Aniruddha Maity | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (original) (raw)

Papers by Aniruddha Maity

Carbon Management in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Terrestrial Systems, 2019

Agriculture today is at crossroads facing challenge of efficient food production due to a growing... more Agriculture today is at crossroads facing challenge of efficient food production due to a growing population burden and a shrinking arable land base and water resources. Current important challenges of agriculture include, but not limited to, food security, sustainability of natural resources, improving nutrient use efficiency, production of nutrient-enriched agriculture for maintaining human health and healthy life, and climate change. In the era of climate change, nanotechnology could be useful in mitigating climate change by trapping C in terrestrial pools. The nanomaterials due to their unique properties at nanoscale are reported to enhance carbon stabilization and its possible sequestration in soil. However, contradictory reports on the potential impact of nanomaterials on soil microorganisms are one of the major reasons to limit the adoption of this technology at large scale for mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, continuous efforts are needed to explore the possibility of nanotechnology in C sequestration without compromising ecosystem productivity for developing a climate smart agriculture. This chapter aimed at highlighting the potential of nanomaterials for improved C management in soil and the future research prospects in nanotechnology research pertaining to soil carbon study.

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2017

A field experiment was conducted to identify the appropriate herbicide for weed control in bersee... more A field experiment was conducted to identify the appropriate herbicide for weed control in berseem. Oxyfluorfen @ 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 kg a.i./ha as preemergence; imazethapyr @ 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 kg a.i./ha as post-emergence and a combination of oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg a.i./ha followed by imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha after the first cut were tested with weed free and weedy check. Post-emergence application of imazethapyr at twenty days after sowing @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha recorded significantly lowest weed intensity (4.66, 4.43 and 4.14/m2), weed dry weight (3.29, 3.24 and 3.15 g/m2) and highest weed control efficiency (82.49, 79.14 and 70.93%) than weedy check and other herbicide treatments at first, second and third cut. It resulted in significant increase in growth and yield attributes of berssem. Application of imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha surpassed other treatments except the weed free with respect to green fodder (404.45 q/ha), seed (3.50 q/ha) and straw (25.79 q/ha) yields and generated ...

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2020

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different herbicides on weed growth, green ... more An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different herbicides on weed growth, green fodder and seed yields of berseem during the winter season of 2014–15 to 2016–17 at Central Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, India. Two herbicides in seven treatment combinations viz., oxyfluorfen @ 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 kg/ha at 0–3 days after sowing, imazethapyr @ 0.05, 0.075 and 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing, oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha (0–3 days after sowing) followed by imazethapyr @ 0.100 kg/ha after first cut were evaluated with weed free and weedy check treatments. Application of imazethapyr @ 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing effectively reduced the density of Coronopus didymus, Rumex dentatus, Spergula arvensis, Anagalis arvensis, Chenopodium album and other kind of weeds and recorded the lowest weed dry weight (3.29, 3.24 and 3.15 g/m2) at first, second and third cut of berseem. When compared to other treatments, application of ...

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 109, NO. 9, 10 NOVEMBER 2015 1557 The views expressed here are those of the... more CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 109, NO. 9, 10 NOVEMBER 2015 1557 The views expressed here are those of the authors’ and not necessarily of the organization they are attached with. Anirban Mukherjee is in the Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, India and Aniruddha Maity is in the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India. *For correspondence. (e-mail: amaity.icar@gmail.com) Public–private partnership for convergence of extension services in Indian agriculture

32-33HUMAN activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are pro... more 32-33HUMAN activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are progressively having a major consequence on the interactive global systems driven by climate, land, water and vegetation leading to a slow but steady change in intensity of these components. </span

Indian farming, 2014

The global changes and the constant increase in the erosion of the natural ecosystem emphasize th... more The global changes and the constant increase in the erosion of the natural ecosystem emphasize the importance of soil solarization as a viable non chemical integrated pest management tool in agricultural production systems. As an established soil-borne pests control method, the effectiveness of soil solarization is well demonstrated under various agroecosystems, both in regions with high levels of solar radiation and in cloudy weather condition. Future research should aim at the development of improved technology, e.g. cheaper and more environmentally accepted mulching technology; large-scale application technologies; and new plastic formulations for improved soil temperature transmission in the vertical soil profile. These improvements should extend the use of this technology beyond the season limitations and make soil solarization suitable for marginal climatic regions and for less profitable crops. Also, these improvements will expand the range of the controlled pests and reduce ...

