Browsing by Author "Bhavisha Sharma"

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Agricultural utilization of biosolids: A review on potential effects on soil and plant grown
(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Bhavisha Sharma; Abhijit Sarkar; Pooja Singh; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Environmental and economic implications linked with the proper ecofriendly disposal of modern day wastes, has made it essential to come up with alternative waste management practices that reduce the environmental pressures resulting from unwise disposal of such wastes. Urban wastes like biosolids are loaded with essential plant nutrients. In this view, agricultural use of biosolids would enable recycling of these nutrients and could be a sustainable approach towards management of this hugely generated waste. Therefore biosolids i.e. sewage sludge can serve as an important resource for agricultural utilization. Biosolids are characterized by the occurrence of beneficial plant nutrients (essential elements and micro and macronutrients) which can make help them to work as an effective soil amendment, thereby minimizing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. However, biosolids might contain toxic heavy metals that may limit its usage in the cropland. Heavy metals at higher concentration than the permissible limits may lead to food chain contamination and have fatal consequences. Biosolids amendment in soil can improve physical and nutrient property of soil depending on the quantity and portion of the mixture. Hence, biosolids can be a promising soil ameliorating supplement to increase plant productivity, reduce bioavailability of heavy metals and also lead to effective waste management. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
An insight to atmospheric pollution- Improper waste management and climate change nexus
(Springer International Publishing, 2017) Bhavisha Sharma; Barkha Vaish; Vaibhav Srivastava; Sonu Singh; Pooja Singh; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Urbanization and industrialization along with expansion of the cities, extract resources indiscriminately in order to provide better access to food security, education, health and employment. However, accompanying this urbanization and industrialization, there is an increase in generation of vast amount of waste. Per capita waste generation is closely related to high quality life style, consumer pattern and economic development. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is affected by many drivers (socio-economic, political, environmental, etc.) and its impact differs from country to country. The scenario is worse and complicated in developing countries due to negligence in waste management sector. Improper waste management has emerged as one of the potent source of series of air pollutants that arises concerns over ambient air quality, environmental degradation and public health. Overall waste sector is estimated to contribute around 3-5% of global greenhouse emission. But, this estimate does not include the emission from the uncollected waste that decays anaerobically and is the main cause of methane generation which has not yet been quantified. Therefore, it is imperative to integrate proper waste management technologies especially for developing economies. Thus, this chapter attempts to relate the nexus between improper management of municipal solid waste and climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through proven technologies and existing policies. © Springer International Publishing AG 2018.
Biochemical, physiological, and yield responses of lady’s finger (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) grown on varying ratios of municipal solid waste vermicompost
(Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2018) Vaibhav Srivastava; Sanjay Kumar Gupta; Pooja Singh; Bhavisha Sharma; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Purpose: In the present study, effect of earthworm-processed MSW was seen on biochemical, physiological, and yield responses of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Methods: Plants were grown on different amendment ratios of municipal solid waste vermicompost (MSWVC). Pot experiments were conducted by mixing MSWVC at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% ratios to the agricultural soil. Results: An increase in photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of plants grown at 20 and 40% MSWVC amendment ratios was observed. Total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and protein contents also increased significantly in 20, 40, and 60% amendment ratios at 65 days after germination (DAG). Likewise, proline, peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation increased with increasing levels of MSWVC at both 45 and 65 DAG. Conclusion: The study suggests that MSWVC could be used as organic amendment in soil depicted by good yield and antioxidative response of lady’s finger (A. esculentus) at different amendments of MSWVC (up to 60% w/w ratios). Furthermore, agricultural utilization of MSWVC will help in managing dreadful effects of the burgeoning amount of organic solid waste. © 2018, The Author(s).
