Low productivity and profitability are the major constraints of organic growers due to continuous rice (Oryza sativa L.) -fallow practice in Sikkim Himalayas. No-till garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) ...cultivation in rice-fallow may be an option for enhancing the productivity and profitability of the farmers in this region. Hence, to test the feasibility of no-till garden pea cultivation in the rice-fallow area, a frontline demonstration was carried out by the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), East Sikkim during 2017–20 for increasing productivity, profitability and sustainability of the rice-fallow. Results indicated that rice yield was ranged from 20.8–22.6 q/ha during three years. The three-year mean of rice equivalent yield (REY) was recorded 107.23 q/ha and 21.6 q/ha under rice-garden pea and rice-fallow system, respectively. Higher production efficiency (39.87 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (503.80 `/ha/day) and land-use efficiency (73.51%) were recorded in the rice-garden pea system compared to rice-fallow. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was 7.20% higher under the rice-garden pea system after 3 cropping cycles. The average net return and benefit-cost ratio was recorded `135091/ha, `19793/ha, and 2.83, 1.83 under rice-garden pea and rice-fallow, respectively. Higher output energy, net energy and energy productivity were recorded in rice-garden pea as compared to rice-fallow. Hence, it may be concluded that the inclusion of garden pea is an option for improving the productivity, profitability, and soil health and energy use efficiency under Sikkim Himalayas.
Excess use of hazardous agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers resulted negative impact on environmental outcomes and degraded soil function, biological diversity, and ecosystem services. A 15-year ...long-term (2004–05 to 2017–18) field experiment was conducted to improve the ecosystem services with soil quality restoration and stabilization of yield through agronomic manipulation in the rice (
Oryza sativa
)–wheat (
Triticum aestivum
) system under Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Three crop management practices (i) organic crop management, (ii) inorganic crop management, and (iii) integrated crop management were evaluated at four locations (i) Jabalpur, (ii) Ludhiana, (iii) Pantnagar, and (iv) Modipuram in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice at each location. Among the spatial variation, the highest soil quality indicators like soil microbial biomass carbon (0.52 mg g
−1
), fungal (46.2 CFU × 10
4
CFU), bacterial (54.2 CFU × 10
6
CFU), and actinomycetes viable cells (23.0 CFU × 10
6
CFU), and nutrients (available N and available P) were observed at Pantnagar than other location. The soil
p
H varied from 7.2 to 8.3, and the lowest bulk density (ρb) was recorded at Jabalpur and Modipuram. Subsequently, higher system productivity (8,196.7 kg ha
−1
) and net returns were obtained in Pantnagar > Ludhiana, and it was 44.1–63.4% higher than in Modipuram and Jabalpur. Among the crop management, organic crop management significantly improved (
p
< 0.05) ρb, soil organic carbon, available N, available P, and available K by 3.7%, 33.3%, 16.4%, 37.8%, and 20.3% over inorganic crop management, respectively. Similarly, the highest bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes viable cell counts were found under the organic plots, followed by integrated plots. In terms of productivity, integrated crop management (ICM) had increased the system productivity by 4.7%–6.7% and net returns by 22.2% and 23.5% over inorganic and organic crop management. Similarly, the highest sustainability yield index (SYI) was recorded in integrated crop management (0.77) as compared to inorganic (0.74) and organic management (0.75). The soil quality index was estimated as 0.60, 0.53, and 0.54 in organic, inorganic, and ICM, respectively. Hence, the study indicated that the application of organic amendments under organic or integrated crop management improves the system’s resiliency and sustainability. Therefore, the study concludes that towards organic approach (integrated application of organic amendments with a gradual reduction in mineral fertilizers) is better suitable for keeping the rice–wheat system productivity and sustainable in the long term.
