Mungbean yield and nutrient uptake performance in response of NPK and lime levels under acid soil in Vindhyan region, India

A field experiment was conducted to understanding the management of soil acidity with NPK and lime levels for sustainable mungbean productivity, Crop was sown during kharif season of 2014at Agronomy farm of Rajiv Gandhi South Campus Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Results of the study demonstrated that significant improvement in seed (524 kg /ha), straw (1426 kg /ha), biological yield (1949 kg/ha) and total NPK uptake (96.68 kg/ha) were recorded in 100% RDF. Similar results were observed with application of 200 kg lime/ha in mungbean. Interaction effect was also recorded at P=0.05 level of significance between fertility and lime levels on mungbean seed (622 kg/ha) and biological (2145kg/ha) yield with 100 % RDF + 200 kg lime/ha which were observed highest than all other treatments. Moreover, highest B:C ratio was observed with the application of 200 kg lime/ha. The present study revealed that soil acidity problems affecting pulses productivity, can be overcome with applications of 100% RDF and 200 kg lime/ha in Vindhyan region, India

Response of bio-regulators to morphology and yield of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] under different sowing environments

An experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2014, aims of the experiment were to investigate suitable sowing environment and bio-regulator and its effect on clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.), experimental treatments were applied foliar spray of thiourea (500, 1000 ppm) and salicylic acid (50, 100 ppm) at 45 and 60 days after sowing under normal (15 July) and late (30 July) sowing environments. Normal sowing performed well as compared to late sowing, in respect to all morphology and yield parameters. Amongst foliar spray, significantly higher plant height (100.17 cm), number of branches per plant (7.99), leaf area index (4.85), seed yield (9.19 q/ha) and harvest index (29.39) were recorded in foliar spray of thiourea 500 ppm as compared to all other bio-regulators spray level. Similarly, salicylic acid 100 ppm found statistically at par with thiourea 500 ppm foliar spray at 45 and 60 DAS. Impacts of climate change have significant reflections on clusterbean productivity. Sowing dates plays a vital role to determining the productivity of clusterbean with bio-regulators spray by controlling the environmental factors

Delineation of Soil Moisture Potentials and Moisture Balance Components

Root architecture in soils is directly affecting crop yield potential, through influencing the moisture potential of soil and its balance components, as only transpiration share is useful for them. Soil moisture potential responsible for the soil moisture curves on the basis of differential energy states is quite important. Generally, a soil moisture flow rate is considered for its kinetic energy. Consequently, soil moisture energy state is defined by its equivalent potential energy, which is by virtue of its place in a force field which could assist to improve the water-use efficiency. Irrigation water losses significantly occur under the flood irrigation through evaporation, seepage, and drainage. While the soil moisture potential declines with help of the tensiometer, and significantly save the irrigation water. For evaluating the performance of any resource conservation technologies (RCT) in the region, estimation of the evapotranspiration (ET) is very important to analyze the effect of the RCT. It is also helpful in balancing the nutrient inflows in the plants through roots, which results to the improvement of land and water productivity. Hence, delineation of the soil moisture potentials and moisture balance components is important to improve the land as well as water productivity; it makes the livelihood security better in the water-stressed regions on the globe. This chapter deals with the methodological part of soil moisture potentials and moisture balance components, which is useful for the policymakers, modelers, scientists, students, and teachers engaged in the irrigation experiments under texturally divergent soils

Influence of crop geometry and cultivars on growth, yield and production efficiency of dry direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif (summer) season of 2014, aim of the experiment was to investigate suitable crop geometry and cultivar and their influences on performance of dry direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.), experimental treatments were consisting of 15 treatments, namely, main plots: five cultivars (MTU 7029, NDR 97, HUR 105, HUR 4-3 and PRH-10) and sub-plots: three crop geometry’s (20 x 10, 20 x 20 and 25 x 25 cm2). All the data recorded were statistically analyzed using the standard procedures of split-plot design. The results indicated that amongst cultivars, aromatic rice hybrid PRH-10 recorded significantly more grain yield (5582.32 kg/ha) than cultivar HUR 4-3 (4612.99 kg/ha) and NDR 97 (3397.82 kg/ha), whereas; it was statistically comparable with cultivar MTU 7029 (5489.24 kg/ha) and HUR 105 (5022.03 kg/ha). The cultivar PRH-10 also registered higher gross return (105771.9 `/ha), net return (66389.08 `/ha) and production efficiency (592.76 `/ha/day) than the remaining cultivars. The higher grain yield of PRH-10 over these cultivars was due to considerable improvement in most of its yield attributing characters like panicle length (27.92 cm), a number of grains/panicle (178.70) and test weight (26.35 g). In a case of crop geometry treatment, plant spacing of 25 x 25 cm2 recorded higher grain yield as compared to remaining plant spacing while the plant spacing of 20 x 10 cm2 recorded higher gross return, net return and production efficiency as compared to 20 x 20 and 25 x 25 cm2. Plant geometry plays an imperative role towards improving the grain yield of cultivars in direct seeded rice by optimal utilization of natural resources. Therefore, for getting higher net return and production efficiency, cultivar PRH-10 at plant spacing 20 x 10 cm2 can be raised in dry direct-seeded rice in Varanasi region of Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Probing the potential of bioactive compounds of millets as an inhibitor for lifestyle diseases: molecular docking and simulation-based approach

