21 research outputs found
Contribution of Microbe-Mediated Processes in Nitrogen Cycle to Attain Environmental Equilibrium
Nitrogen (N), the most important element, is required by all living organisms for
the synthesis of complex organic molecules like amino acids, proteins, lipids etc.
Nitrogen cycle is considered to be the most complex yet arguably important cycle
next to carbon cycle. Nitrogen cycle includes oxic and anoxic reactions like
organic N mineralization, ammonia assimilation, nitrification denitrification,
anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to
ammonium (DNRA), comammox, codenitrification etc. Nitrogen cycling is one
of the most crucial processes required for the recycling of essential chemical
requirements on the planet. Soil microorganisms not only improve N-cycle
balance but also pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices, leading to
improved soil properties and crop productivity as most plants are opportunistic in
the uptake of soluble or available forms of N from soil. Microbial N
transformations are influenced by plants to improve their nutrition and vice
versa. Diverse microorganisms, versatile metabolic activities, and varied biotic and abiotic conditions may result in the shift in the equilibrium state of different
N-cycling processes. This chapter is an overview of the mechanisms and genes
involved in the diverse microorganisms associated in the operation of nitrogen
cycle and the roles of such microorganisms in different agroecosystems
On growth and fluctuation of Indian foodgrain production
We have analysed the variation of all-India foodgrain production over the last four decades to assess the typical magnitude of year-to-year fluctuation. This has shown that the magnitude of the variation between the foodgrain production in 1996 and 1997 is by no means unusual for normal monsoon years and such fluctuations should not have a large impact on GDP if the management of the economy allows for this natural fluctuation, Much larger year-to-year changes are expected for years with large anomalies in monsoon rainfall. The problems of sustaining the growth rate in irrigated areas and enhancing that of rainfed areas are addressed. It is suggested that to attain adequate growth rates for sustaining the per capita availability, a genuinely interdisciplinary approach is required with active participation of the farmers in identifying the optimal strategies