Declining Soil Fertility Research Articles

Metagenomic exploration of the rhizosphere soil microbial community and their significance in facilitating the development of wild-simulated ginseng.

Panax ginseng, a prized medicinal herb, has faced increasingly challenging field production due to soil degradation and fungal diseases in Northeast China. Wild-simulated cultivation has prevailed because of its sustainable soil management and low disease incidence. Despite the recognized benefits of rhizosphere microorganisms in ginseng cultivation, their genomic and functional diversity remain largely unexplored. In this work, we utilized shotgun metagenomic analysis to reveal that Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Acidobacteriota were dominant in the ginseng rhizobiome and recovered 14 reliable metagenome-assembled genomes. Functional analysis indicated an enrichment of denitrification-associated genes, potentially contributing to the observed decline in soil fertility, while genes associated with aromatic carbon degradation may be linked to allelochemical degradation. Further analysis demonstrated enrichment of Actinomycetota in 9-year-old wild-simulated ginseng (WSG), suggesting the need for targeted isolation of Actinomycetota bacteria. Among these, at least three different actinomycete strains were found to play a crucial role in fungal disease resistance, with Streptomyces spp. WY144 standing out for its production of actinomycin natural products active against the pathogenic fungus Ilyonectria robusta. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the rhizobiome of WSG but also present promising avenues for combating detrimental fungal pathogens, underscoring the importance of ginseng in both medicinal and agricultural contexts.IMPORTANCEWild-simulated ginseng, growing naturally without human interference, is influenced by its soil microbiome. Using shotgun metagenomics, we analyzed the rhizospheric soil microbiome of 7- and 9-year-old wild-simulated ginseng. The study aimed to reveal its composition and functions, exploring the microbiome's key roles in ginseng growth. Enrichment analysis identified Streptomycetes in ginseng soil, with three strains inhibiting plant pathogenic fungi. Notably, one strain produced actinomycins, suppressing the ginseng pathogenic fungus Ilyonectria robusta. This research accelerates microbiome application in wild-simulated ginseng cultivation, offering insights into pathogen protection and supporting microbiome utilization in agriculture.

Effect of crop diversification and sowing technique on productivity, economics, water productivity and soil properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping systems

Conventionally intensive tillage and sowing practices, and existing cereal crop-based system has been declining soil fertility resulting in poor grain yield and quality. In order to enhance system-based productivity and it becomes necessary to diversify cereal crop through legume-based cropping system with conservation technology-based tillage and crop sowing method. Hence, a study was carried out during 2018–2022 under Farmer First Project (FFP) at Morena district in Madhya Pradesh (Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh) to collate the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based four cropping systems with rainy (kharif) season crops i.e. pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], greengram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] and clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] and two crop sowing methods, viz. conventionally tilled and permanent broad-bed furrow irrigation were used. Significantly greater improvements were recorded in grain yield of wheat-based cropping systems, net returns, wheat equivalent yield, system protein production, water productivity, net energy gains, energy productivity and soil physico-chemical properties, while saving cultivation cost, total water- use and energy input under permanent broad bed-furrow over conventional tillage and sowing method. Likewise, system-based wheat equivalent yield, system protein productivity, additional net returns, net energy gains, energy productivity and parameters of soil physico-chemical properties were significantly enhanced with pigeonpea-wheat as compared to pearl millet-wheat cropping system. The results of experiment had suggested that cropping system of wheat based can be made more productive and remunerative with the inclusion of legume crops in rainy season and sowing of crop with permanent broad-bed furrow irrigation method.

Soil Physicochemical Properties Variation under Annual Crop and Coffee Landuse in the Chentale Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

A detrimental decline in soil fertility has been attributed to losses in arable land productivity in Ethiopia. In this line, several studies were conducted to enable informed decisions; however, monitoring soil property dynamics in different biophysical, climatic, and cropping systems is yet to be adequate to support and influence decision and policymakers. To this end, this study evaluated soil physicochemical properties on land managed for annual crops and coffee land use in the Chentale watershed, the upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. About 24 soil samples were collected from the two land uses and soil depths (topsoil: 0–15 cm and subsoil: 15–30 cm) with 6 replications for soil properties analysis. The result showed that most of the soil parameters varied significantly with land uses and were higher with coffee landuse (p<0.01) than with cropland. Furthermore, a neutral pH range, clay loam texture, medium level of organic matter (3.93%) and nitrogen (0.18%), high level of available phosphorus (23.35 PPM), and high to very high level of exchangeable base were recorded from coffee landuse than from cropland. Whereas the mean values of organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the subsoil. However, most of the physical and chemical properties of the soil did not vary significantly with depth. Moreover, low pH, low OM content, and low TN are the main properties of soil considered constraints of soil fertility in cropland at both depths. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain agroforestry practices, reduce the intensity of tilling, and supply organic materials to sustain the productivity of cropland.

Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Activities in Garhwal Himalayas: A Comprehensive Analysis on Shifts, Changes and Adaptation Strategies

Climate change is adversely affecting many facets of human lives, often varying with the magnitude and scale. The Himalayan environment is showing a perceived change in the climatic parameters and cryosphere response. The aim of the present study is to capture the community perceptions of climate change, and their approaches towards adaptation. A comprehensive field investigation was carried-out in the villages selected within the different elevation range, located in the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. In the present study, 150 households were surveyed spreading over 25 villages. The analysis shows that most of the respondents (~95%) agreed, about the climate change through their responses, i.e. early and warm summer, short winter months and less snowfall. The variability of precipitation pattern, declining soil fertility and poor yields were the major challenges in agriculture sector, the main source of livelihood of the communities. Traditionally, people are adapting with climatic extremities with adjusting crops Calander, use of improved and high-yielding variety seeds, fertilizer and used of herbicides and pesticides. The findings of the study can be used to prepare policy framework in the climate change adaptations in the Himalayan region.

Assessment and Mapping of Soil Fertility Status of Migna Kura Kebele, Wayu Tuka District, East Wollega, Oromia, Ethiopia

Soil fertility decline is a significant obstacle to Ethiopia's increased food production, but information on current soil fertility status among the study areas is inadequate. Accurate soil fertility data is crucial for implementing effective strategies and developing targeted interventions to improve agricultural productivity and food security in Ethiopia. This study was initiated in this context with the aim of mapping the spatial distribution of specific soil parameters and assessing the status of soil fertility in Migna Kura Kebele, Wayu Tuka District, East Wollega, Ethiopia, providing crucial information for agrarian development. A total of 32 samples of surface soil were drawn at Stratifying random for laboratory analysis in 2019 G.C. Maps of soil fertility status were created using ArcGIS 10.4.1 and the common Kriging interpolation technique. Clay loam and clay are the two types of soil in the research study area. The bulk density of the soil ranged from 1.13 to 1.46 g/cm3, while the total porosity ranged from 42.57 to 55.15%. The pH of the soil can range from 6.7, which is slightly acidic, to 4.91, which is strongly acidic. The range of soil exchangeable acidity levels was 0 to 2.46 cmol (+) kg-1, while the range of OC values was medium (1.79% to 3.51%). Soil total N and available P values were between very low and low (0.19 to 1.11%) and 6.71 to 13.44 mg kg-1, respectively. Exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na levels in the soil ranged from 6.93 to 51.15, 2.85 to 23.63, 0.21 to 1.76, and 0.05 to 0.71 cmol (+) kg-1, respectively, while a medium to very high degree of CEC (22.19 to 77.42 cmol (+) kg-1) was observed. A moderate to very high rating was assigned to soil PBS, which ranged from 42.13 to 98.30%. Micro nutrients; Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn extractable from soil by DTPA ranged in value from 12.07 to 33.51 mg kg-1, 16.02 to 48.26 mg kg-1, 0.18 to 0.62 mg kg-1, and 0.19 to 0.62 mg kg-1, respectively. The soil fertility map was created for the following parameters: pH, OC, total N, available (P, S), CEC, PBS, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn; Cu, Zn, and B. According to the study's findings, the study area's soils were found to be deficient in six nutrients that limit yields: N, P, K, S, B, and Zn. he soil in the study area is affected by soil acidity; for sustainable crop production in the study area, soils should be amended with lime, organic matter, and fertilizers of N, P, S, K, B, and Zn.

Utilization of Palm Solids In Increasing Growth And Results Soybean Plant (Glycine Max (L) Merril)

The demand for soybeans in Rokan Hulu is on the rise due to the increasing population and the expanding array of soy-based products. However, the local farmers are unable to meet this growing demand as a result of diminishing arable land for soybean cultivation and declining soil fertility levels. Therefore, concerted efforts are required to boost soybean production in the region. It is believed that applying solid palm oil could potentially enhance soybean yields. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of various doses of solid palm oil on the growth of soybean plants. The study's findings analyzed using Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT α 5%), revealed that the application of solid compost did not significantly affect plant height, stem diameter, flower age, or the number of fruiting pods. However, a significant difference was observed in the number and weight of seeds per sample plant, with the optimal dose being 360 g per plot.