Since time immemorial, seed has been stored through indigenous methods as per people’s convenienc... more Since time immemorial, seed has been stored through indigenous methods as per people’s convenience and access to contemporary technologies. Thus, indigenous traditional methods have become essential component of sustainable agriculture and it varies from region to region. However, with modernization, urbanization and the associated technological breakthroughs, the indigenous technologies have been eroded and are not passed on to next generation. In the present study, attempt has been made to identify some of the traditional methods and associated knowledge called Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK), linked to storage of seeds and grains followed by the people of Sikkim, the organic state of North-eastern India. ITKs were collected from 04 villages of east district and 02 villages of west district of Sikkim. Total of 06 ( bhakari, kotha, jhutta, dalo, chindo and dhikuti ) traditional storage structures were identified which are commonly used by the people of Sikkim to store grains...

Current Science, 2017

Historically soils have been classified according to their appearance and characteristics. The Ch... more Historically soils have been classified according to their appearance and characteristics. The Chinese textbook, Yugond (2500 BC) is probably the first ever on soil classification; indeed, it provided an effective and interpretative classification. Dokuchaev and others used vernacular soils like chernozem, solonetz and gley as central concepts for scientific classification. Vernacular soil names have been used throughout history and helped provide the basis of scientific classification. Folk soil taxonomies were characterized, developed, refined and used generation after generation through time-tested trials and errors. Basically, indigenous wisdom which farmers have acquired and preserved over time has repeatedly been ignored rather than streamlined. Scientific systems and detailed soil mapping have already replaced folk taxonomies, especially in the more developed countries.

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2017

In the present experiment, a resource poor farmer's recipe with modified process was standard... more In the present experiment, a resource poor farmer's recipe with modified process was standardized for grass seed (Dinanath) pelleting that improved the seed germination and vigour with the use of an indigenous, tyre based automatic machine for efficient and quick seed pelleting at farm level. Small beads of pelleting material were prepared initially by controlling the rotation of the tyre and then true seeds of grass were dusted on the beads in the rotating tyre. Soil was proved to be the best pelleting material both economically and technically. A number of seeds ranging from 8–10 per pellet accumulate enough force to come out of the pellet. Soil seed pellets when enriched with combination of nutrient mixture [nitrogen through urea (1%), phosphorous through single super phosphate (10%), potassium through muriate of potash (2%) and other micronutrients in minute concentration], cold solution of KNO3 (0.2%) and Bavistin as fungicide, resulted in enhanced seed germination, boosted...

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021

Seed shattering refers to the natural shedding of seeds when they ripe, a phenomenon typically ob... more Seed shattering refers to the natural shedding of seeds when they ripe, a phenomenon typically observed in wild and weedy plant species. The timing and extent of this phenomenon varies considerably among plant species. Seed shattering is primarily a genetically controlled trait; however, it is significantly influenced by environmental conditions, management practices and their interactions, especially in agro-ecosystems. This trait is undesirable in domesticated crops where consistent efforts have been made to minimize it through conventional and molecular breeding approaches. However, this evolutionary trait serves as an important fitness and survival mechanism for most weeds that utilize it to ensure efficient dispersal of their seeds, paving the way for persistent soil seedbank development and sustained future populations. Weeds have continuously evolved variations in seed shattering as an adaptation under changing management regimes. High seed retention is common in many croppin...

Current Science, 2020

Mechanized farming for vegetable production has evolved as an integral part of commercial agricul... more Mechanized farming for vegetable production has evolved as an integral part of commercial agriculture during the past few decades. As a first step towards mechanized farming the use of tractors in Indian agriculture has increased by 528% during the period 1990-91 to 2018-19 from 0.15 to 0.8 million/year. Undoubtedly, use of such technologies has made vegetable as well as foodgrain production a profitable venture by easing land preparation, weed management and other intercultural operations, crop harvesting, etc. However, their continuous use in production fields has resulted in the substantial compaction of soil along the wheel lines of tractors and similar heavy machinery. Reports indicate a significant yield loss (13-73%) owing to soil compaction because it restricts root penetrance into the soil, limiting nutrient and water uptake by the plants, and also potential water stagnation, which can limit the normal activities of respiring roots leading to retarded plant growth and root diseases. In this context, control traffic farming (CTF), which aims to reduce the area affected by the operation of heavy machinery that otherwise lead to soil compaction, brings a substantial value to the current global focus of sustainable and precision farming. CTF attempts to restrict the spatial movement of machinery wheels to fewer operation lanes during and across production cycles for a long time and allows specifically the undisturbed areas of soil for crop production. Research confirms a significant improvement in crop yield in different crop production systems worldwide and reduction in methane emission due to soil absorption (372-2100%) compared to random traffic farming. In this article, we discuss the advantages of CTF in terms of root growth, nutrient mobilization and energy efficiency of the vegetable production system, and also argue on its scope in the Indian context, given the situation that no or only a few studies have been reported from the country.

