromonospora, Pseudonocardia, Rhodococcus and Streptomyces species. Representative isolates produced indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore and solubilized phosphate as well as displaying an ability to grow under drought conditions. In conclusion, the current findings open up exciting prospects for the promising potential of actinomycetes from the Atacama Desert to be used as bioinoculants to promote plant growth in arid and semi-arid biomes.

Influence of planting dates and fertilizer modules on yield of chrysanthemum and soil health

BackgroundOptimum planting date and appropriate fertilizer module are essential facets of chrysanthemum cultivation, to enhance quality yield, and improve soil health. A field-based study was undertaken over multiple growing seasons in 2022 and 2023, where six different planting dates, viz., P1:June 15, P2:June 30, P3:July 15, P4:July 30, P5:August 15 and P6:August 30 and two fertilizer modules, FM1:Jeevamrit @ 30 ml plant−1 and FM2:NPK @ 30 g m−2 were systematically examined using a Randomized Block Design (factorial), replicated thrice.ResultsP6 planting resulted in early bud formation (44.03 days) and harvesting stage (90.78 days). Maximum plant height (79.44 cm), plant spread (34.04 cm), cut stem length (68.40 cm), flower diameter (7.83 cm), stem strength (19.38˚), vase life (14.90 days), flowering duration (24.08 days), available soil N (314 kg ha−1), available P (37 kg ha−1), available K (347 kg ha−1), bacterial count (124.87 × 107 cfu g−1 soil), actinomycetes count (60.72 × 102 cfu g−1 soil), fungal count (30.95 × 102 cfu g−1 soil), microbial biomass (48.79 µg g−1 soil), dehydrogenase enzyme (3.64 mg TPF h−1 g−1 soil) and phosphatase enzyme (23.79 mol PNP h−1 g−1 soil) was recorded in P1 planting. Among the fertilization module, minimum days to bud formation (74.94 days) and days to reach the harvesting stage (120.95 days) were recorded with the application of NPK @30 g m−2. However, maximum plant height (60.62 cm), plant spread (23.10 cm), number of cut stems m−2 (43.88), cut stem length (51.34 cm), flower diameter (6.92 cm), stem strength (21.24˚), flowering duration (21.75 days), available soil N (317 kg ha−1), available P (37 kg ha−1) and available K (349 kg ha−1) were also recorded with the application of NPK @300 kg ha−1. Maximum vase life (13.87 days), OC (1.13%), bacterial count (131.65 × 107 cfu g−1 soil), actinomycetes count (60.89 × 102 cfu g−1 soil), fungal count (31.11 × 102 cfu g−1 soil), microbial biomass (51.27 µg g−1 soil), dehydrogenase enzyme (3.77 mg TPF h−1 g−1 soil) and phosphatase enzyme (21.72 mol PNP h−1 g−1 soil) were observed with the application of Jeevamrit @ 30 ml plant−1.ConclusionEarly planting (P1) and inorganic fertilization (NPK @ 30 g m−2) resulted in improved yield and soil macronutrient content. The soil microbial population and enzymatic activity were improved with the jeevamrit application. This approach highlights the potential for improved yield and soil health in chrysanthemum cultivation, promoting a more eco-friendly and economically viable agricultural model.

Integrated nutrient module: an efficient tool for sustainable farming of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

Cape gooseberry is a nutrient loving crop. But excessive use of inorganic fertilizers may leads to health hazards, ecological vulnerabilities and diminution of soil physico-chemical characteristics. Hence, a trial was conducted for substituting inorganic fertilizers with biofertilizer in cape gooseberry to maintain the yield potential with soil fertility status too. The experimental plants were treated with azotobacter, phosphate and potash solubilizing bacteria (PSB and KSB) at 10 g plant-1 each with reduced dose of recommended fertilizer (RDF) (100- 60%) for two consecutive growing season. Total harvestable fruit plant-1 with highest yield was recorded in 90% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB treatment with par value in 60% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB treatment. Quality of ripped fruit with respect to TSS (15.90 °B), total sugar (11.29%), ascorbic acid (60.03 mg 100 g-1) and carotenoid content (49.25 µg 100 g-1) was also improved significantly in 60% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB treatment. Soil physico-chemical properties of the field was not varied significantly over initial reading. However, microbial population viz. bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes count was improved significantly in all the nutrient modules. Hence, it can be concluded that integrated nutrient module comprising 60% RDF of NPK + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB at 10 g plant-1 is the best treatment module for improving the production system of cape gooseberry in sustainable manner for long run without hampering the soil health and quality. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(1): 83-90, 2024 (March)

