Browsing by Author "Anil Kumar Choudhary"

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Boosting resource use efficiency, soil fertility, food security, ecosystem services, and climate resilience with legume intercropping: a review
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) K. Akchaya; Panneerselvam Parasuraman; Kannan Pandian; Shanmugam Vijayakumar; Kanthan Thirukumaran; Mohamed Roshan Abu Firnass Mustaffa; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot; Anil Kumar Choudhary
Adopting sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while preserving ecosystem services is essential to ensure food security for a growing global population and address environmental challenges. This review examines the impact of legume intercropping on nitrogen (N) fixation, soil physio-chemical properties, water retention, pest and disease control, and crop yield across diverse agro-climatic zones and cropping systems. The findings consistently demonstrate that integrating legumes into the cropping system improves soil health by reducing bulk density, breaking up hardpan layers, reducing erosion, increasing soil organic matter, and fixing atmospheric nitrogen (~125 kg N/ha/season) reducing the need for inorganic N fertilizers. It boosts crop yields by 30–35% (in terms of main crop equivalent yield) and land productivity per unit area and time, mitigates total crop loss, and promotes biodiversity. It also improves water use efficiency by 20–25% and enhances nutrient use efficiency by 25–30%. Additionally, legume intercropping reduces yield losses from pests and diseases by 20–25% compared to sole cropping systems. The practice bolsters crop resilience through ecological processes like bio-littering, bio-ploughing, bio-irrigation, and bio-pumping (the “4Bs”), which are valuable for adapting to climate variability. However, research gaps remain, particularly in the optimal selection of legume species for specific regions, suitable agronomic practice for each system, and addressing socio-economic barriers to widespread adoption. © © 2025 Akchaya, Parasuraman, Pandian, Vijayakumar, Thirukumaran, Mustaffa, Rajpoot and Choudhary.
Co-Implementation of Tillage, Precision Nitrogen, and Water Management Enhances Water Productivity, Economic Returns, and Energy-Use Efficiency of Direct-Seeded Rice
(MDPI, 2022) Vijay Pratap; Anchal Dass; Shiva Dhar; Subhash Babu; Vinod Kumar Singh; Raj Singh; Prameela Krishnan; Susama Sudhishri; Arti Bhatia; Sarvendra Kumar; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Renu Singh; Pramod Kumar; Susheel Kumar Sarkar; Sunil Kumar Verma; Kavita Kumari; Aye Aye San
The sustainability of conventional rice (Oryza sativa L.) production systems is often questioned due to the over-mining of groundwater and environmental degradation. This has led to the development of cost-effective, resource-efficient, and environmentally clean rice production systems by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) use. Hence, a 2-year field study (2019 and 2020) was conducted at the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to assess the effect of precision N and water management strategies on growth, land, and water productivity, as well as energy-use efficiency in scented direct-seeded rice (DSR). Two crop establishment methods, conventional-till DSR (CT-DSR) and zero-till DSR (ZT-DSR) along with three irrigation scenarios (assured irrigation (irrigation after 72 h of the drying of surface water), irrigation at 20% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), and 40% DASM+Si (80 kg ha−1)) were assigned to the main plots; three N management options, a 100% recommended dose of N (RDN): 150 kg ha−1; Nutrient Expert® (NE®)+leaf color chart (LCC) and NE®+soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meter-based N management were allocated to sub-plots in a three-time replicated split-plot design. The CT-DSR produced 1.4, 11.8, and 89.4, and 2.4, 18.8, and 152.8% more grain yields, net returns, and net energy in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over ZT-DSR. However, ZT-DSR recorded 8.3 and 10.7% higher water productivity (WP) than CT-DSR. Assured irrigation resulted in 10.6, 16.1 16.9, and 8.1 and 12.3, 21.8 20.6, and 6.7% higher grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over irrigation at 20% DASM. Further, NE®+SPAD meter-based N management saved 27.1% N and recorded 9.6, 18.3, 16.8, and 8.3, and 8.8, 21.7, 19.9, and 10.7% greater grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP over RDN in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Thus, the study suggested that the NE®+SPAD-based N application is beneficial over RDN for productivity, resource-use efficiency, and N-saving (~32 kg ha−1) both in CA-based and conventionally cultivated DSR. This study also suggests irrigating DSR after 72 h of the drying of surface water; however, under obviously limited water supplies, irrigation can be delayed until 20% DASM, thus saving two irrigations, which can be diverted to additional DSR areas. © 2022 by the authors.