Heliyon, 2020

The effect of duration of conservation agriculture adoption on soil carbon dynamics and system su... more The effect of duration of conservation agriculture adoption on soil carbon dynamics and system sustainability was evaluated on farms of 30 villages in the Nilokheri block of Karnal district, Haryana, India. Sustainability was evaluated, in which a number of soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters were measured and a Sustainability Index (SI) was applied. Soil samples were collected from existing conservation agriculture (CA) and conventional tillage (CT) farms. Villages under CA practices were subdivided as CA3, CA6, and CA9 based on the number of years of CA practice adoption. Results showed that bulk density (BD) of 0-15 cm soil depth was 7% greater in CA3 plots, whereas in CA6 and CA9 plots BD values were only 2% and 3% higher than CT. Soil organic carbon (SOC) in 0-15 cm soil depth was found to be greater by 16.32% in CA3 than CT plots, whereas SOC was higher by 38.77% and 61.22% in CA6 and CA9. In CA, for the 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths, labile pools were 36% and 22% greater than CT, respectively. For both the soil depths in CA, the recalcitrant pool was 12% and 9% more than CT, respectively. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) values of the 0-15 cm soil depth were increased over CT by 18.57%, 47.08%, and 71.5% for CA3, CA6, and CA9 respectively. In CA plots, the SI of 0-15 cm soil depth ranged between cumulative ratings (CR) of 18-21, which indicates that CA practice is "sustainable" for both soil depths. For CT, CR ranged from 25 to 30 for both soil depths resulting in a SI of "sustainability with high input". Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) scores showed that SOC had the maximum weight (0.96) towards sustainability, giving it a rank of 1. Effective rooting depth (ERD), BD, texture, and wilting point (WP) ranked 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, indicating their corresponding weight of contribution towards the SI. Farmers in the Karnal district should be encouraged to adopt CA practices as they can increase SOC and move the systems from "sustainable with high input" to "sustainable".

Journal of Environmental Biology, 2018

Evaluate ef!cacy of CuO and ZnO NPs Seed Myco"ora Seed quality parameters Poison food technique f... more Evaluate ef!cacy of CuO and ZnO NPs Seed Myco"ora Seed quality parameters Poison food technique for radial growth assay Seed germination Shoot Length Root Length Seedling Dry weight Cuo has greater antifungal activity than ZnO NPs have positive impact on seed quality parameters at lower concentration but reverse was noticed at higher doses Cuo and ZnO NPs could be used as effective seed protectants against seed borne myco"ora Hanging drop technique for spore germination assay O n l i n e C o p y

Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World, 2020

Indian agricultural growth has reduced from about 3.6% in 1985–1995 to less than 2% in 1995–2005.... more Indian agricultural growth has reduced from about 3.6% in 1985–1995 to less than 2% in 1995–2005. This is far below than the targeted 4% annual growth in agricultural sector for 2020. The major concern is food grain production. Among the many scientific advancements, nanotechnology (NT) has been identified as a potential technology for reviving the agriculture and food industry and can improve livelihood of poor. Various sectors like health care, materials, textile, information and communication technology (ITC), and energy can get huge benefits from nanotechnology. In agricultural sector in particular, nanotechnology plays an important role in crop production, food processing and packaging, food security and water purification, environmental remediation, crop improvement, and plant protection. Agricultural productivity can be improved through nanomaterial-induced genetically improved animals and plants, site-specific drug and gene delivery of molecules at cellular/molecular levels in animals and plants, and nano-array-based genetic modification in animals and plants in stress conditions. Nanotechnology has the potential of precise delivery of agrochemicals for improving disease resistance, plant growth, and nutrient use. Nanoencapsulated products show the ability of more effective and site-specific use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in an eco-friendly and greener way. It is successfully used in postharvest for maintaining freshness, quality, and shelf life of stored product and preventing disease occurrences in a fairly safer way. The use of nanomaterials is quite new in agriculture and it requires additional research. Social and ethical repercussions of nanotechnology uses in agriculture have to be considered. Before commercialization and field application, toxicity of nanomaterials has to be evaluated.