Rice residue management alternatives in rice–wheat cropping system: impact on wheat productivity, soil organic carbon, water and microbial dynamics

In the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) predominates, producing large quantity of crop residue and its management is major concern. Farmers usually burn the residue to clear the field for succeding crop, and burning damages soil microbes, resulted in loss of soil organic matter. Hence, current study was conducted to assess the impact of different Happy seeder based residue management options on changes in microbial dynamics, enzyme activities and soil organic matter content and also to know that alternative method for attaining sustainable wheat productivity in sandy loam soils of Haryana, India. Results revealed that Zero tillage wheat (ZTW) with partial and full residue retention treatments sown with Happy seeder (after using chopper and spreader), and ZTW with anchored stubbles significantly enhanced soil microbial count by 47.9–60.4%, diazotropic count by 59.0–73.1% and actinomycetes count by 47.3–55.2%, grain yield by 9.8–11.3% and biomass yield by 7.4–9.6% over conventional tilled (CT) residue burning and residue removal plots. ZTW sown with surface retention of rice crop residue increased the organic carbon by 0.36–0.42% and the soil moisture content by 13.4–23.6% over CTW without residue load. Similarly, ZTW sown with Happy seeder with full residue enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity from 95.3 µg TPF g−1 soil 24 h−1 in 2018–2019 to 98.6 µg TPF g−1 soil 24 h−1 in 2019–2020 over control plots. Likely, microbial population and enzymatic activity showed strong positive correlation under variable residue retention practices. However, increased microbial population reduced the soil pH from 7.49 to 7.27 under ZTW with residue retention plots. The wheat yield enhanced by 9.8–11.3% during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 under ZTW with Happy seeder with full residue load over residue burning and residue removal plots. ZTW sown with Happy seeder under full residue retention, achieved maximum net return 43.16–57.08 × 103 ₹ ha−1) and B-C ratio (1.52 to 1.70) over CTW without residue. Therefore, rice residue needs to be managed by planting wheat using appropriate machinery under ZT for sustaining higher productivity in RWCS and improve soil health and environment under IGP regions.

A Practice to Enhance Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Viable Microbial Count as Effected by Organic Nutrient Sources in Iris under Mid Hill Zone of Himachal Pradesh, India

The current study was conducted at Experimental Farm of Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. YS Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, H.P. during the year 2019-2020 to determine the ideal Jeevamrit dosage for enhancing the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of soil for irisAt intervals of 15 days, sixteen applications of jeevamrit were applied as a foliar spray and drench. Three replications of the field experiment were set up using Randomized Block Design (RBD). The study showed that treatment T16, which involved both 7.5% Jeevamrit drenching and 15.0% Jeevamrit foliar application, had the most positive impact on soil quality. This treatment resulted in the highest organic carbon level (1.48), nitrogen content (362.59 kg/ha), phosphorus content (137.48 kg/ha), potassium content (267.85 kg/ha), and a high count of viable bacteria (75.63 ×106 cfu/g soil), viable fungi count (28.57 ×104 cfu/g soil), and viable actinomycetes count (45.90 ×103 cfu/g soil). Additionally, this treatment had the lowest pH and EC levels.

A comprehensive analysis of resource conservation strategies: Impacts on productivity, energetics, and environmental footprints in rice-based systems of the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

In Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains, traditional rice-wheat cropping system, reliant on wet puddling for rice and conventional tillage for wheat, has led to the soil degradation and stagnant yields, highlighting the need for sustainable practices. A field experiment (2018–2021) evaluated the impacts of tillage and residue management on productivity, energy efficiency, and soil health across three cropping systems: rice-wheat (RW), rice-maize (RM), and rice-chickpea (RC). Three tillage practices-conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and reduced tillage with 30 % residue retention (RTR30) were arranged in a randomized block design. The results showed that partial conservation agriculture (pCA) practices significantly enhanced the system productivity, with RM under RT achieving the highest yield (12.2 Mg ha−1). Reduced tillage consistently the minimized energy use, while pulses-based systems had the highest energy ratio (3.97). On average, total earthworm counts were 0.92 and 6.5 times higher during the rainy and post-rainy seasons in pCA treatments in comparison to CT. Earthworm species diversity was more in pCA-based production systems (RT/RTR30) than in CT. In rice-wheat cropping system, maximum bacterial and actinomycetes counts were observed in CT/FP followed by pCA production system. Maize-based systems under CT had the highest global warming potential, while the pulse-based systems had the lowest. The RM cropping system under RTR30 demonstrated the greatest increase in the soil organic carbon. In conclusion, adopting pCA management practices and incorporating the pulses can improve crop productivity, soil health, and sustainability, offering a promising path for enhancing food and nutritional security in rice-based production systems.

