Effect of Directly-Applied and Residual Boron on Nutrition in French Bean-Cabbage Cropping Sequence under Alfisol

Effects of directly-applied-to-the-soil and residual boron (B) in soil were assessed in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) - cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) cropping sequence and cycle under Alfisol, with either low or adequate hot-water-soluble boron (HWS-B) content. The experiments focussed on effects of various levels of applied B on leaf tissue B and crop yield, HWS-B content in the year of B application, and in subsequent years. Response of the crops to applied B reflected initial soil B levels. Application of the highest level of B (8kg ha-1) reduced crop yield at Site-I throughout the four years of experimentation. Applied B up to 2kg ha-1 enhanced French bean yields at Site I, while at Site II, at all the levels of applied B, yields were reduced in the first two crops; during the third and fourth crop, yields in plots receiving 1kg B ha-1 were higher than those in plots that did not receive supplemental B. In both French bean and cabbage, high B concentrations caused toxicity symptoms manifested as browning of leaf margin. These symptoms appeared in both French bean and cabbage under all the plots receiving B e" 4kg ha-1. Monitoring HWS-B content at harvest in each crop during the experiment indicated that applied B diminished rapidly in these soils. However, at Site II, residual HWS-B was above the critical level throughout the period of experimentation. A single application of higher amounts of B fertilizer led to B toxicity and caused yield suppression in these vegetables. French bean, being a sensitive crop, should be grown preferably on residual B rather than subjecting it to direct application of B in any vegetable cropping system under red soils

A Market Survey of Vegetables in Bangalore for Heavy Metal Contamination in Relation to Human Health

Vegetable samples from one of the main whole sale markets of Bangalore city were collected over two years and analysed for heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni. Heavy metal content of vegetables ranged from 0.24 to 2.54 mg Cd kg-1, 2.16 to 10.40 mg Pb kg-1, 3.08 to 16.2 mg Cr kg-1 and 1.66 to 11.52 mg Ni kg-1. Leafy vegetables accumulated higher concentration of heavy metals followed by root vegetables. Fruit vegetables accumulated the lowest content of heavy metals. But the heavy metal content of all the vegetables crossed the safe limits permitted for human consumption to a far greater extent except that Cd content of root and fruit vegetables were within the safe levels. Among leafy vegetables, amaranthus and palak accumulated the highest content of all the four heavy metals studied

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Not AvailableCultivated grafted mangoes are not the same as polyembryonic seedling-based wild mangoes in terms of biomass production and carbon sequestration. We estimated the carbon sequestration potential of mangoes in Konkan region, which is a prime mango belt of India producing the popular Alphonso mangoes. Allometric equation developed for grafted mangoes was used to estimate tree biomass. Konkan mango belt spread over 106,210 ha sequesters 9.913 mt of carbon. However, the carbon sequestration potential of these cultivated grafted mangoes is very low compared to polyembryonic seedling-grown mangoes in the wild. Since mangoes in the Konkan region have mostly occupied degraded lands of lateritic origin, such regions have been brought under productive mango orchards. As a consequence where forests have disappeared and mangoes have occupied the region, the carbon sequestered by them is a bonus apart from the production of mangoes. The administrators in these regions must use this information for claiming carbon credits for the benefit of farmers and the local population.Not Availabl

Heavy Metal Contamination of Water Bodies, Soils and Vegetables in Peri-Urban Areas: A Case Study in Bangaluru