Biological responses of agricultural soils to fly-ash amendment
(Springer New York LLC, 2014) Rajeev Pratap Singh; Bhavisha Sharma; Abhijit Sarkar; Chandan Sengupta; Pooja Singh; Mahamad Hakimi Ibrahim
Increased urbanization and industrialization worldwide has resulted in increased releases of solid waste, and enhanced environmental pollution around the globe. There are several categories of solid waste and these include sewage sludge, and municipal solid wastes (Singh et al. 2011). Fly Ash (FA), a coal combustion residue (CCR), is a major type of solid waste. The global dependence on coal as a major source of energy production, especially to produce electricity, has made FA a prime solid waste problem and a growing environmental pollutant. Proven global coal reserves have been estimated at 847 billion tons for the year 2007 (Sarkar et al. 2012). The USA has the largest share of global coal reserves (25.4 %), followed by Russia (15.9 %), China (11.6 %) and India (8.6 %) (Sarkar et al. 2012). Since India became independent in 1947, there has been a rapid increase in power generation, largely dominated by coal-based thermal generation constituting about 79 % of total production. Energy production has increased from a capacity of 1,362 MW in 1947 to 120,000 MW in 2005. The Indian government plans to increase installed capacity to 300,000 MW by 2017 (Kumar et al. 2005; Vaidya 2009). India, like the United States, Russia and China, possesses abundant coal reserves, and coal-fueled generation of electricity is the common national policy (Singh et al. 2012; Sarkar et al. 2012). © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Energy recovery potential and environmental impact of gasification for municipal solid waste
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2019) Barkha Vaish; Bhavisha Sharma; Vaibhav Srivastava; Pooja Singh; M. Hakimi Ibrahim; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Currently the world is facing numerous environmental problems associated with waste management, climate change and global warming. Therefore, research and development has shifted towards utilising solid waste as an alternative to diminishing fossil fuels. The availability of large amounts of waste and its potential to supply a substantial amount of energy have been widely recognised by the scientific community. Municipal solid waste can be transformed into usable forms of energy through either biological or thermochemical processes (viz. combustion, pyrolysis and gasification). Gasification is considered one of the most efficient routes to convert waste into energy, and is a widely accepted technology that harnesses energy stored in waste. Moreover, for any process to be feasible overall its environmental performance has to be taken into consideration. Recent reports have supported the fact that the gasification process can be carried out with no threat to the environment or human health. The coming decades will reveal the environmental performance of various commercial waste gasifiers currently in operation as strong competitors of other thermochemical conversion processes. Therefore, this review aims to understand the process of gasification, energy recovery potential, environmental impact and technical challenges to tackle the problem of climate change and ultimately reach the goal of sustainability. © 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Growth performance, metal accumulation and biochemical responses of Palak (Beta vulgaris L. var. Allgreen H-1) grown on soil amended with sewage sludge-fly ash mixtures
(Springer Verlag, 2018) Bhavisha Sharma; Richa Kothari; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Agricultural utilization of sewage sludge (SS) and fly ash (FA) has become both, a common practice and an alternative disposal method for these wastes all around the world. The present study was conducted to assess the effect and viability of co-application of SS and FA (SLASH) in four mixing ratios denoted as A [4 (SS): 1(FA)], B [4 (SS): 2 (FA)], C [4 (SS): 3 (FA)] and D [4 (SS): 4(FA)] at three application rates viz. 20, 40 and 60% (w/w) with agricultural soil on biochemical, physiological and growth response of Palak (Beta vulgaris L. var. Allgreen H-1), a commonly used green leafy vegetable. SLASH amendment modified the physico-chemical properties of soil and increased the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soil and plant parts however, within the Indian permissible limit except for Cr, Cd and Zn in shoot. Experimental results revealed decrease in morphological and growth parameters such as root and shoot length, leaf area, root, shoot biomass etc. Lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid, proline and protein content increased however, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content decreased indicating towards heavy metal stress induced biochemical and physiological response in Palak plants. Significant increase in yield was seen in some of the treatments viz. three mixing ratios B, C and D, with maximum increment shown by mixture D at 20 and 40% amendment rate. The results of this study suggest that though SLASH amendment for growing Palak improved the physico-chemical properties of soil amended and also the yield of the plants in some treatments, it may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of heavy metals such as Cr, Cd and Zn showing higher accumulation. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Microbes-assisted remediation of metal polluted soils