Soon after the introduction of green revolution, a parallel increment in percent food grain produ... more Soon after the introduction of green revolution, a parallel increment in percent food grain production and losses has been reported in India, which impedes the mission of achieving food security in India. In parts, among the major causes of these losses are the reluctance among farmers, especially of small holding, towards adoption of scientific storage methods/technologies and inability of the national agencies to meet the challenges imposed by the supply of surplus grains to them by the farmers. Although sets of traditional and improved grain storage technologies exist among Indian farming communities, a controversial account about their effectiveness and performance is available in the literature which negatively impacts the endeavour of bringing rapid developmental in the farming society. In a developing nation like India, a large section of farmers is often either unaware of the modern technologies or cannot logistically access them. They often rely on the traditional or semi-m...

International Journal of Chemical Studies, 2020

A study was conducted in a net house to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with nano zinc oxid... more A study was conducted in a net house to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with nano zinc oxide (250, 500, 750 and 1000 µg ml-1) and nano copper oxide (50, 100, 200 and 400 µg ml-1) on seed germination and growth of barley under pot conditions. The results were compared with macro forms (ZnSO4, ZnO, CuSO4 and CuO). It was found that 500 µg ml-1 of nZnO enhanced germination percentage and shoot length as compared to other treatments while other plant growth attributes were similar in all the treatments except the control. In case of nCuO, highest germination percentage was recorded with 100 µg ml-1 nCuO. Spikelet number and shoot fresh weight were found higher at 200 µg ml-1 nCuO, while stem dry weight, shoot length and root fresh weight were highest in the treatment having macro CuSO4. However all the plant growth attributes were significantly higher in all the treatments than control. Our study indicated that micronutrients requirement can be fulfilled using nano-metal oxides through seed treatment to increase the growth and yield in barley.

International Journal of Biometeorology, 2019

Field experiments were conducted for 2 years to examine the response of stigma in two different p... more Field experiments were conducted for 2 years to examine the response of stigma in two different pollination systems, viz., CMS line (MJA5) and open-pollinated variety (Pusa Bold) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), to varying weather conditions created by different sowing dates. The CMS line MJA5 (female) with its male line in 8:2 (A:R) row ratio, and Pusa Bold in an isolated field were sown on 21st of October, 30th of October, and 18th of November in 2 consecutive years in North Indian condition. Temporal differences in sowing provided differed weather conditions during flowering, which resulted in variations in the duration to attain the peak flowering stage. Stigma was receptive for longer duration (8 days from the day of anthesis) in CMS line which needs an external pollen source for fertilization to happen, whereas it was only 4 days in open-pollinated variety, assessed in terms of siliqua set and number of seeds/siliqua. Substantial effect of sowing date on stigma receptivity was observed; it was longer in plants sown during October in comparison to those of November in both years. The energy requirement parameters, viz., growing degree days and photo-thermal unit, confirmed that plants sown later failed to accumulate sufficient energy for satisfactory phenological growth and for good seed development.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 2016

Assessment of effect of nanoparticles on plant growth is essential before adopting nanotechnology... more Assessment of effect of nanoparticles on plant growth is essential before adopting nanotechnology in agricultural sector. Four types of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) viz. Zinc oxide (ZnO), Titanium oxide (TiO 2), Copper oxide (CuO) and Silver (Ag) were studied for their effect on seed germination, vigour and yield in fodder crops, oat and berseem. Nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized before seed treatment. Seeds were treated with NPs at 750 mg (D1), 1000 mg (D2) and 1250 mg/kg of seed (D3). The effect of nanoparticles on seed germination and vigour was studied in the laboratory and seedling emergence rate, tiller number and seed yield were studied in the field. Nanoparticles (except TiO 2 and CuO in berseem) enhanced germination at lower dose (D1), but reduction in root and shoot length was noticed at higher doses (D2 and D3). All four types of nanoparticles (NPs) in oat and only Ag in case of berseem enhanced germination to 100 % at lowest dose (D1). Substantial changes were noticed in field observations due to nanoparticle treatments regarding seedling emergence rate, tiller number and seed yield. Among the different NPs, TiO 2 produced maximum seed yield at highest dose. No significant effect of nanoparticles on soil microbial populations was noticed during the field study. The experiment confirmed the dosespecific effect of nanoparticles on seed germination, crop growth and seed yield in oat and berseem crops.