A study was conducted in peri-urban Bangaluru (where city wastewater from four water bodies, viz., Bellandur, Varthur, Byramangala and Nagavara tanks, is being used for cultivation of vegetable crops) to assess heavy metal contamination in water, soil and vegetable samples. Analyses revealed that concentration of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) in waters from all the tanks exceeded recommended levels of 0.01 and 0.1 mg/l, respectively, while content of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are within safe limits. Concentration of Cd was highest in the water of Bellandur tank (0.039 mg/ l) and of Cr was highest in the water of Byramangala tank (0.311 mg/l). Bellandur and Varthur tanks were found highly contaminated with Cd, Pb and Ni. Mean concentration of heavy metals in soils receiving sewage water from the four tanks ranged from 1.92 to 2.9 mg/kg for Cd, 47.04 to 68.12 mg/kg for Pb, 35.08 to 92.78 mg/kg for Cr and 48.2 to 57.3 mg/kg for Ni. Cd and Pb content were highest in soils around Varthur and Bellandur tanks, while, mean concentration of Cr was highest in soils around Byramangala tank. Similar trends were observed for heavy metal content in vegetables. Among the vegetables studied, leafy vegetables accumulated higher concentration of heavy metals, followed by root vegetables. Cd concentration in all the vegetables grown around Varthur and Bellandur tanks exceeded the safe limit prescribed under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA 1954). Pb and Ni concentration exceeded safe limits in all the vegetables in all the tank areas studied

Effect of Magnesium on Plant Growth, Dry Matter and Yield in Tomato (Lycipersicon esculentum L.)

A field experiment was conducted on magnesium nutrition in tomato hybrid Arka Ananya at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, for two years. Graded application of magnesium produced significant difference in fruit yield in tomato among treatments. The yield increased upto 50kg Mg ha-1 application, and decreased beyond this dose. Yield parameters like number of fruits per plant and fruit weight recorded results similar as that of yield. Growth parameters like number of branches and plant-height followed a similar trend. Growth and yield parameters were found to be well correlated with yield. Treatment T3 (50kg Mg ha-1) recorded significantly higher plant height, number of branches, fruit number, fruit weight and fruit yield over the Control, T1, where no magnesium was applied. Yield increase of 29% can be achieved with magnesium application (50kg Mg ha-1) in tomato during winter season

Environmental Risks Associated with Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil, Water and Plants in Urban and Periurban Agriculture

The India's population living in cities and urban areas has doubled to 27.8% since Independence. Our cities face enormous challenges of environmental pollution and health related problems. City authorities have often been reluctant to accept urban and periurban agriculture because of perceived health risks. Nevertheless, in most cities the world over, periurban agriculture is practiced on a substantial scale, despite prohibitive laws and regulations. Non-degradable pollutants added to the system through anthropogenic activities like heavy metals in air, soil, water and crops bother us more than others as these tend to bio-accumulate. Throughout history, heavy metal contamination has long plagued mankind - undermining intelligence and causing debasing behaviour. Toxicity of some of the heavy metals even leads to deficiency of essential metals like Zn, Cu, etc. in both human and animals. Climate, nutritional status, genetic predisposition, type of work and exposure level influence the intensity of impact on health. Permissible levels prescribed by different organizations differ because of differences in tolerance levels of people of different origins and differences in threat perception of the people. With our current level of knowledge a permanent and foolproof method to stop entry of heavy metals into the food chain is impossible. However, methods are available to reduce intensity of the effects. Alternative land use with crops not directly consumed by human beings and animals offers a better remedy to contain heavy metal entry into food chain. India has a wide ranging set of environmental laws that lay down norms for air, water, soil, wastes, etc. Legislative frame work has been developed in the belief that a policing model is sufficient. It does not go beyond that. Regulatory mechanisms may not be effective in isolated cases but are essential drivers to augment other approaches, by putting a "cap" on the level of degradation that is socially acceptable, as well as creating space for other, cleaner and more acceptable alternatives to be "viable"

Effect of Organic Nutrition Practices on Papaya (cv. Surya) Fruit Yield, Quality and Soil Health

A field experiment was conducted during 2005-07 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, on papaya cv. Surya with six organic treatments along with recommended dose of fertilizers and no manure/fertilizer application. Results indicated that crop growth and fruit yield were higher in inorganic fertilizer treatment (55 t ha1) compared to organic treatments (26.9 to 38 t ha-1). There was no significant variation in average fruit weight and TSS, but shelf life of the fruit was significantly higher in organic treatments (6.2 to 7.9 days) as compared to inorganic fertilizer treatment (5.1days). Among the treatments, application of 7 kg urban compost plant-1 or 10 kg FYM plant-1 was found to be ideal for improving soil health in terms of microbial population, and biochemical reaction compared to other treatments