Enhancing soil water, carbon, and nitrogen by partially substituting chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer integrated with a rainwater collection system in rainfed orchards

Rainfed apple orchards, particularly in loess hilly regions of China, face significant challenges due to water scarcity and declining soil fertility, necessitating their restoration for sustainable apple production. This study investigated the impact of partially substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers integrated with a rainwater collection system on restoring soil water storage (SWS), soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and total nitrogen (TN) stocks and their relationship with apple production. Three orchard management practices were evaluated: (1) OSCR: partially substituting chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (60% N from organic fertilizer) integrated with a rainwater collection system; (2) CR: chemical fertilizer integrated with a rainwater collection system; and (3) CK: chemical fertilizer alone without a rainwater collection system. Averaged across five years, the OSCR treatment (457.83 mm) substantially enhanced SWS from 0 to 280 cm profile by 19.12% compared to the CK (384.34 mm). OSCR system outperformed CR treatment in terms of the 0–280 cm SWS compensation index (SWSCI). The OCSR and CR treatments had higher SWSCI values in 2016 (dry year) than the other years, indicating more effective SWS restoration in dry years. Average across five years, OSCR treatment had 55.26% and higher SOC stock (214.1 Mg ha–1) and 45.91% higher TN stock (5.72 Mg ha−1) from 0 to 280 cm than the CK; and the OSCR treatment positively restored SOC and TN stocks, while the CR treatment decreased SOC stock and restored TN stock from 0 to 200 cm profile. Compared to 2016, OSCR, CR and CK treatments increased SOC stock by 36.84%, −5.78% and −6.98%, and TN stock by 36.31%, 37.88 and −3.36% in 2020, respectively. Average across five years, the OSCR treatment had the highest mean apple yield (24.61 Mg ha−1) and crop water production (CWP, 48.64 kg ha−1 mm−1), 64.62% and 66.69% higher than the CK treatment across five years; no significant differences in fruit size or shape index occurred between treatments. The difference in apple yield is unfavorably connected with SWSCI and favorably connected with SOC and TN stock restoration. Overall, the OSCR system successfully restored SWS, SOC, and TN stocks, increasing apple yield and CWP, making it a promising management strategy for rainfed apple orchards.

Soil fertility indices in cocoa agroforests under organic and conventional management in Suhum, Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract Deforestation and declining soil fertility are major obstacles for productive cocoa production in West Africa. To improve sustainability of this production system, countries like Ghana promoted agroforestry technologies and introduced organic certification of cocoa agroforests. However, for West Africa, which produces 70% of the world’s cocoa, studies comparing soil fertility under conventional and organic management, which is an important factor for sustainable cocoa production, are rare. Hence this study aimed at investigating differences in soil physico-chemical and microbial properties at 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm depth of traditional cocoa agroforests under organic versus conventional management in four villages with each three farms in Suhum Municipality, Eastern Region of Ghana. Electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), SOC/total N, and extractable potassium (K) in the topsoil were 51%, 35%, 30%, 11%, and 47% respectively, lower (p < 0.05) under conventional than under organic management. On average, topsoil under conventional management recorded 29% higher NH4+-N concentration and 27% lower NO3−-N concentrations than topsoil under organic management. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in the topsoil of farms under organic management were 48% and 57%, respectively, greater than under conventional management. Contrarily, conventional management significantly increased the metabolic quotient (qCO2) in topsoil compared with organic management, indicating a higher demand of soil micro-organisms for maintenance energy due to the use of herbicides and pesticides. In cocoa agroforests, conventional management has adverse effects on soil chemical and microbial properties. Hence transitioning from conventional management to organic management is beneficial to maintain soil fertility.