Carbon Management in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Terrestrial Systems, 2019

Agriculture today is at crossroads facing challenge of efficient food production due to a growing... more Agriculture today is at crossroads facing challenge of efficient food production due to a growing population burden and a shrinking arable land base and water resources. Current important challenges of agriculture include, but not limited to, food security, sustainability of natural resources, improving nutrient use efficiency, production of nutrient-enriched agriculture for maintaining human health and healthy life, and climate change. In the era of climate change, nanotechnology could be useful in mitigating climate change by trapping C in terrestrial pools. The nanomaterials due to their unique properties at nanoscale are reported to enhance carbon stabilization and its possible sequestration in soil. However, contradictory reports on the potential impact of nanomaterials on soil microorganisms are one of the major reasons to limit the adoption of this technology at large scale for mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, continuous efforts are needed to explore the possibility of nanotechnology in C sequestration without compromising ecosystem productivity for developing a climate smart agriculture. This chapter aimed at highlighting the potential of nanomaterials for improved C management in soil and the future research prospects in nanotechnology research pertaining to soil carbon study.

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2017

A field experiment was conducted to identify the appropriate herbicide for weed control in bersee... more A field experiment was conducted to identify the appropriate herbicide for weed control in berseem. Oxyfluorfen @ 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 kg a.i./ha as preemergence; imazethapyr @ 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 kg a.i./ha as post-emergence and a combination of oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg a.i./ha followed by imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha after the first cut were tested with weed free and weedy check. Post-emergence application of imazethapyr at twenty days after sowing @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha recorded significantly lowest weed intensity (4.66, 4.43 and 4.14/m2), weed dry weight (3.29, 3.24 and 3.15 g/m2) and highest weed control efficiency (82.49, 79.14 and 70.93%) than weedy check and other herbicide treatments at first, second and third cut. It resulted in significant increase in growth and yield attributes of berssem. Application of imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg a.i./ha surpassed other treatments except the weed free with respect to green fodder (404.45 q/ha), seed (3.50 q/ha) and straw (25.79 q/ha) yields and generated ...

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2020

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different herbicides on weed growth, green ... more An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different herbicides on weed growth, green fodder and seed yields of berseem during the winter season of 2014–15 to 2016–17 at Central Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, India. Two herbicides in seven treatment combinations viz., oxyfluorfen @ 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 kg/ha at 0–3 days after sowing, imazethapyr @ 0.05, 0.075 and 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing, oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha (0–3 days after sowing) followed by imazethapyr @ 0.100 kg/ha after first cut were evaluated with weed free and weedy check treatments. Application of imazethapyr @ 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing effectively reduced the density of Coronopus didymus, Rumex dentatus, Spergula arvensis, Anagalis arvensis, Chenopodium album and other kind of weeds and recorded the lowest weed dry weight (3.29, 3.24 and 3.15 g/m2) at first, second and third cut of berseem. When compared to other treatments, application of ...

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 109, NO. 9, 10 NOVEMBER 2015 1557 The views expressed here are those of the... more CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 109, NO. 9, 10 NOVEMBER 2015 1557 The views expressed here are those of the authors’ and not necessarily of the organization they are attached with. Anirban Mukherjee is in the Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, India and Aniruddha Maity is in the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India. *For correspondence. (e-mail: amaity.icar@gmail.com) Public–private partnership for convergence of extension services in Indian agriculture

32-33HUMAN activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are pro... more 32-33HUMAN activities, driven by demographic, economic, technological and social changes, are progressively having a major consequence on the interactive global systems driven by climate, land, water and vegetation leading to a slow but steady change in intensity of these components. </span

Indian farming, 2014

The global changes and the constant increase in the erosion of the natural ecosystem emphasize th... more The global changes and the constant increase in the erosion of the natural ecosystem emphasize the importance of soil solarization as a viable non chemical integrated pest management tool in agricultural production systems. As an established soil-borne pests control method, the effectiveness of soil solarization is well demonstrated under various agroecosystems, both in regions with high levels of solar radiation and in cloudy weather condition. Future research should aim at the development of improved technology, e.g. cheaper and more environmentally accepted mulching technology; large-scale application technologies; and new plastic formulations for improved soil temperature transmission in the vertical soil profile. These improvements should extend the use of this technology beyond the season limitations and make soil solarization suitable for marginal climatic regions and for less profitable crops. Also, these improvements will expand the range of the controlled pests and reduce ...