(Elsevier, 2019) Bhavisha Sharma; Pooja Singh; Puneet Singh Chauhan; Sonu Singh; Rajeev Pratap Singh
The rapid increase in urbanization and industrial growth has led to the exploitation and pollution of valuable natural resources like soil and water. Soil pollution due to the toxic heavy metals, hazardous chemicals, and consequential contamination of groundwater, sediments, surface water, and food chain is one of the major environmental concerns of the modern era. Metal contamination of soil occurs due to the release of metals in the environment from several anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, disposal of urban and industrial wastes, mining, smelting, and various other industrial operations. Metals when present in higher concentration show phytotoxicity in plants and cause serious health issues in human beings due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. Since metal pollution has serious implications for food safety, health, and environment, bioremediation of metal-contaminated soils using microorganisms can be explored as a promising approach toward a sustainable and eco-friendly mitigation of this problem. Microbes remediate heavy metals through different mechanisms such as redox reaction, bioprecipitation, extracellular complexation, and intracellular accumulation. Bioremediation, being a low cost, green, and environment-friendly option as compared to the conventional physicochemical remediation methods can play a pivotal role in the development of future remediation technologies. This chapter aims to highlight the current status, challenges, and opportunities in the bioremediation of heavy metals from contaminated soils. © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Recycling of Organic Wastes in Agriculture: An Environmental Perspective
(Springer International Publishing, 2019) Bhavisha Sharma; Barkha Vaish; Monika; Umesh Kumar Singh; Pooja Singh; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Inadequate organic waste management leads to a plethora of problems such as environmental pollution, eutrophication, esthetic damage to urban landscape, greenhouse gases emission and effects on human health. Unwise and non-scientific disposal of wastes not only poses a grave threat to environmental quality but also results in loss of economic value of wastes. Since organic wastes are an abundant pool of organic matter and valuable plant nutrients, agricultural recycling of these wastes appears to be a promising alternative enabling value addition and their resourceful utilization. Land application of organic wastes stabilized through techniques such as composting, vermicomposting and anaerobic digestion yielding excellent organic fertilizer like compost augments soil fertility and crop yield. Additionally, the practice incorporates indirect environmental benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, land conservation due to reduced landfilling of wastes and substitute to chemical fertilizers. Economically also, agricultural utilization of organic wastes reduces the cost of landfilling, transportation of wastes, imports and production cost of chemical fertilizers and opens avenues for rural employment. However, effective utilization of organic wastes for agricultural purposes requires thorough and strict risk assessment to prevent the adverse effects of contaminants like heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants to ensure agro-environmental sustainability. The present article aims to enlist the positives and negatives associated with this practice enabling to devise an approach or strategy deriving maximum environmental and economic benefits. © 2019, University of Tehran.
The behavior of nanomaterials in soil and interaction with soil biota
(Apple Academic Press, 2023) Monika Mahajan; Anuchaya Devi; Bhavisha Sharma; Rajeev Pratap Singh
Human civilization cannot exist without the food and agriculture domains, which are inextricably linked to human life. As a result, now that the regulatory authorities have legalized nanotechnology, it has a lot of potential in this industry. Traditional agricultural technologies' limitations have limited the effective use of available farmland to meet demand and ensure food security. Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives for addressing the shortcomings of traditional agriculture approaches. Nano-technology has opened a new chapter in agriculture's long-term viability. It reduces the amount of synthetic chemicals in the field by a significant amount. Engineered nanoparticles have a promising future in agriculture; it can promote soil amelioration from toxic pollutants and improve plant growth and productivity. Adequate amount and duration of exposure of nanoparticles such as nSiO2, nTiO2, AgNP, single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes have several advantages such as stimulating the synthesis of the bioactive compound, increasing the efficacy of germination rate, and enhancing the vegetative biomass. But the inappropriate concentration of nanoparticles diminishes the metabolism, enzymatic activities of soil and plants. This chapter is an approach to point out the possible prospects and implications of nanoparticles with the current guidelines to their use in agriculture, food safety, and security of the nation. © 2024 Apple Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.