Exploring Farmers’ Perception and Constraints on the Adoption of Small‐Scale Irrigation in Hulet Eju Enesie District, North‐Western Ethiopia

Irrigation farming is one approach to reduce climate‐related risks, and make production possible throughout the year. Nevertheless, farmers were limited to using small‐scale irrigation (SSI) in the study area. This study mainly analyzed the perception of farmers’ and their constraints to use irrigation. The study used a multistage sampling technique to collect the primary data from 102 nonuser and 82 irrigation user respondents. Likert rating scale, relative importance index (RII), and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The result of the RII indicates that, irrigation ensures high‐net income (0.87), high‐market demand for products (0.84), and insurance against drought (0.82) were highly perceived as advantageous attributes of the irrigation. Whereas, production cost (0.85), skill requirements (0.74), and declining soil fertility (0.65) were strongly perceived as relative disadvantage attributes of irrigation. Plant disease, input shortages, ineffective water distribution, and poor transportation are identified as major constraints for farmers to practice irrigation. Overall, farmers commonly noted the importance of irrigation. However, irrigation users highly perceived the positive attributes; whereas nonusers extremely perceived the negative attributes of irrigation. This implies the existence of perception differences between the two groups of farmers. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should strive to close the perception gap toward irrigation through interventions.

Sesame renaissance: Iran’s emerging influence in the global sesame market

Sesame seeds and their various derivatives, such as sesame oil, can be special in household diets worldwide due to their unique nutritional and health properties. Despite the long history of sesame cultivation in Iran and its suitability to the Iranian climate, Iran remains an importer of sesame. In other words, sesame production in Iran faces numerous constraints and obstacles, limiting its production capacity. This study aims to present sesame production status in Iran over the past 22 yr, elucidating the production trends, quantity and value of imports, obstacles, and solutions for sustainable sesame seed production in the country. To achieve this goal, in addition to reviewing national and international databases, extensive correspondence was conducted with stakeholders in sesame production, ranging from farmers to researchers, promoters, and policymakers, to compile a comprehensive list of leading challenges in sesame production and operational solutions to overcome these challenges. The analysis revealed that the most significant challenges in sesame production in the country could be categorised into seven main sections, including poor agronomic management, soil fertility decline, pest, diseases and weed issues, inadequate breeding programs, lack of sustainable financial support, an uncertain sesame market and fragmented and ineffective research. To address these issues, it is essential to enhance sesame production by updating agricultural management practices, introducing and making high-yielding and stress-tolerant varieties accessible, improving soil management techniques, conducting applied research, and transferring knowledge to farms. Also, establishing sesame producer associations and cooperatives can help eliminate intermediaries in the production-to-sales chain. Timely support from government institutions for small-scale sesame producers and raising consumer awareness of sesame’s nutritional and health benefits and its by-products are crucial to overcoming these challenges. All these actions can lead to the promotion and development of sesame production in Iran to meet the high domestic and global demand for this valuable and nutritious seed. This cannot be achieved without increased interaction between farmers, researchers, promoters, and policymakers.

Research progress on remediation of organochlorine pesticide contamination in soil.

Deteriorated soil pollution has grown into a worldwide environmental concern over the years. Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues, featured with ubiquity, persistence and refractoriness, are one of the main pollution sources, causing soil degradation, fertility decline and nutritional imbalance, and severely impacting soil ecology. Furthermore, residual OCPs in soil may enter the human body along with food chain accumulation and pose a serious health threat. To date, many remediation technologies including physicochemical and biological ways for organochlorine pollution have been developed at home and abroad, but none of them is a panacea suitable for all occasions. Rational selection and scientific decision-making are grounded in in-depth knowledge of various restoration techniques. However, soil pollution treatment often encounters the interference of multiple factors (climate, soil properties, cost, restoration efficiency, etc.) in complex environments, and there is still a lack of systematic summary and comparative analysis of different soil OCP removal methods. Thus, to better guide the remediation of contaminated soil, this review summarized the most commonly used strategies for OCP removal, evaluated their merits and limitations and discussed the application scenarios of different methods. It will facilitate the development of efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly soil remediation strategies for sustainable agricultural and ecological development.

Assessing Preparedness for Smart Farming and Technology Adoption among Kenyan Farmers

Agriculture is crucial in reducing poverty, promoting economic prosperity, and ensuring food security for the world’s growing population, which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. This sector is vital to the global economy, contributing significantly to GDP and providing jobs for a large workforce. Precision agriculture and e-commerce advances have proven beneficial, boosting crop yields and rural incomes. Sub-Saharan Africa faces similar agricultural challenges as it anticipates a population of 2.1 billion by 2050. Although the region has made strides in expanding farmland and labour, improvements in crop yields have been limited. The digital revolution offers new opportunities to tackle issues such as undernutrition by improving access to information and technology. In Kenya, with a population projected to reach 95 million by 2050, expanding food production is a pressing challenge. Significant hurdles include declining soil fertility, inadequate water management, and a lack of technical support. While technologies like Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Machine Learning (ML) have the potential to enhance agricultural productivity, their adoption is constrained by infrastructure issues, high costs, and a shortage of technical expertise. Addressing these barriers and improving farmer education is essential to fully realising these technologies’ benefits.