Millets are becoming more popular as a healthy substitute for people with lifestyle disorders. They offer dietary fiber, polyphenols, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, protein, and antioxidants. The nutritional importance of millets leads to the present in-silico study of selective bioactive compounds docked against the targets of lifestyle diseases, viz., diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis using molecular docking and molecular simulations approach. Pharmacokinetic analysis was also carried out to analyse ADME properties and toxicity analysis, drug-likeliness, and finally target prediction for new targets for uncharacterized compounds or secondary targets for recognized molecules by Swiss Target Prediction was also done. The docking results revealed that the bioactive compound flavan-4-ol, among all the 50 compounds studied, best docked to all the four targets of lifestyle diseases, viz., Human dipeptidyl peptidase IV (−5.94 kcal mol−1 binding energy), Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (−6.49 kcal mol−1) diabetes-related enzyme, the Human angiotensin-converting enzyme (−6.31 kcal mol−1) which plays a significant role in hypertension, and Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (−4.67 kcal mol−1) for atherosclerosis. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis substantiates that the flavan-4-ol forms a better stability complex with all the targets. ADMET profiles further strengthened the candidature of the flavan-4-ol bioactive compound to be considered for trial as an inhibitor of targets DPPIV, SGLT2, PCSK9, and hACE. We suggest that more research be conducted, taking Flavon-4-ol into account where it can be used as standard treatment for lifestyle diseases

Forest Soil Water in Landscape Context

Forests play an irreplaceable role in linking the water cycle with the functions of soil. Soil water not only enhances the stability of forests, but also its run-off and evaporation affects the growth of plants in different ecosystems. The forest soil water balance is contextualized within the immediate and more global landscapes, in terms of relations of water to the soil environment and bedrock, participation in the local water cycle within a catchment basin and in the global cycle between ecosystems. Modifications by human civilization can have significant impacts, including erosion intensification, eutrophication, salinization, spreading of single-species plantations, and regime shifts. Forests regulate the movement of water in the soil environment by reducing the intensity of run-off. Such moderated run-off prevents the occurrence of flash floods, maintaining continuous availability of water for plant and human use. Participation of soil water in the cycling of elements in forests is modified by soil organic matter balance. The preservation of hydric functions in forest soils depends on prioritization of water balance restoration in every catchment basin enclosing the local element cycle. More fundamentally, the development of a synergistically interlinked system, centered around the soil-forest-water-civilization nexus, must become an urgent priority

Consequences and Mitigation Strategies of Heat Stress for Sustainability of Soybean (<em>Glycine max</em> L. Merr.) Production under the Changing Climate

Increasing ambient temperature is a major climatic factor that negatively affects plant growth and development, and causes significant losses in soybean crop yield worldwide. Thus, high temperatures (HT) result in less seed germination, which leads to pathogenic infection, and decreases the economic yield of soybean. In addition, the efficiency of photosynthesis and transpiration of plants are affected by high temperatures, which have negative impact on the physio-biochemical process in the plant system, finally deteriorate the yield and quality of the affected crop. However, plants have several mechanisms of specific cellular detection of HT stress that help in the transduction of signals, producing the activation of transcription factors and genes to counteract the harmful effects caused by the stressful condition. Among the contributors to help the plant in re-establishing cellular homeostasis are the applications of organic stimulants (antioxidants, osmoprotectants, and hormones), which enhance the productivity and quality of soybean against HT stress. In this chapter, we summarized the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of soybean plants at various growth stages under HT. Furthermore, it also depicts the mitigation strategies to overcome the adverse effects of HT on soybean using exogenous applications of bioregulators. These studies intend to increase the understanding of exogenous biochemical compounds that could reduce the adverse effects of HT on the growth, yield, and quality of soybean

