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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2022) | Viewed by 35133

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ram Swaroop Meena

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Guest Editor

Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
Interests: soil health restoration and policies; carbon sequestration and stabilization; resources use efficiency; climate change; crop; productivity; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sandeep Kumar

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Guest Editor

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Regional Station, Karnal 132001, Hariyana, India
Interests: agronomy; resource conservation technology; enhancing input use efficiency and productivity of pulse production systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Manoj Kumar Jhariya

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Guest Editor

Department of Farm Forestry, Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya (Formerly, Sarguja University), Sarguja, Ambikapur 497001, India
Interests: forestry; ecology; agroforestry; biodiversity assessment; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change and soil health are two interrelated factors that affect the food, nutritional, environmental, and economic status of a country. However, most of the soils are less fertile and have low soil organic carbon (SOC) stock. Thus, it is time to focus on the restoration of SOC for food, nutritional, and environmental security for the developing world. It is important to formulate and implement policies for soil health restoration to strengthen agricultural soil systems. Redesigned policies should be focused on soil, environmental, and human health through soil health restoration. Through planning to manage the agroecosystem, it is possible to establish a link between soil and human wellbeing toward achieving sustainability. Now there is an urgency to take needful actions for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) and different policies and planning for sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural systems to achieve advanced sustainability. This calls for better coordination among scientists, farmers, and land managers for designing efficient policy. It will help to generate a holistic approach for developing an action plan by taking advantage of available technical and scientific resources to restore the soil health of terrestrial ecosystems. The science and policy need to be brought together at a common platform that is useful to all living entities, including soil.

Dr. Ram Swaroop Meena
Dr. Sandeep Kumar
Dr. Manoj Kumar Jhariya
Guest Editors

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Keywords

soil organic carbon
active and passive carbon pool
carbon sequestration
soil health restoration, food and environmental security
resource use efficiency
macro- and micronutrient cycling in soil
soil biodiversity
agroecosystem services
energy consumption in agriculture
soil organic matter stability and microbial interaction
crop productivity
sustainability

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Application of Inorganic Fertilizers with Charcoal and Sago Bark Ash to Improve Soil Nitrogen Availability, Uptake, Use Efficiency, and Dry Matter Production of Sorghum Cultivated on Acid Soils

by Nur Hidayah Hamidi, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed, Latifah Omar, Huck Ywih Ch’ng, Prisca Divra Johan, Puvan Paramisparam, Adiza Alhassan Musah and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 827; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010827 - 03 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2006

Abstract

Efficient management of N fertilizers enhances crop yields and contributes to sustainable food security. Tropical acidic soils with high Al and Fe are prone to easy loss of basic cations, such as NH4+, via leaching and erosion. Appropriate soil amendments and agronomic practices minimize the loss of fertilizer nutrients, improve soil nutrient retention, and maximize their uptake by plants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of co-applying charcoal and sago bark ash with inorganic fertilizers on N availability, uptake, use efficiency, and dry matter production of sorghum in a tropical acid soil. The results revealed that the co-application of inorganic fertilizers with charcoal and sago bark ash increased sorghum plant height, dry matter production, N uptake and N use efficiency. The soil treated with a combination of 100% of the recommended rate of charcoal and sago bark ash (C1A1) resulted in significantly higher sorghum dry matter production, N uptake, and use efficiency compared with normal fertilization (U1). The C1A1 treatment resulted in significantly lower soil available N compared with U1. The C1A1 treatment enhanced the uptake of N by the sorghum plants, resulting in less available N in the soil after the experiment. Although the effects of co-applying charcoal and sago bark ash on soil total N were not glaring, this practice increased soil pH and total C, and reduced exchangeable acidity and Al3+. A long-term field study is recommended to confirm the effects of co-applying inorganic fertilizers with charcoal and sago bark ash on sorghum productivity, economic viability, and soil nutrient residual effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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10 pages, 661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Different Fertilization Methods on Double-Rice Yield and Bacterial Community in Paddy Soil

by Guihua Li, Xueling Zhang, He Zhang, Kangli Guo and Jianfeng Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 16061; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142316061 - 01 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1080