UTILIZATION OF SODIUM ALGINATE HYDROGEL AS A SUSTAINABLE PLANTING MEDIUM

Soil quality degradation can be attributed to both individual and industrial human activities, directly or indirectly. The depletion of soil nutrients, specifically nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), contributes to a decline in soil fertility. Sodium alginate, when employed as a planting medium, exhibits notable efficacy in the absorption and subsequent release of nutrients and water due to its inherent stability. The robust capacity for absorption and resilience to SA is attributed to covalent crosslinking with elemental hydrogen or essential plant nutrients. The ionotropic gelation process was used to make alginate hydrogel, and a solution of CaCl2 was used as the crosslinking agent. The results of this study suggest that augmenting the potassium concentration can enhance plant growth rate, hence aiding the attainment of optimal plant height. Sodium alginate-based hydrogels exhibit potential as a feasible alternative for utilization as planting substrates

The role of fiscal instruments in the implementation of low-carbon agriculture

Purpose. The study purpose is to determine the aspects for improving the fiscal toolkit as an economic lever for regulating agricultural land use with the optimized approach to the selection of areas of introduction of the low-carbon development for the formation of organizational and economic management conditions towards the ensuring of restoration and preservation of agricultural resource potential.
 Methodology / approach. In this work, we used the following research methods: monographic, statistical analysis, graphic, correlation and regression analysis. The national and international documents of legal framework for regulating the processes of agricultural land use, materials of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine were used.
 Results. Based on the ecological and economic efficiency analysis of agricultural land use, the priority of obtaining profits in contrast to the problems of the restoration and preservation of the agricultural resource potential was demonstrated, thanks to which Ukraine took the lead in many commodity crops export. The soil fertility decline is a reason of formed threat to agroecological and food security. Based on the assessment of the nitrogen balance flows, the amount of removal of nutrients from the soil cover was estimated.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The expediency of using an improved tax instrument for land use as an economic lever for the formation of organizational and economic conditions of management with a focus on the introduction of the principles of the green economy is substantiated. This improvement consists in the correction factor proposed for the first time to the calculated volumes of tax collections. This coefficient allows taking into account the characteristics of the land use effectiveness in combination with the coefficients of carbon stock changes of the internationally recognized methodology UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Based on the improvement of the target agroecological zoning approach (on the example of the Odesa region), an approach to establishing the priority of land plots from the point of view of the perspective of introducing low-carbon land use is proposed.
 Practical value / implications. The proposed approach opens the possibility to optimize efforts to introduce low-carbon land use and therefore to restore and preserve agro-resource potential. The national crop production competitiveness is ensured by this. Therefore, this approach can be taken as a basis for the introduction of the latest green economy tools for the agricultural land use sector at the level of territorial communities.

The Quantity and Quality of Humic Substances following Different Land Uses in Karst Peak-Cluster Depression in Guangxi, China

There were some ecological and environmental problems in limestone soil in the karst peak-cluster depression in Pingguo City of Guangxi, such as the destruction of soil structure, soil acidification and soil fertility decline, and these problems were closely related to soil organic matter. The soil in this site was classified as Cambisols. Therefore, this project took soil under five major land uses (grassland, afforestation, sugarcane field, corn field and pitaya field) in the karst area of Guangxi as the research object. The contents and molecular structure properties of humic acids, fulvic acids and humins in soils were studied by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and elemental composition. From the perspective of the chemical structure of humic substances, the differences in the quantity and structural characteristics of humic acids, fulvic acids and humins in different land uses were revealed. The results showed that the organic carbon content of both afforestation (34.83 g kg−1) and natural restored grassland (31.67 g kg−1) were significantly higher than that of sugarcane field (17.60 g kg−1), corn field (16.35 g kg−1) and pitaya field (14.31 g kg−1) (p < 0.05). The contents of three humic fractions in grassland were relatively high, and the contents of three humic fractions in sugarcane field were relatively low (p < 0.05). The structural characteristics of humic substances showed that the protein components of the three humic fractions in the afforestation were high, indicating that the humic substances in the afforestation contained more unstable components. The Alkyl C/O-alkyl C and Hydrophobic C/hydrophilic C ratios of the three humic fractions of corn field were high, indicating high stability and maturity in humic substances in corn field.