Elevated CO₂ Concentration Improves Heat-Tolerant Ability in Crops

The rising concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (aCO2) and increasing temperature are the main reasons for climate change, which are significantly affecting crop production systems in this world. However, the elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration can improve the growth and development of crop plants by increasing photosynthetic rate (higher availability of photoassimilates). The combined effects of elevated CO2 (eCO2) and temperature on crop growth and carbon metabolism are not adequately recognized, while both eCO2 and temperature triggered noteworthy changes in crop production. Therefore, to increase crop yields, it is important to identify the physiological mechanisms and genetic traits of crop plants which play a vital role in stress tolerance under the prevailing conditions. The eCO2 and temperature stress effects on physiological aspects as well as biochemical profile to characterize genotypes that differ in their response to stress conditions. The aim of this review is directed the open-top cavities to regulate the properties like physiological, biochemical, and yield of crops under increasing aCO2, and temperature. Overall, the extent of the effect of eCO2 and temperature response to biochemical components and antioxidants remains unclear, and therefore further studies are required to promote an unperturbed production system

Maize Adaptability to Heat Stress under Changing Climate

The rapidly increasing human population is an alarming issue and would need more food production under changing climate. Abiotic stresses like heat stress and temperature fluctuation are becoming key issues to be addressed for boosting crop production. Maize growth and productivity are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Grain yield losses in maize from heat stress are expected to increase owing to higher temperatures during the growing season. This situation demands the development of maize hybrids tolerant to heat and drought stresses without compromising grain yield under stress conditions. The chapter aimed to assess the updates on the influence of high-temperature stress (HTS) on the physio-biochemical processes in plants and to draw an association between yield components and heat stress on maize. Moreover, exogenous applications of protectants, antioxidants, and signaling molecules induce HTS tolerance in maize plants and could help the plants cope with HTS by scavenging reactive oxygen species, upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, and protection of cellular membranes by the accrual of compatible osmolytes. It is expected that a better thought of the physiological basis of HTS tolerance in maize plants will help to develop HTS maize cultivars. Developing HTS-tolerant maize varieties may ensure crops production sustainability along with promoting food and feed security under changing climate

Diversity in the Rice–Wheat System with Genetically Modified Zinc and Iron-Enriched Varieties to Achieve Nutritional Security

The rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system (RWCS) feeds more than 6 billion people in South Asia and across the world. In developing countries, almost 2 billion individuals are suffering from Zn and Fe micronutrient deficiency. This study aimed to adopt genetically enriched varieties of rice and wheat to manage the Zn and Fe deficiency with organic and inorganic fertilization in the food system. The experiment was designed for two years (2018–2019) under the split-plot design and was replicated three times. The results of the study indicate that the highest grain yield of wheat and rice was increased by 67.09 and 58.41 and 44.10 and 33.21% more NPKFeZn in the applied treatments compared to the control treatment during both years, respectively. The treatment carpet waste and Trichoderma viride was performed for higher yields (grain, straw, and biological) as compared to the rest of the treatment. In the main-plot, with application of NPKFeZn, higher Fe and Zn ranges of 54.27 and 52.91 and 35.71 and 34.29 parts per million (ppm), respectively, were recorded during both years. Similarly, the residual effects of NPKFeZn treatment in rice Fe and Zn concentration were recorded at 44.17 and 41.22 and 27.55 and 24.19 ppm during both years, respectively. It was found that there was 49.18 and 42.12 and 25.28 and 19.94% more Fe and Zn content, respectively, in grain as compared to the traditional varieties range of 33 and 14 ppm for Fe and Zn, respectively. Ina sub-plot, for the wheat in carpet waste and Trichoderma viride treatment, the Fe and Zn contents were recorded as 55.21 and 54.62 and 37.05 and 35.53 ppm for the two years, respectively. In the traditional varieties of wheat, the range of Fe and Zn contents was 30 and 32 ppm, respectively. In the sub-plot of succeeding rice in carpet waste and Trichoderma viride treatment contents of Fe and Zn of 43.27 and 40.43 and 26.67 and 23.37 ppm were recorded during both years, respectively. On the basis of the interaction effect, the maximum total Fe and Zn uptake by wheat of 0.84 and 0.50 kg ha−1, respectively, were recorded in the N3 × B1C3 treatments. Likewise, the maximum total Fe and Zn uptakes by rice of 0.62 and 0.39 kg ha−1, respectively, were recorded with the interaction effect of N3 × B1C3 treatments. The hypothesis of the experiment was to manage malnutrition in society by diversifying genetically modified rice–wheat varieties in the RWCS. This research might assist in increasing nutritional security