Since time immemorial, seed has been stored through indigenous methods as per people’s convenienc... more Since time immemorial, seed has been stored through indigenous methods as per people’s convenience and access to contemporary technologies. Thus, indigenous traditional methods have become essential component of sustainable agriculture and it varies from region to region. However, with modernization, urbanization and the associated technological breakthroughs, the indigenous technologies have been eroded and are not passed on to next generation. In the present study, attempt has been made to identify some of the traditional methods and associated knowledge called Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK), linked to storage of seeds and grains followed by the people of Sikkim, the organic state of North-eastern India. ITKs were collected from 04 villages of east district and 02 villages of west district of Sikkim. Total of 06 ( bhakari, kotha, jhutta, dalo, chindo and dhikuti ) traditional storage structures were identified which are commonly used by the people of Sikkim to store grains...

Current Science, 2017

Historically soils have been classified according to their appearance and characteristics. The Ch... more Historically soils have been classified according to their appearance and characteristics. The Chinese textbook, Yugond (2500 BC) is probably the first ever on soil classification; indeed, it provided an effective and interpretative classification. Dokuchaev and others used vernacular soils like chernozem, solonetz and gley as central concepts for scientific classification. Vernacular soil names have been used throughout history and helped provide the basis of scientific classification. Folk soil taxonomies were characterized, developed, refined and used generation after generation through time-tested trials and errors. Basically, indigenous wisdom which farmers have acquired and preserved over time has repeatedly been ignored rather than streamlined. Scientific systems and detailed soil mapping have already replaced folk taxonomies, especially in the more developed countries.

Range Management and Agroforestry, 2017

In the present experiment, a resource poor farmer's recipe with modified process was standard... more In the present experiment, a resource poor farmer's recipe with modified process was standardized for grass seed (Dinanath) pelleting that improved the seed germination and vigour with the use of an indigenous, tyre based automatic machine for efficient and quick seed pelleting at farm level. Small beads of pelleting material were prepared initially by controlling the rotation of the tyre and then true seeds of grass were dusted on the beads in the rotating tyre. Soil was proved to be the best pelleting material both economically and technically. A number of seeds ranging from 8–10 per pellet accumulate enough force to come out of the pellet. Soil seed pellets when enriched with combination of nutrient mixture [nitrogen through urea (1%), phosphorous through single super phosphate (10%), potassium through muriate of potash (2%) and other micronutrients in minute concentration], cold solution of KNO3 (0.2%) and Bavistin as fungicide, resulted in enhanced seed germination, boosted...

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021

Seed shattering refers to the natural shedding of seeds when they ripe, a phenomenon typically ob... more Seed shattering refers to the natural shedding of seeds when they ripe, a phenomenon typically observed in wild and weedy plant species. The timing and extent of this phenomenon varies considerably among plant species. Seed shattering is primarily a genetically controlled trait; however, it is significantly influenced by environmental conditions, management practices and their interactions, especially in agro-ecosystems. This trait is undesirable in domesticated crops where consistent efforts have been made to minimize it through conventional and molecular breeding approaches. However, this evolutionary trait serves as an important fitness and survival mechanism for most weeds that utilize it to ensure efficient dispersal of their seeds, paving the way for persistent soil seedbank development and sustained future populations. Weeds have continuously evolved variations in seed shattering as an adaptation under changing management regimes. High seed retention is common in many croppin...

Current Science, 2020

Mechanized farming for vegetable production has evolved as an integral part of commercial agricul... more Mechanized farming for vegetable production has evolved as an integral part of commercial agriculture during the past few decades. As a first step towards mechanized farming the use of tractors in Indian agriculture has increased by 528% during the period 1990-91 to 2018-19 from 0.15 to 0.8 million/year. Undoubtedly, use of such technologies has made vegetable as well as foodgrain production a profitable venture by easing land preparation, weed management and other intercultural operations, crop harvesting, etc. However, their continuous use in production fields has resulted in the substantial compaction of soil along the wheel lines of tractors and similar heavy machinery. Reports indicate a significant yield loss (13-73%) owing to soil compaction because it restricts root penetrance into the soil, limiting nutrient and water uptake by the plants, and also potential water stagnation, which can limit the normal activities of respiring roots leading to retarded plant growth and root diseases. In this context, control traffic farming (CTF), which aims to reduce the area affected by the operation of heavy machinery that otherwise lead to soil compaction, brings a substantial value to the current global focus of sustainable and precision farming. CTF attempts to restrict the spatial movement of machinery wheels to fewer operation lanes during and across production cycles for a long time and allows specifically the undisturbed areas of soil for crop production. Research confirms a significant improvement in crop yield in different crop production systems worldwide and reduction in methane emission due to soil absorption (372-2100%) compared to random traffic farming. In this article, we discuss the advantages of CTF in terms of root growth, nutrient mobilization and energy efficiency of the vegetable production system, and also argue on its scope in the Indian context, given the situation that no or only a few studies have been reported from the country.

