Climate change exacerbates abiotic stresses, which are expected to intensify their impact on crop plants. Drought, the most prevalent abiotic stress, significantly affects agricultural production ...worldwide. Improving eggplant varieties to withstand abiotic stress is vital due to rising drought from climate change. Despite the diversity of wild eggplant species that thrive under harsh conditions, the understanding of their drought tolerance mechanisms remains limited. In the present study, we used chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlaF) imaging, which reveals a plant's photosynthetic health, to investigate desiccation tolerance in eggplant and its wild relatives. Conventional fluorescence measurements lack spatial heterogeneity, whereas ChlaF imaging offers comprehensive insights into plant responses to environmental stresses. Hence, employing noninvasive imaging techniques is essential for understanding this heterogeneity. Desiccation significantly reduced the leaf tissue moisture content (TMC) across species. ChlaF and TMC displayed greater photosystem II (PSII) efficiency after 54 h of desiccation in S. macrocarpum, S. torvum, and S. indicum, with S. macrocarpum demonstrating superior efficiency due to sustained fluorescence. PSII functions declined gradually in S. macrocarpum and S. torvum, unlike those in other species, which exhibited abrupt declines after 54 h of desiccation. However, after 54 h, PSII efficiency remained above 50% of its initial quantum yield in S. macrocarpum at 35% leaf RWC (relative water content), while S. torvum and S. indicum displayed 50% decreases at 31% and 33% RWC, respectively. Conversely, the susceptible species S. gilo and S. sisymbriifolium exhibited a 50% reduction in PSII function at an early stage of 50% RWC, whereas in S. melongena, this reduction occurred at 40% RWC. Overall, our study revealed notably greater leaf desiccation tolerance, especially in S. macrocarpum, S. torvum, and S. indicum, attributed to sustained PSII efficiency at low TMC levels, indicating that these species are promising sources of drought tolerance.
Agriculture and associated sectors have a significant impact on environment such as GHG emissions, depletion of mineral and fossil resources. Agriculture contributes 25% of global greenhouse gas ...emissions of which seed bed preparation has a significant share. It contributes 23–44% of total CO2 emissions due to fossil fuel consumption and soil organic carbon oxidation. Increasing consciousness on environment and food security has created interest towards low-energy agriculture and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Hence identification of a primary tillage implement can be a powerful strategy to mitigate the climate change through reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) for cleaner agricultural production and to improve the environment quality. Therefore, the present study focuses on identifying the energy efficient and environment friendly primary tillage implement by analyzing the energy and carbon efficiency indicators. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of commonly used primary and secondary tillage implements in single or in combination for seed bed preparation in developing countries like Cultivator (CV), Cultivator followed by Disc Harrow (CVH), Disc Plough (DP), Disc Plough followed by Disc Harrow (DH), Mould Board Plough (MP), Mould Board Plough followed by Disc Harrow (MPH), Rotovator (RO), Bullock Drawn Plough (BP), Bullock Drawn Harrow (BH), No Tillage (NT) on energy conservation, environment impact and global warming potential. The aim of the study was to identify climate smart primary tillage implement for clean production technology to improve the environmental quality in semi-arid rainfed conditions of India. CV, MP and RO recorded higher soil based greenhouse gas emissions. NT and Animal Drawn Implements recorded lower soil-based greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel consumption-based CO2 emissions for preparatory cultivation and sowing were found to be 92, 81, 60, 60 and 40 per cent lower in BP, BH, tractor drawn CV, DH, RO respectively as compared to MPH RO and MPH f recorded higher total CO2 equivalents over other tillage implements used in the present experiment. Among the different methods, reduced tillage with DH recorded higher energy use efficiency and carbon efficiency. Our study indicated that primary tillage implement with minimum soil disturbance and lower number of operations is an ideal environment friendly practice for mitigation of climate change as it recorded low Global Warming Potential (GWP), energy and cost of cultivation with minimum yield reduction.
Display omitted
•Tillage implements with minimum soil disturbance recorded lower GWP and energy input.•N2O emissions increased with depth of ploughing.•Animal drawn tillage implements recorded lower CO2, N2O, CH4 emissions.•Lower energy input was recorded in animal drawn tillage implements.•Disc harrow recorded higher carbon and energy use effeciency.