Conservation agriculture practices impact on biological and microbial diversity in earthworm cast under maize-wheat system

Soil degradation is a major global concern due to its negative impact on soil quality and the sustainability of agricultural resources. The conservation agriculture (CA) approach, which includes three key principles such as zero tillage, retention of crop residue and crop rotation has gained widespread adoption to help mitigate the climate change effects on agricultural soils and meet the growing demand for increased production. Earthworm communities, along with microbial activity and diversity, are highly sensitive to tillage practices. Additionally, microbial activity and diversity quickly respond to different cropping systems, making them effective indicators for detecting short-term changes in soil functioning. We therefore, assess the effects of CA innovative approached after 6-years on biological and microbial diversity within earthworm cast in maize-wheat system (MWS). The treatments consist of PBM-RN0/ZTW-RN0 (permanent beds No-N control-both residues removed and wheat with zero tillage); PBM+RN0/ZTW+RN0 (permanent beds No-N control-both residues retained)-50% of maize stover and 25% of wheat residue retained; PBM-RN120/ZTW- RN120 (permanent beds with 120 kg N ha-1 both residues removed wheat with zero tillage); PBM+RN120/ZTW+RN120 (permanent beds with 120 kg N ha-1 both residues retained and wheat with zero tillage) and FBM-RN120/CTW-RN120 (fresh beds in maize/CT in wheat with 120 kg N ha-1 both residues removed). The result of present study showed that activities of carbon (C) cycle-related enzymes in the cast soils viz., dehydrogenase (DHA), β-glucosidase (β-glu), cellulase, and xylanase were significantly higher under PBM+RN120/ ZTW+RN120 than under PBM-RN0/ZTW-RN0. Specifically, the activities of these enzymes were 21.5, 26.8, and 76.5% higher under the PBM+RN120/ZTW+RN120 treatment, respectively. Moreover, the Alk-P activity was found to be 1.3 times higher in the PBM+RN120/ZTW+RN120 treatment than in the PBM-RN0/ZTW-RN0 treatment. The bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete counts in the cast soil ranged from 6.87 to 7.47 CFU (colony forming units) x 106 g-1 soil, 3.87–3.30 CFU x 104 g-1 soil, and 5.09–5.67 CFU x 104 g-1 soil, respectively. Total organic carbon (TOC) showed significant increases of 34.6% under PBM+RN120/ZTW+RN120 as compared to PBM-RN0/ZTW-RN0. The less labile C (Frac. 3), total carbohydrate carbon (TCHO), phenol oxidase (PHE) and peroxidase (PER) were observed as the sensitive indicators under different tillage, rate of nitrogen and residue management practices. This study suggests that permanent beds with crop residue retention with balance fertilization practices can be recommended and popularized to the overall improvement of soil biological pools within earthworm casts in MWS.

Effect of Different Nutrient Sources on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Organic Farming

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2021-22 at organic farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, to study the effect of different organic nutrient sources on rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The Factor-A comprised of soil application (S), i.e. S1, 100% RDN through NADEP compost, S2, 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each, S3, 60% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each and S4, Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha, and Factor-B comprised of foliar application (F), i.e. F0, control, F1, Novel Organic liquid nutrient @ 1% and F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3%, with 12 treatment combinations of soil and foliar application with organic rice variety ‘GNR-7’. The results indicated that, application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each recorded significantly higher organic carbon (80%), available K2O (520.1 kg/ha), bacterial count (159.3×10-5 cfu/g), Actinomycetes count (39.8×10-3 cfu/g) and straw yield (5442 kg/ha) than the S4, but it was statistically similar with S1. Application of 100% RDN through NADEP compost recorded significantly higher available N (269.7 kg/ha) and grain yield (3749 kg/ha) over the S4, but it was found at par with S2. In case of foliar application F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3% produce numerically maximum organic carbon (0.79%), available K2O (518.3 kg/ha), bacterial count (156.9×10-5 cfu/g), Fungal count (12.3×10-3 cfu/g) and (Actinomycetes count (39.0×10-3 cfu/g), it also ensured significantly higher grain (3312 kg/ha) and straw yield (5265 kg/ha). Application of Novel Organic liquid nutrient 1% produce numerically maximum available P2O5 (61.0 kg/ha). On the basis of results, it can be concluded that the application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each before transplanting and foliar application with either 3% Moringa leaf extract or 1% Novel Organic liquid nutrient at 15, 30 and 45 days after transplanting may be improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon after harvest may be due to the effect of manures like NADEP compost combined with biofertilizer, which significantly improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon as well as yield compared to manure application alone.