Heliyon, 2020

The effect of duration of conservation agriculture adoption on soil carbon dynamics and system su... more The effect of duration of conservation agriculture adoption on soil carbon dynamics and system sustainability was evaluated on farms of 30 villages in the Nilokheri block of Karnal district, Haryana, India. Sustainability was evaluated, in which a number of soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters were measured and a Sustainability Index (SI) was applied. Soil samples were collected from existing conservation agriculture (CA) and conventional tillage (CT) farms. Villages under CA practices were subdivided as CA3, CA6, and CA9 based on the number of years of CA practice adoption. Results showed that bulk density (BD) of 0-15 cm soil depth was 7% greater in CA3 plots, whereas in CA6 and CA9 plots BD values were only 2% and 3% higher than CT. Soil organic carbon (SOC) in 0-15 cm soil depth was found to be greater by 16.32% in CA3 than CT plots, whereas SOC was higher by 38.77% and 61.22% in CA6 and CA9. In CA, for the 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths, labile pools were 36% and 22% greater than CT, respectively. For both the soil depths in CA, the recalcitrant pool was 12% and 9% more than CT, respectively. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) values of the 0-15 cm soil depth were increased over CT by 18.57%, 47.08%, and 71.5% for CA3, CA6, and CA9 respectively. In CA plots, the SI of 0-15 cm soil depth ranged between cumulative ratings (CR) of 18-21, which indicates that CA practice is "sustainable" for both soil depths. For CT, CR ranged from 25 to 30 for both soil depths resulting in a SI of "sustainability with high input". Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) scores showed that SOC had the maximum weight (0.96) towards sustainability, giving it a rank of 1. Effective rooting depth (ERD), BD, texture, and wilting point (WP) ranked 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, indicating their corresponding weight of contribution towards the SI. Farmers in the Karnal district should be encouraged to adopt CA practices as they can increase SOC and move the systems from "sustainable with high input" to "sustainable".

Journal of Environmental Biology, 2018

Evaluate ef!cacy of CuO and ZnO NPs Seed Myco"ora Seed quality parameters Poison food technique f... more Evaluate ef!cacy of CuO and ZnO NPs Seed Myco"ora Seed quality parameters Poison food technique for radial growth assay Seed germination Shoot Length Root Length Seedling Dry weight Cuo has greater antifungal activity than ZnO NPs have positive impact on seed quality parameters at lower concentration but reverse was noticed at higher doses Cuo and ZnO NPs could be used as effective seed protectants against seed borne myco"ora Hanging drop technique for spore germination assay O n l i n e C o p y

Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World, 2020

Indian agricultural growth has reduced from about 3.6% in 1985–1995 to less than 2% in 1995–2005.... more Indian agricultural growth has reduced from about 3.6% in 1985–1995 to less than 2% in 1995–2005. This is far below than the targeted 4% annual growth in agricultural sector for 2020. The major concern is food grain production. Among the many scientific advancements, nanotechnology (NT) has been identified as a potential technology for reviving the agriculture and food industry and can improve livelihood of poor. Various sectors like health care, materials, textile, information and communication technology (ITC), and energy can get huge benefits from nanotechnology. In agricultural sector in particular, nanotechnology plays an important role in crop production, food processing and packaging, food security and water purification, environmental remediation, crop improvement, and plant protection. Agricultural productivity can be improved through nanomaterial-induced genetically improved animals and plants, site-specific drug and gene delivery of molecules at cellular/molecular levels in animals and plants, and nano-array-based genetic modification in animals and plants in stress conditions. Nanotechnology has the potential of precise delivery of agrochemicals for improving disease resistance, plant growth, and nutrient use. Nanoencapsulated products show the ability of more effective and site-specific use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in an eco-friendly and greener way. It is successfully used in postharvest for maintaining freshness, quality, and shelf life of stored product and preventing disease occurrences in a fairly safer way. The use of nanomaterials is quite new in agriculture and it requires additional research. Social and ethical repercussions of nanotechnology uses in agriculture have to be considered. Before commercialization and field application, toxicity of nanomaterials has to be evaluated.