Editorial: Soil additives for sustaining the soil ecosystem services
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Anil Kumar Choudhary; Jay Prakash Prakash Verma; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot
[No abstract available]
Extreme temperature and rainfall event trends in the Middle Gangetic Plains from 1980 to 2018
(Indian Academy of Sciences, 2023) S. Vijayakumar; Sudhir Kumar Rajpoot; N. Manikandan; R. Jayakumara Varadan; J.P. Singh; Dibyendu Chatterjee; Sumanta Chatterjee; Santosha Rathod; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Adarsh Kumar
Regional-level studies aimed at identifying and assessing various types of extreme weather events and comprehending their effects on various sectors are crucial. In the present study, we have utilized the RClimDex software to compute the trend in temperature and precipitation extreme events in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, India, from 1980 to 2018. We employed both Mann–Kendall test and linear regression to test the statistical significance of the computed trend. Out of 13 temperature indices, 8 showed a significant trend while the remaining showed a non-significant trend. The annual mean maximum temperature, warm days, diurnal temperature range and a monthly minimum of maximum temperature had decreased significantly by 0.029ºC, 0.159 days, 0.032ºC and 0.122ºC/yr respectively, whereas cool days and cold spell duration had increased significantly by 0.264ºC and 0.372 days/yr respectively, indicating an increased cooling effect over the study area. Similarly, out of the 11 rainfall indices, only two showed a significant trend, while the remaining showed a nonsignificant trend. The increasing drought over the study area is evident as the number of rainy days and consecutive wet days have decreased significantly by 0.262 days and 0.058 days/yr respectively, with a non-significant increase in consecutive dry days during the same period. The weak negative non-significant trend of a maximum of five consecutive days of rainfall, very heavy rainfall days and total annual precipitation indicate the decreasing trend of floods. This study stresses the development of adaptation plans to overcome the adverse consequences of extreme weather events in Varanasi district. © 2023, Current Science. All Rights Reserved.
Precision nitrogen and water management in double zero -till wheat: effects on photosynthetic parameters, productivity, nutrient-use efficiency and N2O emission
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Vijay Sai Pratap; Anchal Dass; Prameela Krishnan; Susama Sudhishri; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Arti Bhatia; Dinesh Jinger; Sunil Kumar Verma; Arjun K. Singh; Aye Aye San; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; K. S. Sachin; Kavita Kumari; Rahul Sadhukhan; S. Dasaratha Kumar; Venkatesh Paramesha; Teekam Singh; Ramanjit Kaur; Shiv Poojan Yadav
Context: Conventional tillage (CT), excessive irrigation, and indiscriminate nitrogen (N) use in wheat farming degrade soil and water resources in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), threatening the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system. Objectives: A two-year study (2019–21) in north-west IGP was conducted to assess the integration of zero-tillage (ZT) with precision water and N management for sustainability, nutrient efficiency, and environmental performance. Methods: The study tested two crop establishment methods (ZT-wheat and double ZT-wheat) and three irrigation regimes–25%, 50%, and 75% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), with silicon applied at 75% DASM–alongside three N strategies: 100% recommended N dose (RDN), NutrientExpert® (NE®) + Leaf Color Chart (LCC), and NE® + SPAD-based N management, using a split-plot design. Results and Conclusion: Double ZT-wheat performed better over conventional ZT, showed superior growth (higher dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate), 3.5% greater interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and 6.7–9.9% increases in grain/straw yields, and resource-use efficiency. Irrigation at 25% DASM increased photosynthetic activity, intercepted 18.3% more PAR, and yielded 9.23% higher grain over 50% DASM, though delaying irrigation to 50% DASM conserved water without significant yield loss. NE® + SPAD-based N management saved 40 kg N ha–1 while enhancing productivity and efficiency, and combining ZT with 75% DASM + silicon and NE® + LCC significantly reduced N2O emissions, thus suggested for implementation in the wheat growing regions. Significance: The current study findings promote precision N-water strategies, and double ZT to enhance productivity, resource conservation, and environmental sustainability in the IGP’s wheat systems addressing important sustainable development goals concerning agriculture. © © 2025 Pratap, Dass, Krishnan, Sudhishri, Choudhary, Bhatia, Jinger, Verma, Singh, San, Nithinkumar, Sachin, Kumari, Sadhukhan, Kumar, Paramesha, Singh, Kaur and Yadav.
Unlocking the Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Exploring Role in Plant Growth Promotion, Nutrient Uptake Mechanisms, Biotic Stress Alleviation, and Sustaining Agricultural Production Systems
(Springer, 2025) Ingudam Bhupenchandra; S. K. Chongtham; Ayam Gangarani Devi; Pranab Dutta; M. R. Sahoo; Sansuta Mohanty; Sumit Kumar; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Elangbam Lamalakshmi Devi; Soibam Sinyorita; Soibam Helena Devi; Madhusmita Mahanta; Arti Kumari; Hidangmayum Lembisana Devi; R. K. Josmee; Ayam Pusparani; Neeta Pathaw; Sachin Gupta; Mukesh Kumar Meena; Janmeda Pracheta; Chandra Shekhar Seth; Jaya Arora; Abhishek Sahoo; Prashant Swapnil
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic organisms that form intimate relationships with host plants by developing intracellular structures called arbuscules within root cortical cells. They are vital to natural ecosystems, offering a range of ecological benefits. They enhance the uptake and transfer of essential nutrients, influence the composition of fungal and bacterial communities in the soil, and improve soil texture and structure. They also strengthen plant resilience by mitigating the effects of salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, pathogens, pests, and weeds. They support plant defense mechanisms through the production of antimicrobial compounds, induction of defense-related biomolecules, and activation of resistance genes. This article provides a thorough review of recent research on the interactions between plant nutrients and AMF. It explores key mechanisms in nutrient uptake, and examines the morphological, biochemical, and molecular changes in plants colonized by AMF. Additionally, the article discusses AMF's crucial role in alleviating biotic stress. By shedding light on these aspects, the review identifies research gaps and suggests future directions. Harnessing AMF's potential can reduce dependence on agrochemicals and promote a more sustainable agricultural system. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.