Biodiversity and biological applications of marine actinomycetes—Abu-Qir Bay, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

BackgroundThe ability of actinomycetes to produce bioactive secondary metabolites makes them one of the most important prokaryotes. Marine actinomycetes are one of the most important secondary metabolites producers used for pharmaceuticals and other different industries. ResultsIn this study, the promising actinomycetes were isolated from Abu-Qir Bay. Four different media named as starch nitrate, starch casein, glycerol asparagine, and glycerol glycine were used as a preliminary experimental media to study the role of the medium components on the counts of actinomycetes in sediment samples. The results indicated that starch casein medium reported the highest counts (30–63 CFU/g) in all the tested sites. Lower counts were detected on starch nitrate and glycerol asparagine. On the other hand, glycerol glycine medium gave the lowest counts (15–48 CFU/g). Abu-Qir8 harbored the highest average count of actinomycetes (63 CFU/g), followed by Abu-Qir1 (48 CFU/g). The lower counts were detected in Abu-Qir5 and Abu-Qir7 (26 and 29 CFU/g, respectively). A total of 12 pure obtained actinomycetes isolates were subjected to morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization. The selected actinobacterial isolates were subjected to numerical analysis, and the majority of isolates were grouped into four main clusters (A, B, C, & D), and each of them harbored two isolates; additionally, four isolates did not cluster at this similarity level. Isolate W4 was carefully chosen as the most promising pigment and antimicrobial agent’s producer; the produced pigment was extracted and optimized by statistical experiments (PBD & BBD) and was tested for its anti-inflammatory activity. The results showed anti-inflammatory effect and prevented the denaturation of BSA protein at a concentration much higher than the safe dose and increased with increasing the pigment concentration. ConclusionMarine actinomycetes play a vital role in the production of novel and important economic metabolites that have many industrial and pharmaceuticals applications. Streptomyces genera are the most important actinomycetes that produce important metabolites as previously reported.

Soil microbial and enzyme activities in different land use systems of the Northwestern Himalayas.

Soil microbial activity (SMA) is vital concerning carbon cycling, and its functioning is recognized as the primary factor in modifying soil carbon storage potential. The composition of the microbial community (MC) is significant in sustaining environmental services because the structure and activity of MC also influence nutrient turnover, distribution, and the breakdown rate of soil organic matter. SMA is an essential predictor of soil quality alterations, and microbiome responsiveness is imperative in addressing the escalating sustainability concerns in the Himalayan ecosystem. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of soil microbial and enzyme activities to land conversions in the Northwestern Himalayas (NWH), India. Soil samples were collected from five land use systems (LUSs), including forest, pasture, apple, saffron, and paddy-oilseed, up to a depth of 90 cm. The results revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of dehydrogenase (9.97-11.83 TPF µg g-1 day-1), acid phosphatase (22.40-48.43 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase (43.50-61.35 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), arylsulphatase (36.33-48.12 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (12.18-21.59 µg g-1 h-1), bacterial count (67.67-123.33 CFU × 106 g-1), fungal count (19.33-67.00 CFU × 105 g-1), and actinomycetes count (12.00-42.33 CFU × 104 g-1), with the highest and lowest levels in forest soils and paddy-oilseed soils, respectively. Soil enzyme activities and microbial counts followed a pattern: forest > pasture > apple > saffron > paddy-oilseed at all three depths. Paddy-oilseed soils exhibited up to 35% lower enzyme activities than forest soils, implying that land conversion facilitates the depletion of microbiome diversity from surface soils. Additionally, reductions of 49.80% and 62.91% were observed in enzyme activity and microbial counts, respectively, with soil depth (from 0-30 to 60-90 cm). Moreover, the relationship analysis (principal component analysis and correlation) revealed a high and significant (p = 0.05) association between soil microbial and enzyme activities and physicochemical attributes. These results suggest that land conversions need to be restricted to prevent microbiome depletion, reduce the deterioration of natural resources, and ensure the sustainability of soil health.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators and Plant Growth in Greengram on Alfisol