Sugarcane crop is irrigated using surface, overhead, and drip irrigation methods. Increased water use in sugarcane is a major concern around the world, implying the need for water accounting, ...developing water-efficient hybrids and water-saving agro-techniques for long-term conservation and use of water. "Water Footprint (WF)" is a measure of both direct and indirect water usage accountable for any product and/or process. In praxis, 'Green Water Footprint' (GWF) and 'Blue Water Footprint' (BWF) are extremely crucial for the restoration of essential ecosystem services (ES), such as sugarcane production. The WF metric was used as a priority tool in our study to evaluate water-efficient sugarcane hybrids, germplasm clones, deficit irrigation scheduling, crop geometry, and water conservation measures. Precise and accurate WF quantification would supplement the decision-making processes for managing available water resources in sugarcane agriculture. In split plot experimental design two research investigations on water management in sugarcane were undertaken at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The major objective of the research trails was to find out suitable sugarcane hybrids and agronomic management practices to minimise water usage in sugarcane cultivation in water stressed and drought prone areas of tropical India. Our investigation comprised two phases; the first one being assessment of the impact of deficit irrigation scheduling, planting techniques and water conservation measures in sugarcane production, while the second phase dealt with genotypic evaluation under variable irrigation scheduling. Results showed that BWF reduced significantly in the first ratoon crop due to deficit irrigation scheduling coupled with planting of two budded setts and application of sugarcane trash at the rate of 5 t ha
. Sugarcane hybrids viz., Co 85019, Co 10026, Co 12009, Co 13014, Co 14002, Co 14025, Co 15015, and Co 15018 were more water efficient, with a lower total WF. Among the germplasm clones, Fiji 55, ISH 111, ISH 107, Pathri, and Gungera exhibited lower GWF, BWF and total WF.
Decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration in cropland are necessary to achieve carbon neutrality at national scale. The major objective of this study is to ...quantify the GHG mitigation potential of adopted climate resilient (CR) practices in CR villages using Ex-ACT tool developed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Intensively cultivated area of Punjab and Haryana was selected for carrying out this study. In both the states, villages were selected by considering the climate for past 30 years. In the selected villages, a set of CR practices were implemented in annuals, perennials, irrigated rice, fertilizer use, land use change and livestock and quantified the GHG mitigation potential in these villages for next twenty years. The tool predicted that the CR practices adopted were successful in enhancing the overall sink (carbon balance) in all the study villages. The villages of Punjab had recorded higher mitigation potential as compared to the villages of Haryana. The overall sink potential in these villages ranged from −354 to −38309 Mg CO2-eq. The change in sink potential varied from 3.16 to 112% with lowest in Radauri and highest in Badhauchhi kalan village. The sink potential got doubled in Badhauchhi kalan village due to stopping rice straw burning and increase in area under perennials by 25%. The source potential varied from 6.33 to −7.44% across the study villages. Even with the implementation of NICRA, there was increase in source by 5.58 and 6.33% in Killi Nihal Singh Wala and Radauri due to irrigated rice, land use change and livestock. Majorly, rice straw burning was seen in most of the study villages, yet, with proper residue management and adoption of CR practices (mainly intermittent flooding) in rice cultivation resulted in emissions reduction up to 5–26% with enhanced productivity up to 15–18%, which can be considered for scaling up. Fertilizer management reduced the emissions by average of 13% across the study villages. Farm gate emission intensity per ton of milk and rice recorded highest emission intensity compared to annuals and perennials suggesting strict implementation of CR practices in rice cultivation and livestock sector. Implementation and scaling up of CR practices could potentially reduce the emissions and make the village C negative in intensive rice-wheat production system.
•Climate resilient technologies created a mitigation potential of 42,317 Mg CO2 eq. in.•Short duration, heat and drought tolerant varieties of wheat and rice increased >15% production.•The change in source and sink potential varied from 6.33 to −7.44% and 3.16 to 112% respectively.•Stopping rice straw burning and increase in area under perennials by 25% doubled the sink potential.•Increase in source by 5.58 and 6.33% in 2 villlages due to irrigated rice, land use change and livestock.
The Indian agriculture in the region of semi-arid tropics (SAT), characterized by small holders, small water harvesting and recycling system assumes a significant potential to sustain agricultural ...productivity by providing supplemental as well aslifesaving irrigation and mitigating mid-season drought. In Indian Agriculture, major energy consuming activities include on-farm water management. Efficient and cost-effective irrigation system matching the small-scale water harvesting and storage, are anot available in this region. In view of this, a carry-and-irrigate type micro-sprinkler irrigation system was designed and developedin order to achieve the holistic utilization of water resources and niche-potential of solar energy and gravity. The performance was measured on various parameters of application rate, Christiansen uniformity coefficient and pattern efficiency and were quantified as 14.2 mm/h, 91.3% and 89.01% respectively. The develop irrigation system qualified the performance criteria as standardized by ASAE, 1996. Given the characteristics of low cost and portability, it can considerably substantiate the vegetable production at household scale. Though, this system is developed exclusively for the location representing typical dryland agriculture of India, it can be easily and effectively replicated in other part of the world having similar agro-ecosystem. This simple water management technique utilizing the niche potential of gravity and solar energy can significantly contribute to the various objectives of sustainable development goal.