Abstract

Fertilizer regimes have profound effects on crop yield, soil fertility, and microbial community structure. However, the impacts of partially substituting mineral nitrogen (N) with organic N and/or controlled-release mineral N and combining with micronutrient fertilizers on soil properties and microbial communities are still unclear in double-rice systems. The objective of this study was to compare rice yield, soil nutrient condition, and bacterial alpha and beta diversity in paddy soil that had been subjected to four fertilizer treatments from 2012 to 2016. The treatments were FP: farmers’ practice with 100% urea N; T1: 64% urea N + 16% manure N; T2: T1 + micronutrient fertilizers; and T3: 40% urea N + 24% controlled-release N + 16% manure N + micronutrient fertilizers. The results showed that there were no considerable differences between rice yields under fertilizer treatments, meaning that reducing farmers’ practice N by 20% did not decrease rice yield. Soil organic matter, total N, pH, and microbial biomass receiving manure did not increase significantly compared with FP. Bacterial beta diversities did not alter under the four treatments. Only two (Verrucomicrobia and Aminicenantes) out of eleven dominant phyla considerably varied under manure treatments. These results indicate that 20% reduction and partial substitution of mineral fertilizer with manure can maintain double-rice yield in paddy soil with limited effects on soil properties and bacterial community structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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16 pages, 1821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Earthworm Fauna in Parks in Megacity Beijing, China: An Application of a Synthetic and Simple Index (ESI)

by Tian Xie, Xuzhi Li, Meie Wang, Weiping Chen and Jack H. Faber

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6054; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106054 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1731

Abstract

Complicated factors in urban areas have been reported to impact the density, biomass, and diversity of earthworm fauna. Urban parks provide essential habitats for earthworm fauna. However, how earthworm fauna are impacted by park traits, such as construction age, distance to city center, visitor volumes, sizes of greenspaces/parks, and attractiveness, etc., still remains unknown. These traits are well characterized by the impacts of urbanization intensity and administration quality of parks in megacities. Therefore, 16 parks with gradients of construction ages and geographical locations in Beijing city were selected for investigation. Furthermore, an earthworm synthetic and simple index (ESI) for characterizing earthworm community has been developed to compensate for the lack of robustness by using single ecological indexes. The results showed that earthworm population density (38.6 ind/m²) and biomass (34.0 g/m²) in parks were comparable to those in other land use types in Beijing. Ecological groupings were dominated by disturbance-tolerant endogeic and deep soil-inhabiting anecic groups, and most of them were adults. The earthworm population was influenced by urbanization intensity, while the earthworm community composition, species biodiversity, and ESI were affected by administration quality of parks. The soil moisture and microbial biomass carbon were the key factors in shaping earthworm assemblages. ESI could be employed as an effective indicator in depicting character of earthworm fauna. This study highlighted the impacts of park traits on earthworms in urban parks. The variation in park traits that influence earthworm fauna was probably attributed to soil properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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15 pages, 1607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Crops and Different Production Systems on Soil Carbon Fractions and Carbon Sequestration in Rainfed Areas of Semiarid Tropics in India

by Kodigal A. Gopinath, Gandhamanagenahalli A. Rajanna, Govindarajan Venkatesh, Mitnala Jayalakshmi, Venugopalan Visha Kumari, Mathyam Prabhakar, Bollam Rajkumar, Gajjala Ravindra Chary and Vinod Kumar Singh

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4207; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074207 - 01 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

Organic agriculture’s economic benefits and widespread adoption are well documented, but its impact on soil C dynamics in rainfed regions of semiarid tropics is less understood. The use of organic amendments in organic farming not only supply nutrients but also have the potential to contribute to soil carbon sequestration. Carbon storage and various soil organic pools are affected differently by various crops and production systems. A study was conducted with three crops (sunflower, pigeonpea, and greengram) under three production systems (control, organic and integrated) to assess the effect on soil C stocks, carbon sequestration potential, and crop yield. After seven years of experiment, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) cultivation improved soil bulk density, porosity and water holding capacity compared to greengram [Vigna radiata (L) Wilczek] and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Furthermore, plots under pigeonpea cultivation being on par with greengram had 15.6% higher total C (113.52 Mg C ha⁻¹), 14% higher easily oxidizable organic C (17.5 Mg C ha⁻¹) and C sequestration rate of 1.22 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ compared to sunflower. Among the three production systems, plots under organic management had significantly lower bulk density and higher water holding capacity and porosity at all of the profile depths compared to integrated production system and control. Similarly, organic production system being on par with integrated production system improved the easily oxidizable, oxidizable and weakly oxidizable organic C fractions at different soil depths compared to control. The C sequestration rate ranged from 0.21 to 0.85 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in organic production systems compared to negligible rate (0.01–0.04 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in the plots under control. On average, integrated production system being on par with organic management recorded significantly higher pigeonpea equivalent seed yield (886 kg ha⁻¹) compared to control (792 kg ha⁻¹). These results suggest the potential of organic production system in improving soil properties, C sequestration, and crop yields in semiarid rainfed areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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20 pages, 321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Nutrient Management Improves the Productivity and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Lens culinaris Medik.