A field experiment was conducted at farmer fields at Vagarai, Dindigul District (Tamil Nadu) during the summer season of 2022 with green gram as a test crop.A field experiment was conducted at farmer fields at Vagarai, Dindigul District during the summer season of 2022 with green gram as a test crop. The main objectives of the present study focus on studying the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practices on soil quality indicators and the growth of green gram (Vigna radiata).Alfisols are a specific soil order found in various parts of the world, known for their natural fertility and suitability for agriculture. However, continuous cultivation and improper nutrient management can lead to soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and reduced crop productivity. To address these challenges, researchers are exploring the potential of INM practices, which involve the balanced use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, to improve soil health and optimize crop growth. The study aims to assess how various INM treatments impact soil quality indicators. These indicators may include soil organic matter content, nutrient levels (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), pH, and analyze how the different INM practices influence the growth and performance of greengram crops. Organic manures viz. Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and vermicompost on different combinations were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications viz. T1-Absolute control, T2 -Vermicompost alone @5 t ha-1, T3 -FYM alone @ 12.5 t ha-1, T4 -STCR - NPK alone -0.8 t/ha, T5 -STCR -NPK alone -1 t/ha, T 6 -STCR -NPK alone -1.2 t/ha, T7 -STCR -IPNS -0.8 t/ha, T8 -STCR -IPNS -1 t/ha, T9 -STCR -IPNS -1.2 t/ha, T10 -Blanket (100 % RDF), T11 -Blanket (25:50:25) + FYM@ 12.5t ha-1 and T12-Farmer’s practice. Evaluating the physical, chemical, and biological indicators, the integrated module of organic and inorganic fertilization reflected a significant improvement in soil characteristics such as the available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and soil biological characteristics encircling bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes count. The STCR -IPNS - 1.2 t ha-1 (T9) proved to be the best treatment in terms of SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, the maximum number of nodules (21.24, 30.49, 24.49 at 30, 45, and 60 DAS respectively), the highest grain yield (1225kg ha-1), and nutrient (N, P, K) availability. The population of Bacteria, fungi, and Actinomycetes (27.5, 9.8, and 27.1 soil respectively), was also significantly higher in STCR -IPNS - 1.2 t ha-1(T9). Thus, the combined application of manures and fertilizers can be recommended as a nutrient management strategy for yield enhancement and soil quality maintenance of green gram cultivation in soils of the southern Tamil Nadu region.

Chemical and microbiological characterization of organic supplements and compost used in agriculture

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture enhances crop production but it may pose a risk to food quality and soil environment. One alternative to agrochemicals is the natural make organic supplements to supply essential nutrients for crop growth and promote healthy soil function. Therefore, an experimental study was performed to analyze the chemical and microbiological properties of locally produced supplements based on cow dung, such as vermicompost, farmyard manure, Beejamrit, Jeevamrit, and Ghanjeevarmrit. The Jeevamrit and farmyard manure had the lowest pH (4.93) and electrical conductivity (1.73 dS m-1), whereas Ghanjeevamrit and Jeevamrit observed highest values (7.80 and 3.62 dS m-1). Vermicompost had the highest concentrations of total N (1.76%), P (0.77%), K (0.81 %), Fe (398 mg kg-1), Mn (65.9 mg kg-1), Cu (15.5 mg kg-1), and Zn (18.2 mg kg-1). Under Ghanjeevamrit, 35.9 % of the total carbon was found, followed by farmyard manure (34.5 %) and vermicompost (24.1%). The counts of soil heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and beneficial microbial diversity such as P solubilizer, and nitrogen (N) fixer were found highest in vermicompost. However, in Jeevamrit there was no growth of actinomycetes and N-fixing bacteria whereas, in Beejamrit preparation except actinomycetes all other microbial growth was visible. Organic supplements such as farmyard manure had the lowest indole acetic acid production (1.66 μg ml-1), while Ghanjeevamrit showed the highest (6.38 μg ml-1). The liquid formulation (Beejamrit and Jeevamrit) indicated more levels of indole acetic acid than the farmyard manure (2.18 and 1.87 times more, respectively). The application of organic supplements had a great role in supplying available nutrients and modulating microbial diversity and plant growth hormone production.

