Soil Nutrient Mapping for On-farm Fertility Management

Feeding the projected population of 9.1 billion globally and 1.6 billion in India by 2050 is one of the greatest challenges of the century, and in this endeavour to ensure future food security, efficient soil nutrient management is crucial (Wani et al., 2003; Sahrawat et al., 2010; Chander et al., 2013). Since the era of the Green Revolution in India in the late 1960s, the focus has been on only three macronutrients, namely nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and this has brought nutrient imbalances and widespread deficiencies of micro and secondary nutrients such as sulfur (S), boron (B) and zinc (Zn) in addition to macronutrients (Wani et al., 2009; Sahrawat and Wani, 2013; Chander et al., 2014). Most farmers and stakeholders are not aware of soil fertility issues and management alongside water and crop management, which is the main reason for large yield gaps in the semi-arid tropics (SAT). In order to ensure future food security and the future of smallholder farmers, science-led interventions are needed to bridge the yield gaps in the SAT. Some pilot initiatives such as the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)—Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Programme (APRLP) initiative in Andhra Pradesh and the Bhoochetana initiative in Karnataka have shown that soil nutrient mapping is the best entry point activity to enhance productivity and livelihoods through soil-needbased fertility management (Wani et al., 2011; Chander et al., 2013; Sahrawat and Wani, 2013). This chapter therefore focuses on soil fertility management issues and the need of soil nutrient mapping for informed decisions..

Soil mapping and variety-based entry-point interventions for strengthening agriculture-based livelihoods – exemplar case of ‘Bhoochetana’ in India

Soil health diagnosis in nearly 100,000 farmers’ fields under ‘Bhoochetana’ initiative in Karnataka showed widespread soil degradation. Soil mapping-based fertilizer management was an effective entry-point intervention to take most farmers on-board to initiate the process of upgrading agriculture. Soils of the farmers’ fields showed low levels of micro- and secondary nutrients such as zinc (Zn) (55%), boron (B) (62%) and sulphur (S) (52%) in addition to that of phosphorus (P) (41%), potassium (K) (23%) and soil organic carbon (C) (52%). Soil mapping-based fertilizer management recorded significant productivity benefits that varied from 25% to 47% in cereals, 28% to 37% in pulses and 22% to 48% in oilseed crops. In terms of economics, a rupee spent on soil test-based fertility management brought returns of Rs 3 to Rs 15. Similarly, the participatory trials showed that the use of high yielding varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, groundnut, soybean, castor, pigeonpea and chickpea enhanced productivity by 30% to 123%. The tangible benefits through soil mapping and variety based interventions have enhanced the risk-taking ability of farmers to invest in technologies based on use of soil testing and use of improved cultivars of crops. The adoption of simple knowledge-based technologies as entry point interventions along with policy reorientation to ensure knowledge sharing and availability of needed inputs at village level, enabled in a period of four years (2009–2013) to outreach more than 5 million families in Karnataka to transfer improved technologies in more than 7 million ha area. The study indicates that knowledge-based entry point interventions like soil mapping and improved varieties targeted at providing simple solutions are the best options for quick benefits and rapportbuilding with the majority farmers to initiate a collective action for technological upgradation of dry land agriculture

Soil Fertility Atlas for Karnataka, India

Our research during the last decade showed that soil testing is an effective tool for diagnosing nutrient problems in farmers' fields. Soil test-based nutrient management allows a judicious use of fertilizers supplying various nutrient elements. This Atlas comprises of results from Bhoochetan Mission Project Under which a large-scale sampling was undertaken on farmers' fields in all the district of Karnataka. Bhoochetana is a mission project for enchancing agricultural productivity of rain-fed systems in the state of Karnataka by adopting science-led approach with technical backstopping from ICRISAT-led consortium. The recommendations on nutrient applications are made by using critical limits in the soil for major, secondary and micronutrients. The soil test results are categorised as sufficient (Soil test value above the critical limit of an element) or deficient (Soil test value below the critical limit)

Effect of balanced nutrition on yield and economics of vegetable crop in participatory watersheds in Karnataka.