by Sandeep Kumar, Surendra Kumar Sharma, Sanjay Kumar Thakral, Krishan Kumar Bhardwaj, Manoj Kumar Jhariya, Ram Swaroop Meena, Chetan Kumar Jangir, Sandeep Bedwal, Ram Dhan Jat, Ahmed Gaber, Ahmed A. Atta and Akbar Hossain

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1284; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031284 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2844

Abstract

Enhancing nutrient use efficiencies (NUEs) is an important factor in achieving the long-term sustainability of a production system. Our two-year experiment was aimed at accessing the NUEs of the integration of macro- and micronutrient fertilization responses of three lentil (Lens culinaris) cultivars. Three cultivars were planted in the main plots, and ten nutrient combinations were used in the sub-plots: N1, control; N2, 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (20:40—N:P₂O₅); N3, vermicompost (VC) at 2 t ha⁻¹; N4, 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + 100% recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) + VC at 1 t ha⁻¹; N5, RDF + 0.5% ZnSO₄; N6, RDF + 0.5% FeSO₄; N7, RDF + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄; N8, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha⁻¹ + 0.5% ZnSO₄; N9, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha⁻¹ + 0.5% FeSO₄; and N10, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha⁻¹ + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄. The results show that the cultivar HM-1 (1.59–1.61 Mg ha⁻¹) recorded a significantly higher seed yield than cultivars Sapna (1.31–1.33 Mg ha⁻¹) and Garima (both 1.30 Mg ha⁻¹), while the cultivar Sapna had significantly more stover yield (1.86–1.90 Mg ha⁻¹) than cultivar HM-1 (1.68–1.73 Mg ha⁻¹). Cultivar HM-1 was more efficient in terms of partial factor productivity for N (77.5–78.5 kg kg⁻¹), P (48.2–48.7 kg kg⁻¹), K (143.6–145.5 kg kg⁻¹), Zn (1336–1352 kg kg⁻¹), and Fe (417–421 kg kg⁻¹) than Sapna and Garima. Application of 50% N + 100% P + VC at 1.0 t ha⁻¹ + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ resulted in higher seed yield (1.63–1.65 Mg ha⁻¹) and agronomic efficiency for N (26.3–28.8 kg kg⁻¹), P (12.42–13.63 kg kg⁻¹), and K (52.3–57.4 kg kg⁻¹) over other tested practices in both years. Hence, it could be concluded that considering the integrated nutrient management paradigm including 10 kg N ha⁻¹ coupled with 40 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ through synthetic fertilizers, vermicomposting 1.0 t ha⁻¹ as an organic source and foliar spray of 0.5% each of ZnSO₄ and FeSO₄ (N10) produced a 56.8% higher seed yield than the control, in addition to improving nutrient dynamics and NUEs for N, P, K, Zn, and Fe. Therefore, integrated fertilization coupled with cultivar selection could help to achieve the long-term food and nutritional sustainability targeted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

19 pages, 2709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zero Tillage, Residue Retention and System-Intensification with Legumes for Enhanced Pearl Millet Productivity and Mineral Biofortification

by Mukhtar Ahmad Faiz, Ram Swaroop Bana, Anil Kumar Choudhary, Alison M. Laing, Ruchi Bansal, Arti Bhatia, Ramesh Chand Bana, Yudh Vir Singh, Vipin Kumar, Shanti Devi Bamboriya, Rabindra Nath Padaria, Shanker Lal Khaswan and Jai Prakash Singh Dabas