Conservation agriculture and cover crop adoption by smallholder farmers in Cambodia: Understanding perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for soil improvement

Practical solutions for soil conservation are needed to ensure sustainable food production. Conservation agriculture and the use of cover crops are promising strategies for soil improvement in agricultural systems. These strategies are being promoted in Cambodia to address rapidly declining soil fertility; however, there is a lack of insight into the perceptions of Cambodian smallholders towards cover cropping within a conservation agriculture approach. A greater understanding of the utilization and perceptions of cover crops is needed to increase adoption and prevent further soil degradation. This study utilized a mixed methods approach with quantitative data from a farmer survey and qualitative data gathered from follow-up interviews with farmers. Analysis shows that farmers understand what conservation agriculture is and reported benefits, including increased yields, after practicing conservation agriculture. Conservation agriculture was viewed as a way to protect the environment and increase soil fertility, particularly by using cover crops. However, farmers reported that the use of cover crops as part of a conservation agriculture approach faces challenges, preventing further adoption. Understanding the benefits and challenges for farmers can help improve adoption, leading to improved soil and more resilient agricultural systems. Further research on how to address the challenges presented by farmers is needed.

Production of local resource-based soil improvement materials as a community empowerment model in Sindangkasih Village, South Konawe

Most of the residents in Sindangkasih Village earn their livelihoods through farming. The survey results indicate a decrease in the level of agricultural productivity in this village due to a lack of knowledge in agricultural management, leading to a continuous decline in soil fertility. Conversely, the village serves as a livestock center, producing cow dung waste, and houses a grain milling industry that generates rice husk waste, both of which have not been optimally utilized. The goal of this community service is to provide training and assistance to enhance the knowledge of farmer groups in producing soil improvement materials based on local resources. The methods employed in the service activities include counseling, demonstrations on creating soil improvement materials, and group discussions with the participation of 30 individuals. The results of the activity demonstrate an increase in the knowledge and skills of the Sindangkasih Village community in producing soil improvement materials, particularly organic fertilizer, to support agricultural production.

Prospects of coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu – A SWOT Analysis

Coconut is an important horticultural crop of the state of Tamil Nadu spreading across an area of 4.44 lakh hectares. Coconut is a victim of the catastrophes of climate change events like high temperature, excessive or deficit rainfall and increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. Coconut plantations in the state are hit by several pests and diseases, some of which are lethal, fatal and are debilitating in nature. An analysis of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) for the prospects of coconut cultivation in the state revealed that edaphic and climatic factors, less labour requirement compared to other field crops of the state and access to technologies remain the great strength, while tropical cyclones hitting coastal districts of the state, failure of monsoon, wide fluctuations in copra price, lack of producer-centric market intelligence are the striking weakness for coconut cultivation. Improved varieties and hybrids with desired traits, establishment of processing industries, international cargo terminals to tap export market and crop insurance scheme in the event of climatic aberrations, remain the major opportunities while declining soil fertility, debilitating pests and dreadful diseases and poor scientific management owing to the fragmented land holdings are the major threats of coconut cultivation in the state of Tamil Nadu.

MOTIVATION OF RICE FARMERS IN USING PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AT SEKAYU DISTRICT, MUSI BANYUASIN REGENCY

One of the most common problems in agriculture today is the decline in soil fertility on agricultural land due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticide residues and processing of land with agricultural machinery. This study was to determine the level of motivation for using PGPR in lowland rice cultivation, what factors influence the level of motivation, as well as developing a strategy for applying motivation using PGPR in lowland rice cultivation. This research was conducted from April to June in Sekayu District, Musi Banyuasin Regency. The method used is descriptive method and multiple linear regression. Respondents were taken as many as 97 people who were determined purposively (purposive sampling). The results show that the level of motivation is included in the high category. Factors that have a significant effect on farmer motivation are the age of the farmer, the role of extension workers, the availability of facilities and infrastructure, the availability of agricultural information. Based on the multiple linear regression analysis test, it was found that the most critical indicator of farmer motivation was the availability of facilities and infrastructure. From these results an agricultural extension strategy was providing counseling on making PGPR independently in farmer groups.

Editorial: Advanced insights into plant rhizosphere functionality from the perspective of declining soil fertility status in the era of climate change

Editorial: Advanced insights into plant rhizosphere functionality from the perspective of declining soil fertility status in the era of climate change