Rotation of Triticale and Sweet Sorghum Improves Saline-Alkali Soil and Increases Productivity in a Saline Soil

ABSTRACT Soil salinization significantly restricts crop yield, animal foraging, and biomass production for biofuels. Identifying an efficient farming system to mitigate these concerns has become a major research focus. The present study addresses the potential of rotating triticale and sweet sorghum at various planting densities to alleviate soil salt stress, enhance production, improve agronomic characteristics, and boost soil microbial communities in a saline agricultural environment in East China. Several indicators in 2017 and 2018. Results show that triticale and sweet sorghum planting significantly decreased soil salt contents compared to bare land plots. Multiple agronomic traits were measured for each planting density. For triticale, a density of 180 × 104 plants ha−1 showed the best plant height, tiller number per plant, yield, and lodging rate; for sweet sorghum, a density of 7 × 104 plants/ha showed the best plant height, yield, and lodging rate. High-density planting of triticale (180, 260, 320 × 104 plants/ha) and sweet sorghum (7, 8, 9 × 104 plants/ha) was associated with high counts of bacteria, Actinomycetes, and salt-tolerant Actinomycetes. However, planting density had no significant effect on the counts of fungi or salt-tolerant bacteria. Redundancy Discriminant Analysis (RDA) showed that plant height, yield, lodging rate, bacteria, salt-tolerant bacteria, Actinomycetes, and salt-tolerant Actinomycetes were negatively correlated with soil salinity, while tiller number per plant and stem thickness were positively correlated with soil salinity. In conclusion, a rotation system of triticale and sweet sorghum with planting densities of 180 × 104 and 7 × 104 plants/ha, respectively was established to improve and make full use of saline soil.

Effect of cogenerated bagasse ash on microbial population and enzyme activities in sugarcane grown soil

A field experiment was conducted during 2016-18 on an Inceptisol of Rahuri, Maharashtra to study the effect of cogenerated bagasse ash on microbial population and enzyme activities in preseasonal sugarcane (Sachharum officinarum) var. CoM 0265. The results indicated that the treatments which received 150 % RDK through cogenerated bagasse ash recorded the higher total bacteria (44.11, 45.89 and 32.78 cfu x 106 g-1 soil), fungi (17.78, 18.89 and 15.89 cfu x 105 g-1 soil) and actinomycetes (18.33, 19.22 and 15.78 cfu x 105 g-1 soil) count at earthing up, grand growth and harvest stage of preseasonal sugarcane, respectively. On the other hand, the highest dehydrogenase (13.38, 14.03 and 7.92 µg TPFg-1 soil h-1), urease (49.35, 51.68 and 38.15 µg NH4-N g-1 soil h-1), acid phosphatase (17.92, 18.85 and 13.23 µg PNP g-1 soil h-1) and alkaline phosphatase (64.81, 65.94 and 39.07 µg PNP g-1 soil h-1) enzyme activity in soil were also recorded in T9 (150 % RDK through cogenerated bagasse ash) at earthing up, grand growth and harvest stage of preseasonal sugarcane, respectively. The results of the present study revealed that the microbial population and enzymatic activities of the soil were increased at initial stages and thereafter, progressively decreased with crop growth stages by the application of cogenerated bagasse ash. Application of 150 % RDK through CBA (6.62 t ha-1) along with recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorous (340 and 170 kg ha-1) through inorganic fertilizers and 20 t ha-1 FYM has improved the microbial population as well as enzymatic activities in sugarcane grown soil.

Impact of Soil Biological Parameters on Soil Health in the Intensively Cultivated Deltaic Inceptisol of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

An experiment was conducted during 2021-22 at Agricultural Research Station, Kattuthottam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu to identify the impact of biological parameters on different cropping sequences. Three soil samples were randomly taken from each replication of every treatment making a total of 90 samples in each season from different cropping sequences during active vegetative stage. The size of each plot is 40m2. Samples were analysed for soil biological parameters viz., Urease, Acid phosphatase, Dehydrogenase, Soil microbial count (Bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) and Microbial Biomass Carbon. Different cropping sequences showed their effect as variations in soil biological properties. The cropping sequence T4, sunhemp-rice+dhaincha (10:1)-green gram showed more biological activity with urease activity of 40.6 NH4+ µg/g/h, acid phosphatase activity of 43.1 P-NP µg/g/h, dehydrogenase activity (137.9 TPF µg/g/day), microbial biomass carbon value (307 mg kg-1), bacterial count (55.6 cfu g-1 soil), fungal count (23.5 cfu g-1 soil) and actinomycetes count (41.2 cfu g-1 soil). Rice-rice-sesame sequence was observed to have less biological activity than other cropping sequences.