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 543; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010543 - 04 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2997

Abstract

Pearl millet-based cropping systems with intensive tillage operations prior to sowing have limited sustainable productivity in the low-irrigation conditions of semi-arid farming ecologies, such as those in the north Indian plains. The adoption of improved management practices such as zero tillage with residue retention (ZTR) and diversification with the inclusion of summer pulse crops has the potential to improve cropping system sustainability. Therefore, an experiment was designed to compare two improved management practices, zero tillage (ZT) and ZTR, to conventional tillage (CT), across three pearl millet-based cropping systems: pearl millet–chickpea (PM–CP), PM–CP–mungbean (MB), and PM–CP–forage pearl millet in a two-year experiment. Experimental treatments were compared in terms of pearl millet productivity, mineral biofortification, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed a significant increase in pearl millet yield attributes, grain and stover productivity, nutrient uptake, and micronutrient biofortification in the PM–CP–MB cropping system under ZTR relative to other treatment combinations. On-farm evaluation at different locations also showed that the intensification of PM–CP system using summer crops enhanced pearl millet productivity across diverse tillage systems. Overall, zero tillage practices combined with diversified pearl millet-based cropping systems are likely to be management practices, which farmers can use to sustainably maintain or increase cropping system productivity in the various semi-arid areas of the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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16 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zinc-Coated Urea for Enhanced Zinc Biofortification, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Yield of Basmati Rice under Typic Fluvents

by Ramesh Chand Bana, Ashok K. Gupta, Ram Swaroop Bana, Yashbir Singh Shivay, Shanti D. Bamboriya, Narendra P. Thakur, Ramphool Puniya, Meenakshi Gupta, Shish Ram Jakhar, Kailash, Raj Singh Choudhary, Ranjeet Singh Bochalya, Tejpal Bajaya, Vipin Kumar, Parshotam Kumar and Anil K. Choudhary

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010104 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3845

Abstract

Deficiency of Zn in human diet is an emerging health issue in many developing countries across the globe. Agronomic Zn biofortification using diverse Zn fertilization options is being advised for enhancing Zn concentration in the edible portion of rice.A field study was carried out to find out the Zn fertilization effects on biofortification of basmati rice and nutrient use efficiencies in the Himalayan foothills region. Amongst the Zn nutrition treatments, 4.0% Zn-coated urea (ZnCU) + 0.2% Zn foliar spray (FS) using ZnSO₄·7H₂O recorded the highest grain (3.46 t/ha) and straw (7.93 t/ha) yield of basmati rice. On average, the rice productivity increase due to ZnCU application was ~25.4% over Commercial Urea. Likewise, the same Zn fertilization treatment also resulted in the maximum Zn (35.93 and 81.64 mg/kg) and N (1.19 and 0.45%) concentration in grain and straw of rice, respectively. Moreover, N use efficiency (NUE) was also highest when ZnCU was applied at 4.0% (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) in comparison to soil application. From the grain quality viewpoint, Zn ferti-fortification had significant effect on elongation ratio and protein concentration of grain only and respective Zn fertilization treatment recorded highest quality parameters 1.90 and 7.44%, respectively. Therefore, ZnCU would be an important low-cost and useful strategy for enhancing yield, NUE and biofortification, and also in minimizing the Zn malnutrition related challenges in human diet in many developing economies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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14 pages, 1518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pedospheric Variation of DTPA-Extractable Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Other Physicochemical Characteristics in Major Soil Orders in Existing Land Use Systems of Punjab, India

by Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Vivek Sharma, Janpriya Kaur, Arvind Kumar Shukla, Akbar Hossain, Shams H. Abdel-Hafez, Ahmed Gaber, Samy Sayed and Vijay Kant Singh

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 29; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010029 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2917