Effect of balanced nutrition was studied on the production of various vegetable crops Including ridge gourd, bitter gourd, green chillies, brinjal, tomato, potato and onion In watersheds of several districts of Karnataka. Results of soil test analysis showed that the extent of sulphur, zinc and boron deficiency was up to 90%, besides they were low In nitrogen and low to medium In available P. Yield benefits In different vegetable crops due to balanced nutrition In Dharwad and Haveri districts varied from 16% to 52%. The maximum benefit: cost ratio was found In case of tomato (11.4:1). Similarly, In Kolar, Tumkur and Chltradurga districts, the tomato, potato, capsicum and onion yields Improved substantially due to balanced application of deficient nutrients to soil as well as foliar spray

Alleviation of Multinutrient Deficiency for Productivity Enhancement of Rain-Fed Soybean and Finger Millet in the Semi-arid Region of India

Soil nutrient contents were determined in 802 surface soil samples (0–15 cm deep) collected from farmers' fields that support extensive cultivation of soybean (Glycine max L.) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana G.), spread across three districts, in the semi-arid regions of Karnataka, India. Following soil analysis, on-farm crop trials were conducted during 2005–2007 to study the crop response to the soil application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) fertilizers. Analyses of soil samples revealed that 4–83% fields were deficient in N, 34–65% in P, 83–93% in extractable S, 53–96% in B, and 34–88% of farmers' fields were deficient in Zn. On-farm trials conducted during the three rainy seasons (2005, 2006, and 2007) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced crop productivity indices such as yields of grain, stover, and total biomass in soybean and finger millet crops. Integrated management of deficient nutrients in finger millet and soybean crops significantly enhanced the grain and straw uptake of N, P, K, S, and Zn

Multi centre study from Malaysia on student preparedness for clinical learning- Perspectives of lecturers and students from medicine, pharmacy and allied health sciences

Objectives: To determine the characteristics important in health profession students’ preparedness for clinical learning from the perspectives of lecturers and studentsMethods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at International Medical University, Perdana University and Monash University in Malaysia. All lecturers involved in preparing students for clinical learning in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, nutrition and dietetics, chiropractic and Chinese medicine and immediate preclinical students were invited. We explored views regarding student preparedness on knowledge and understanding, willingness to learn, professionalism, communication and interaction, personal attributes and interpersonal skills rated on a 7 point Likert scale in a questionnaire with 62 items.Results: A total of 187 lecturers and 317 students participated. Fifty percent of lecturers had 5-9year of experience. Neither the lecturers nor the students had differentiated or identified specific characteristics as more important over the others but rated all 62 items as important (score >5) for training. The mean score of the 6 themes for lecturers and students respectively were for knowledge and understanding (5.44,5.09), willingness (5.95,5.51), professionalism (5.89,5.49), communication and interaction (5.54,5.34), personal attributes (5.54,5.35) and interpersonal skills (5.54,5.38). Interesting suggestions such as promotion of inter-professional learning among student from different disciplines, case discussions as a team with other professional categories, self reflection for lecturers regarding their attitudes towards students and teaching methods had been stated by students.Conclusions: Both lecturers and students deem that the knowledge and understanding is not the most important characteristic that makes a student better prepared for clinical learning.

Bhoochetana: Building Resilience and Livelihoods through Integrated Watershed Management. Resilient Dryland Systems Report No. 62.

Rainfed areas are hotspots of poverty and malnutrition, and are prone to severe land degradation of natural resources. Globally, 80% of agriculture is rainfed providing 62% of the world’s staple food. With increasing population over the years, per capita availability and quality of land and water resources have declined substantially resulting to water scarcity. Agriculture is the major consumer of water, accounting for 70-80% of water withdrawal. With the impacts of climate change, existing water and land scarcity will be aggravated further. Producing food for the ever growing population to achieve food and nutrition security, and improving rural livelihoods are challenges to be met today as well as in the near future. Agriculture is the major contributor in the growth of the state of Karnataka, India and is still the mainstay for a large number of population in the state economy. However, trends are showing that the agriculture and allied sectors’ contribution to Karnataka’s GDP was around 43% in 1980-1981 that came down to 26% in 2001-2002, which further came down to 16.8% in 2007-2008, remaining stagnant in 2009-2010. This declining contribution of agriculture in the state GDP was a big concern for the state government

Managing soil fertility constraints in market-led shift to high value agriculture for benefiting smallholders in the semi-arid tropics