Display omitted
Among the several causes, critical low soil organic matter status is predominant for decline in soil health and consequent fall in crop productivity. Over the years, availability of traditional ...source of soil organic amendment, viz. cattle manure drastically declined due to various reasons (domestic uses as fuel and plastering of the kachha houses). The present study highlights that there are many alternative sources of soil organic amendments available in the country which have tremendous potential to improve soil organic matter status and crop productivity, and rejuvenate and enhance the dying total factor productivity of Indian soils. Data from various sources reveal that about 300 million tonnes of alternative sources of soil organic amendments are available in the country. This study highlights that the application of alternative sources of organic amendments directly or indirectly improves soil health by influencing many soil properties (physical and chemical) and enzyme activities (biological) that regulate nutrient dynamics in the soil. Consequent upon improvement in soil environment, the application of alternative sources of soil organic amendments alone or along with recommended dose of fertilizers registered significantly higher yield in different crops across different agro-climatic conditions of the country. Composting and vermicomposting are the best strategies to convert the biomass of available alternative sources of organic amendments to plant nutrient-rich products.
Maintenance of soil physical health at its optimum level is essential for sustainable crop production and rational use of natural resources without jeopardizing their quality. The ongoing ...conventional tillage practices for crop production using intensive ploughing and removal of crop residue from the field have resulted in an increase in surface crusting, soil compaction, soil erosion, decrease in water infiltration and ultimately aggravation of the overall soil physical health deterioration. In recent years, many agricultural scientists across the world have recommended conservation agriculture as a solution to overcome the adverse effects of conventional tillage practices on soil physical health. Conservation agriculture is mainly an integration of three crop management practices, viz. minimum or no-tillage, permanent retention of crop residue and crop rotation. The present data indicates that conservation agriculture can improve soil physical properties and associated processes especially, soil water infiltration and storage, soil aeration, soil structure and soil porosity. It reduces soil erosion, soil compaction and crusting, and optimizes the soil temperatures for successful crop production. This article reviews the role of conservation agriculture in improving soil physical health and its associated processes.
In order to assess the effect of surface application of sorghum residue under minimum tillage on crop yields sustainable yield index (SYI), agronomic efficiency (AE), and soil fertility in ...sorghum-cowpea system, a long-term study was conducted in rainfed Alfisols. The results of the study revealed that surface residue application increased the crop yields significantly over the control ie no residue application, with SYI ranging from 0.52 in no residue application (T1) to 0.70 in residue application @ 4 tha
−1
(T3) for sorghum and from 0.01 in residue application @ 2 tha
−1
(T2) to 0.08 in residue application @ 6 tha
−1
(T4) in cowpea. The AE of the recommended N applied varied from 24.42 to 31.60 in case of sorghum and 10.38 to 13.40 kg grain kg
−1
N in cowpea, respectively. The content of soil organic carbon (SOC) after 12 years of experiment ranged from 4.47 to 6.62 g kg
−1
and decreased with the soil depth. The level of mean available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in soil were 154.07-403.45, 5.28-14.07, and 118.17-268.17 kgha
−1
, while the total N, P, and K varied from 330.0 to 1033.0, 194.9 to 395.7, and 13355 to 22133 mg kg
−1
, respectively. The available zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) in soil ranged from 0.08 to 0.98, 9.10 to 38.81,1.85 to 10.58, and 0.75 to 1.64 mg kg
−1
, while the total Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu ranged from 21.75 to 86.58, 343.0 to 877.83, 15202 to 33646, and 24.17 to 82.00 mg kg
−1
, respectively. When the crop yields were regressed with organic carbon (OC) and total and available soil nutrients, the coefficients of multiple determinations (R
2
) were 0.959 and 0.970 (P = .05 and P = .01) for available soil nutrients and 0.944 and 0.827, for total nutrients, respectively. The OC, available N and Zn contents and total K and Mn have positively influenced yields of both the crops in these soils.
PDF