Abstract

The agricultural production in Punjab has increased manifold that aggravated the deficiencies of micronutrients in soils and plants. The availability of soil micronutrients in different soil orders depends upon the soil mineralogy, topography, climatic conditions and cropping sequences. Hence, to study the pedospheric variations of DTPA-extractable micronutrients, viz., zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu), in three prominent soil orders of Punjab, a total of 144 depth-wise soil samples were collected from four major land-use systems (cultivated, horticulture, forest and pasture lands). The DTPA extractable micronutrients varied from 1.74–2.81, 1.83–2.82 and 1.81–2.80 for Zn; 5.3–6.8, 5.6–6.9, 4.3–6.3 for Fe; 5.1–7.8, 5.5–7.9, 5.4–7.5 for Mn; and 0.84–1.40, 0.93–1.68, 0.87–1.65 for Cu in soil orders Aridisol, Entisol and Inceptisol, respectively. The average content of DTPA-extractable micronutrients was highest under soil order Entisol followed by Inceptisol and Aridisol. The content of micronutrients showed a declining trend with increase in soil depth in all orders. Among different soil properties, the pH and EC showed significantly negative correlation, however, OC had non-significant correlation with DTPA-extractable micronutrients in soils. Therefore, it is concluded that parent material, land use systems and soil depth affected the distribution of DTPA extractable micronutrients in different soil orders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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16 pages, 654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineralization of Farm Manures and Slurries under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions for Subsequent Release of Phosphorus and Sulphur in Soil

by Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Sultana Bilkis, Tahsina Sharmin Hoque, Shihab Uddin, Mohammad Jahiruddin, Mohammad Mazibur Rahman, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Theodore Danso Marfo, Subhan Danish and Rahul Datta

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8605; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158605 - 02 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

A good understanding of nutrient release from manure or compost after application through mineralization is important to assure meeting the nutrient demand of crops, to secure timely fertilizer application and to enhance nutrient use efficiency. The current study was done to evaluate phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) release patterns from different types of manures viz. cow dung, cow dung slurry, tricho-compost, vermicompost, poultry manure, poultry manure slurry and mungbean residues. The mineralization study was performed under aerobic (field capacity) and anaerobic (waterlogging) conditions for 180 days at 25 ± 1 °C in the laboratory. The release of P and S showed the highest values within 75–180 and 75–150 days, respectively, and was always higher in aerobic conditions than in anaerobic conditions. The first-order kinetic cumulative model was a good fit for mineralization, which was significantly influenced by manure type, soil moisture level and incubation period. Poultry manure slurry exerted the highest P and S release under both moisture conditions. Both slurries showed higher potential mineralization, with a lower rate constant for these elements compared to that in their manure states. Hence, appropriate manures should be chosen and applied in the proper quantity to provide exact amounts of nutrients, to increase crops nutrient use efficiency and to formulate correct fertilizer recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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13 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macadamia Husk Compost Improved Physical and Chemical Properties of a Sandy Loam Soil

by Dembe Maselesele, John B.O. Ogola and Romeo N. Murovhi

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 6997; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13136997 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

Poor soil fertility caused mainly by low and declining soil organic carbon is one of the major constraints limiting crop productivity in tropical and subtropical regions of South Africa. We evaluated the effect of macadamia husk compost (MHC) on selected chemical and physical properties of a sandy loam soil in NE South Africa in two successive seasons. The treatments, laid out in randomised, complete block design and replicated four times, were: (i) zero control, (ii) inorganic fertilizer (100:60:60 NPK Kg ha⁻¹), (iii) MHC at 15 t ha⁻¹, and (iv) MHC at 30 t ha⁻¹. Soil bulk density; water holding capacity; soil pH; electrical conductivity (EC); organic carbon; total N; and available P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, and Cu were determined at 0–15 cm soil depth. Macadamia husk compost application decreased bulk density and increased water holding capacity. MHC and inorganic fertilizer increased soil pH, organic carbon, total N, C:N ratio, available P, exchangeable cations, and micronutrients but the effect was more pronounced under MHC treatments in both seasons. The positive effect of MHC on soil physicochemical properties was associated with an increase in soil organic carbon due to MHC application; hence, MHC may offer a sustainable option of increasing soil productivity, particularly in areas characterised by low SOC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

18 pages, 7057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical and Biological Enhancement Effects of Biochar on Wheat Growth and Yield under Arid Field Conditions

by Zarmeena Khan, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Ghulam Haider, Rabia Amir, Rao Muhammad Ikram, Shakeel Ahmad, Hannah Kate Schofield, Bilal Riaz, Rashid Iqbal, Shah Fahad, Rahul Datta, Alaa Baazeem, Ayman EL Sabagh and Subhan Danish