Understanding the network structure of long distance pathways in the brain is a necessary step towards developing an insight into the brain's function, organization and evolution. Dense global ...subnetworks of these pathways have often been studied, primarily due to their functional implications. Instead we study sparse local subnetworks of the pathways to establish the role of a brain area in enabling shortest path communication between its non-adjacent topological neighbours. We propose a novel metric to measure the topological communication load on a vertex due to its immediate neighbourhood, and show that in terms of distribution of this local communication load, a network of Macaque long distance pathways is substantially different from other real world networks and random graph models. Macaque network contains the entire range of local subnetworks, from star-like networks to clique-like networks, while other networks tend to contain a relatively small range of subnetworks. Further, sparse local subnetworks in the Macaque network are not only found across topographical super-areas, e.g., lobes, but also within a super-area, arguing that there is conservation of even relatively short-distance pathways. To establish the communication role of a vertex we borrow the concept of brokerage from social science, and present the different types of brokerage roles that brain areas play, highlighting that not only the thalamus, but also cingulate gyrus and insula often act as "relays" for areas in the neocortex. These and other analysis of communication load and roles of the sparse subnetworks of the Macaque brain provide new insights into the organisation of its pathways.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Environmental pollution, resource dwindling, and soil degradation questioned the sustainability of contemporary agricultural production systems. Organic farming is advocated as a sustainable solution ...for ensuring food security without compromising environmental sustainability. However, poor farm productivity quizzed the sustainability of organic production systems. Hence, a field study was carried out in the Sikkim region of the Indian Himalayas to assess the efficacy of conservation-effective tilling and diversified cropping on system productivity, profitability, environmental quality, and soil nutrient balance in organic farming. Three tillage systems, namely, (i) conventional tillage (CT), (ii) reduced tillage (RT), and (iii) zero tillage (ZT), and four maize based diversified cropping systems (maize–black gram–toria, maize–black gram–buckwheat, maize–rajmash–toria, and maize–rajmash–buckwheat) were tested using a three times replicated split-plot design. The ZT system recorded 13.5 and 3.5% higher system productivity over CT and RT, respectively. Of the four diversified cropping systems, the maize–rajmash–buckwheat system recorded the maximum system productivity (13.99 Mg ha
−1
) and net returns (3,141 US$ ha
−1
) followed by the maize–black gram–buckwheat system. Among the tillage practices, ZT recorded the significantly high eco-efficiency index (EEI; 1.55 US$ per kg CO
2
-eq emission) and the lowest greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; 0.15 kg CO
2
-eq per kg production). Of the diversified cropping systems, the maize-rajmash-buckwheat registered the lowest GHGI (0.14 CO
2
-eq per kg production) and the highest EEI (1.47 US$ per kg CO
2
-eq emission). Concerning soil nutrient balance, after three cropping cycles, the soil under ZT recorded significantly higher available N (340.0 kg ha
−1
), P (16.6 kg ha
−1
), and K (337.3 kg ha
−1
) over the CT system at 0–10 cm soil depth. Similarly, the soil under the maize–black gram–buckwheat system had the maximum bio-available NPK. Thus, the study suggests that the cultivation of the maize–black gram/rajmash–buckwheat systems under ZT and/or RT would increase farm productivity, profitability, and soil fertility with minimum GHGI in organic farming under the Eastern Himalayan region of India.
French bean (
Phaseolus vulgaris
L.) cultivation faces multipronged challenges of low farm productivity, poor economic returns, and soil health deterioration in the hilly ecosystem of India. Hence, ...the development of a cost-effective and soil-supportive French bean cultivation technology is highly warranted. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons in the Sikkim region of the Indian Himalayas to assess the impact of different organic nutrient sources on the production potential, profitability, and soil health of French bean. Eight organic nutrient management practices,
viz.
, farmers' practice, 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through FYM, 100% RDN through mixed compost (MC), 100% RDN through vermicompost (VC), 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDN through MC, 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDN through VC, 50% RDN through MC + 50% RDN through VC, and 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC, were assigned in a three times replicated randomized complete block design. The results revealed that the supply of 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC 33% recorded the highest pod yield (8.30 and 8.00 Mg ha
−1
) and net returns (1,831 and 1,718 US$ ha
−1
). Furthermore, the supply of 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC 33% also had a positive impact on soil health. It was shown that an equal supply of RDN through FYM + MC + VC increases soil pH by 8.35%, SOC by 5.45%, available N by 6.32%, available P by 16%, available K by 9.92%, and micronutrients by 5–7% over farmers' practice. Thus, the supply of RDN through the integration of FYM + MC + VC in equal proportion is an economically robust and soil-supportive nutrients management practice for organic French bean production in the hilly ecosystem of North East India.
Ginger cultivated with limited organic manures will produce low yields and would require different nutrient combinations for increased nutrition availability for higher productivity. The combination ...of organic nutrient sources was expected to increase and improve the growth and yield of ginger rhizome. Research experiments were conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranipool, East Sikkim, India to study the effect of different organic nutrient sources on yield and quality of ginger for three consecutive summer seasons (2013-15) under field conditions aimed to assess the effect of different combinations of organic sources on growth, yield, quality and profitability of ginger rhizome. The study revealed that a single organic soil nutrient source does not significantly influence the growth and yield of ginger rhizomes. The combination of two nutrient sources significantly influenced all parameters of the growth and yield of ginger rhizome. The combination of 50% pig manure + 50% poultry manure gave the best response to all the vegetative growth parameters, viz. plant height (109.0 cm), tillers per plant (16.3 nos.), number of leaves per tiller (17.9 nos.), size of leaves (30.9 cm2) but combination of 50% FYM + 50% rural compost showed the significant effect on finger length (39.3 cm), finger width (29.9 cm), finger weight (563.5 g), fresh yield (16.0 t/ha), cured rhizome yield (3.3 t/ha), net return (` 324.30 × 103 ha) and benefit:cost ratio (3.0), oleoresin content (5.26%), essential oil (3.96%) and crude fibre (4.95%) in rhizome over the other treatment combinations.