Integrating Fertilizer N Rates with Organics on Soil-Available Nutrients and Yield of Sapota under Semi-Arid Conditions of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years to study the effect of various combinations of nitrogenous fertilizer (in the form of urea), vermicompost and FYM on yield and soil-available nutrients in sapota. Largest number of fruits (4820 tree-1) and maximum fruit yield (31 tons ha-1) were recorded with 10kg vermicompost + 350:50:450g NPK tree-1, and was on par with application of 40kg FYM + 350:50:450g NPK tree-1. The net profit and yield trend over the years showed that application of 10kg vermicompost + 350:50:450g NPK tree-1 was more suitable for meeting nutrient requirement for enhanced yield in sapota. Application of organics (irrespective of source) showed positive, significant effect on organic matter content of the soil after three years. Highest build-up of organic matter in the soil was recorded with 10kg vermicompost alone (T10), which was at par with 40kg FYM alone (T5). Moreover, there was a clear trend of increasing total soil nitrogen content in plots supplied with increased levels of inorganic nitrogen with organic manures, and, this was subsequently reflected in potentially mineralized nitrogen, suggesting an improved labile pool of plant-available nitrogen. Therefore, there is an obvious need to include organic manures along with the inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer for optimizing the use-efficiency of soil and applied N to achieve sustainable yields in sapota for profit

Groundwater Decline and Prolonged Drought Could Reduce Vigour, Enhance Vulnerability to Diseases and Pests and Kill Perennial Horticultural Crops: Needs Urgent Policy Intervention

Perennial horticulture in India has undergone a change from rainfed system to drip fertigation systems and from isolated hedge and bund trees to high intensity orchard systems with enhanced number of trees per unit area. In several parts, particularly in the Deccan plateau, the system has now become completely dependent on water pumped from tube wells. Severe competition for water from tube wells makes farmers to devote more water for cash rich annual crops and even sell water for city dwellers nearby. As a consequence, the groundwater level in the past three decades has fallen from few feet to above thousand feet. At several places it has crossed the “peak water”. Frequent and prolonged exposure of fruit trees and nuts to drought coupled with ground water depletion has led to soil profile drying leading to reduced vigour and enhanced vulnerability to diseases and pests. This has led to withering of fruit and nut trees. Perennial crops are likely to become increasingly maladapted to their environment, particularly in the earlier period of climate change they are more likely to be attacked by diseases and insects. Coconuts, areca nuts and mango trees have died in several places and the government constituted committees have recommended compensation to the farmers. As a country, we have dramatically increased our reliance on groundwater. 175 million Indians are now fed with food produced with the unsustainable use of groundwater. This increase has dried up rivers and lakes, because there is a hydrologic connection between groundwater and surface water. Yet the legal rules governing water use usually ignore the link between law and science. The issue needs thorough examination and needs policy interventions to come out of this vicious circle

Zinc Status in the Soils of Karnataka and Response of Horticultural Crops to Zinc Application : A Meta-analysis

Zinc is considered as the fourth important yield limiting nutrient in India, after N, P, and K. From the regular soil analysis data, Indian soils (50%) are found to be deficient in Zn and the zinc deficiency is likely to increase in future. Areas with low soil available Zn are often regions with widespread zinc deficiency in humans. Zinc malnutrition and deficiency in human is alarming and is gaining attention in recent years. Application of zinc to soil and crops is one of the simple and easiest ways to mitigate or alleviate Zn deficiency in human. Moreover Zn uptake, its translocation and yield response of various crops to applied Zn are need to be focused for finding sustainable solutions to the problem of zinc deficiency in crops and humans. In this manuscript, importance of Zn to plants and human, Zn malnutrition problems in India and global level, soil Zn status of Karnataka, various factors that responsible for Zn deficiency in the soils of Karnataka and the response of various horticultural crops to Zn application in the region is discussed. Soil maps are believed to be an important tool to delineate and manage nutrient deficient areas. It also elaborates the effective Zn management strategies to improve crop productivity and farm income