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5890; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115890 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3653

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) losses are prevalent under South East Asia’s due to high N fertilizer inputs, but low N fertilizer use efficiency. This leaves a large quantity of reactive N at risk of loss to the environment. Biochar has been found to reduce N losses across a variety of soil types, however, there is limited data available for semi-arid climates, particularly at a field-scale. Herein we present an exploration of the biological and chemical enhancement effects observed of a cotton stalk-based biochar on wheat growth and yield under arid field conditions. The biochar was treated with urea-N and biofertilizer (bio-power) in different treatment setups. The six experimental treatments included; (i) a full N dose “recommended for wheat crops in the region” (104 kg N ha⁻¹) as a positive control; (ii) a half N dose (52 kg N ha⁻¹); (iii) a half N dose + biofertilizer (4.94 kg ha⁻¹) as a soil mixture; (iv) a half N dose + biofertilizer as a seed inoculation; (v) a full N dose as broadcast + biochar (5 t ha⁻¹) inoculated with biofertilizer; and (vi) a full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture. The half dose N application or biofertilizer addition as soil mix/seed inoculated/biochar inoculation with biofertilizer caused reduced wheat growth and yield compared to the control (conventional N fertilization). However, co-application of chemically enhanced biochar (loaded with a full N dose) and biofertilizer as soil mixture significantly increased the crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI). A significantly higher crop growth and canopy development led to a higher light interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE) for total dry matter (TDM) and grain yield (11% greater than control) production compared to the control. A greater grain yield, observed for the full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture, is attributed to prolonged N availability as indicated by greater plant and soil N content at harvest and different crop growth stages, respectively. The present study has improved our understanding of how the application of nitrogen loaded biochar and biofertilizer as soil mixtures can synergize to positively affect wheat growth and soil-nitrogen retention under arid environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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22 pages, 6987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Emergence Herbicides for Effective Weed Management, Enhanced Wheat Productivity, Profitability and Quality in North-Western Himalayas: A ‘Participatory-Mode’ Technology Development and Dissemination

by Anil K. Choudhary, D.S. Yadav, Pankaj Sood, Shakuntla Rahi, Kalpana Arya, S.K. Thakur, Ramesh Lal, Subhash Kumar, Jagdev Sharma, Anchal Dass, Subhash Babu, R.S. Bana, D.S. Rana, Adarsh Kumar, Sudhir K. Rajpoot, Gaurendra Gupta, Anil Kumar, Harish M.N., A.U. Noorzai, G.A. Rajanna, Mohammad Halim Khan, V.K. Dua and Raj Singh Show full author list Hide full author list

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5425; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13105425 - 12 May 2021

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Abstract

‘Participatory-mode’ adaptive research was conducted in wheat in north-western Himalayas (NWH) during 2008–2014 to develop an improved chemical weed management (ICWM) technology. First of all, two years ‘on-farm experimentation’ was performed in a randomized block design at 10 locations in NWH using seven treatments (Clodinafop @ 60 g a.i./ha (Clod); Clod followed by 2,4-D (Na-salt) @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Clod-fb-D); Isoproturon 75 WP @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Iso); Iso + D; Sulfosulfuron 75% WG @ 25 g a.i./ha + Metsulfuron 5% WG @ 2 g a.i./ha (Sulf + Met); weed-free-check; and un-weeded-check). In this study, the post-emergence application of Sulf + Met reported the lowest weed-index and NPK depletion by weeds with higher weed control efficiency (86.4%), weed control index (81.1%) and herbicide efficiency index (2.62) over other herbicides. Sulf + Met exhibited significantly higher wheat productivity (3.57 t/ha), protein yield, net-returns and water-productivity, which was followed by Iso + D and Clod-fb-D, all of which remained statistically at par with each other. An impact assessment of intensive technology-transfer programme (2008–2014) revealed a higher technology adoption rate (71–98%) of ICWM leading to higher wheat productivity (~22%) and net income gains (2.8–26.4%) in NWH. Overall, Sulf + Met proved highly effective against mixed weed flora in wheat to boost wheat productivity, profitability, quality and water productivity in addition to a higher technology adoption rate and NIGs to transform rural livelihoods in NWH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health Restoration and Environmental Management)

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