Phosphorus (P) is a vital element required by all living organism (plants, animals and microbes etc.). Its application in agriculture, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture, requires ...careful attention due to its low use efficiency, which typically does not exceed 20%. With the increasing acceptance of conservation agriculture (CA), it is crucial to develop protocols for P management to ensure sustainable wheat production. Therefore, a field trial was conducted from 2016–2017 to 2017–2018 in the India's semiarid eco-region to study the role of P on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency under CA-based production system. We assessed the impact of tillage operations and P management practices on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency. Three tillage and residue management options such as CT-R (conventional tillage without residue); NT-R (no tillage without maize residue) and NT + R (no tillage with maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha
−1
) were laid-out in main plot and five P management options subplots viz. P1 (nitrogen and potash according to recommended but not P); P2 (17.2 kg P ha
−1
); P3 (17.2 kg of P ha
−1
+ microbial fertilizer); P4 (17.2 kg P ha
−1
+ compost inoculant culture) and P5 (34.4 kg P ha
−1
) in split plot design with three replicates. The results indicates that the combination of no-tillage with residue retention (maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha
−1
) (NT + R) and the application of 34.4 kg P ha
−1
(P5) significantly improved grain yield by ~43.2% compared to the control treatment (conventional tillage with no residue, CT – R, and no phosphorus application). NT + R also resulted in significantly better amino acid (~22.7%) and net protein yield (~21.2%) compared to CT – R. Regarding the P management strategy, the highest amino acid (49.1%) and protein yield (12.5%) were observed under the P5 treatment compared to the no-phosphorus treatment. Conjoint use of NT – R, along with the application of 17.2 kg P ha
−1
and PSB (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria), resulted in a significant increase in energy use efficiency of ~58% over other treatments combination. Furthermore, the NT + R plot that received 17.2 kg P ha
−1
+ PSB demonstrated higher P agronomic efficiency (~43%) and recovery efficiency (~53%) over control. The study's findings underscore the significance of adopting efficient P management strategies in CA to ensure the sustainable production of wheat.
A field study was carried out during the two consecutive kharif seasons of 2012 and 2013 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, to ...evaluate the effect of cultivars and weed management practices on weed dynamics, yield attributes, yields and economics in zero-till direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). The dominant weed flora were Echinocloa colona, Echinocloa crus-galli, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus iria, Caesulia auxillaries and Eclipta alba. Among rice cultivars, Arize-6129 had minimum weed density (425.9 and 480.1/m) and dry weight (76.7 and 86.4 g/m2), and maximum of grain yield (4.29 and 4.12 t/ha) during both the years, respectively. Among the weed management practices, application of bispyribac sodium + azimsulfuron (25 g +35 g/ha) + 0.25% NIS (post-emergence) at 15-20 DAS proved to be most effective in minimizing the weed density, weed dry weight and increased rice grain yield (4.33 and 4.16 t/ha, respectively). Arize-6129 produced maximum net returns (`40402 and 37804/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.61 and 1.51) and economic efficiency (`316 and 298/ha day), respectively during both the years. Among weed management practices, application of bispyribac sodium + azimsulfuron (25 g +35 g/ha) + NIS (0.25%) was the most economical and efficient.
Based on the findings of present investigation, it can be inferred that physico-chemical properties and microbial population in soil was also varied with land use whereas the physico-chemical ...properties and microbial population were generally improved in kharif as compared to rabi. Plantation land use was the best land use system followed by forest land use system for sustainable improvement of soil health may be recommended in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh or similar agro ecoregions.
This study deals with the spatio-temporal measurement of land movement in Joshimath town using multi-temporal SBAS-InSAR technique. A network of 424 small-baseline interferograms was generated using ...111 Sentinel-1 images acquired during May 2019-April 2023. Spatial distribution of line of sight displacement (LOSD) shows south-eastern Pekamarwadi, southern Gandhinagar and central Sunil wards are majorly affected; Manoharbagh, Singhdhar, and Lowerbazar moderately affected; northern Ravigram minor affected; and Parsari ward has no sign of land movement during investigation period. The observed negative values of mean LOS velocity and acceleration in southern Gandhinagar and central Sunil indicate these patchy areas are still susceptible and riskier for land stability. The SBAS-InSAR results were validated with CORS data during January 2022-March 2023. Trends show the gradual increase in LOSD from January to November 2022, rapid increase started from November 2022 and nearly ended mid January 2023, which indicates the initiation of movement stabilization. Accuracy assessment was performed in terms of Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE),
R
2
,
RMSE, and MAE, and the estimated values are 0.9896, 0.9495, 1.7534 cm, and 1.4028 cm, respectively. The analysis supports that CORS and SBAS-InSAR observed LOSD are in good agreement and reveals the true story of the land movement of Joshimath.
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