Soon after the introduction of green revolution, a parallel increment in percent food grain produ... more Soon after the introduction of green revolution, a parallel increment in percent food grain production and losses has been reported in India, which impedes the mission of achieving food security in India. In parts, among the major causes of these losses are the reluctance among farmers, especially of small holding, towards adoption of scientific storage methods/technologies and inability of the national agencies to meet the challenges imposed by the supply of surplus grains to them by the farmers. Although sets of traditional and improved grain storage technologies exist among Indian farming communities, a controversial account about their effectiveness and performance is available in the literature which negatively impacts the endeavour of bringing rapid developmental in the farming society. In a developing nation like India, a large section of farmers is often either unaware of the modern technologies or cannot logistically access them. They often rely on the traditional or semi-m...

International Journal of Chemical Studies, 2020

A study was conducted in a net house to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with nano zinc oxid... more A study was conducted in a net house to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with nano zinc oxide (250, 500, 750 and 1000 µg ml-1) and nano copper oxide (50, 100, 200 and 400 µg ml-1) on seed germination and growth of barley under pot conditions. The results were compared with macro forms (ZnSO4, ZnO, CuSO4 and CuO). It was found that 500 µg ml-1 of nZnO enhanced germination percentage and shoot length as compared to other treatments while other plant growth attributes were similar in all the treatments except the control. In case of nCuO, highest germination percentage was recorded with 100 µg ml-1 nCuO. Spikelet number and shoot fresh weight were found higher at 200 µg ml-1 nCuO, while stem dry weight, shoot length and root fresh weight were highest in the treatment having macro CuSO4. However all the plant growth attributes were significantly higher in all the treatments than control. Our study indicated that micronutrients requirement can be fulfilled using nano-metal oxides through seed treatment to increase the growth and yield in barley.

International Journal of Biometeorology, 2019

Field experiments were conducted for 2 years to examine the response of stigma in two different p... more Field experiments were conducted for 2 years to examine the response of stigma in two different pollination systems, viz., CMS line (MJA5) and open-pollinated variety (Pusa Bold) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), to varying weather conditions created by different sowing dates. The CMS line MJA5 (female) with its male line in 8:2 (A:R) row ratio, and Pusa Bold in an isolated field were sown on 21st of October, 30th of October, and 18th of November in 2 consecutive years in North Indian condition. Temporal differences in sowing provided differed weather conditions during flowering, which resulted in variations in the duration to attain the peak flowering stage. Stigma was receptive for longer duration (8 days from the day of anthesis) in CMS line which needs an external pollen source for fertilization to happen, whereas it was only 4 days in open-pollinated variety, assessed in terms of siliqua set and number of seeds/siliqua. Substantial effect of sowing date on stigma receptivity was observed; it was longer in plants sown during October in comparison to those of November in both years. The energy requirement parameters, viz., growing degree days and photo-thermal unit, confirmed that plants sown later failed to accumulate sufficient energy for satisfactory phenological growth and for good seed development.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 2016

Assessment of effect of nanoparticles on plant growth is essential before adopting nanotechnology... more Assessment of effect of nanoparticles on plant growth is essential before adopting nanotechnology in agricultural sector. Four types of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) viz. Zinc oxide (ZnO), Titanium oxide (TiO 2), Copper oxide (CuO) and Silver (Ag) were studied for their effect on seed germination, vigour and yield in fodder crops, oat and berseem. Nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized before seed treatment. Seeds were treated with NPs at 750 mg (D1), 1000 mg (D2) and 1250 mg/kg of seed (D3). The effect of nanoparticles on seed germination and vigour was studied in the laboratory and seedling emergence rate, tiller number and seed yield were studied in the field. Nanoparticles (except TiO 2 and CuO in berseem) enhanced germination at lower dose (D1), but reduction in root and shoot length was noticed at higher doses (D2 and D3). All four types of nanoparticles (NPs) in oat and only Ag in case of berseem enhanced germination to 100 % at lowest dose (D1). Substantial changes were noticed in field observations due to nanoparticle treatments regarding seedling emergence rate, tiller number and seed yield. Among the different NPs, TiO 2 produced maximum seed yield at highest dose. No significant effect of nanoparticles on soil microbial populations was noticed during the field study. The experiment confirmed the dosespecific effect of nanoparticles on seed germination, crop growth and seed yield in oat and berseem crops.