Low productivity and cultivation of low value crops in the Indian semi-arid tropics (SAT) is the main cause for poor farm-based livelihoods. Poverty leading to low risktaking ability of farmers and production related constraints like widespread multi-nutrient deficiencies are major stumbling blocks for shifting to high value agriculture. Realizing the need to support povertyentrapped smallholders to connect to markets, the government of Karnataka state in India supported market-led shift to high value agriculture through a consortium of technical institutions and convergence of agricultural schemes. New widespread deficiencies of secondary and micronutrients like sulfur (52% farms), zinc (55%) and boron (62%) along with earlier known deficiencies of nitrogen (52%) and phosphorus (41%) were identified as main constraints for realizing productivity potential and a threat for sustainability. Policy supported initiative during 2011/12 showed more economic returns with diversified high value crops and strengthened 0.23 million smallholders. On-farm evaluations of soil test-based nutrient balancing to tomato, okra, brinjal, chilies, onion, cabbage and beans increased productivity by 5 to 58% over the farmers’ practice of adding macronutrients only. Small additional cost (` 770 to 1520 per ha) of balanced nutrition significantly increased additional benefits (` 5300 to 74,000 per ha) with fairly high cost-benefit ratio (1:4 to 1:82). Substantial returns enhanced risk-taking ability of smallholders to manage productivity constraints in future by themselves. Results showed that initial little investments in science and market-led social assistance programs should be a way forward for mainstreaming poverty-entrapped smallholders in other parts of SAT

Protocol for process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial of family-led rehabilitation post stroke (ATTEND) in India

Introduction We are undertaking a randomised controlled trial (fAmily led rehabiliTaTion aftEr stroke in INDia, ATTEND) evaluating training a family carer to enable maximal rehabilitation of patients with stroke-related disability; as a potentially affordable, culturally acceptable and effective intervention for use in India. A process evaluation is needed to understand how and why this complex intervention may be effective, and to capture important barriers and facilitators to its implementation. We describe the protocol for our process evaluation to encourage the development of in-process evaluation methodology and transparency in reporting. Methods and analysis The realist and RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) frameworks informed the design. Mixed methods include semistructured interviews with health providers, patients and their carers, analysis of quantitative process data describing fidelity and dose of intervention, observations of trial set up and implementation, and the analysis of the cost data from the patients and their families perspective and programme budgets. These qualitative and quantitative data will be analysed iteratively prior to knowing the quantitative outcomes of the trial, and then triangulated with the results from the primary outcome evaluation. Ethics and dissemination The process evaluation has received ethical approval for all sites in India. In low-income and middle-income countries, the available human capital can form an approach to reducing the evidence practice gap, compared with the high cost alternatives available in established market economies. This process evaluation will provide insights into how such a programme can be implemented in practice and brought to scale. Through local stakeholder engagement and dissemination of findings globally we hope to build on patient-centred, cost-effective and sustainable models of stroke rehabilitation. Trial registration number CTRI/2013/04/003557

Finding Diagnostically Useful Patterns in Quantitative Phenotypic Data.

Trio-based whole-exome sequence (WES) data have established confident genetic diagnoses in ∼40% of previously undiagnosed individuals recruited to the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) study. Here we aim to use the breadth of phenotypic information recorded in DDD to augment diagnosis and disease variant discovery in probands. Median Euclidean distances (mEuD) were employed as a simple measure of similarity of quantitative phenotypic data within sets of ≥10 individuals with plausibly causative de novo mutations (DNM) in 28 different developmental disorder genes. 13/28 (46.4%) showed significant similarity for growth or developmental milestone metrics, 10/28 (35.7%) showed similarity in HPO term usage, and 12/28 (43%) showed no phenotypic similarity. Pairwise comparisons of individuals with high-impact inherited variants to the 32 individuals with causative DNM in ANKRD11 using only growth z-scores highlighted 5 likely causative inherited variants and two unrecognized DNM resulting in an 18% diagnostic uplift for this gene. Using an independent approach, naive Bayes classification of growth and developmental data produced reasonably discriminative models for the 24 DNM genes with sufficiently complete data. An unsupervised naive Bayes classification of 6,993 probands with WES data and sufficient phenotypic information defined 23 in silico syndromes (ISSs) and was used to test a "phenotype first" approach to the discovery of causative genotypes using WES variants strictly filtered on allele frequency, mutation consequence, and evidence of constraint in humans. This highlighted heterozygous de novo nonsynonymous variants in SPTBN2 as causative in three DDD probands