Browsing by Author "Jitendra Singh Bohra"

Now showing 1 - 16 of 16

ASSESSMENT OF NUTRIENT DYNAMICS OF DIVERSIFIED RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SEQUENCES UNDER INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM OF MIDDLE IGP
(Bangladesh Botanical Society, 2022) Priyanka Saha; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Deeptirekha Mahapatra; Harsita Nayak; Tejbal Singh; Anamika Barman
A field experiment was conducted with 10 crop sequences as treatments to find out nutrient dynamics and nutrient uptake pattern. This study was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Among the different cropping sequence taken under study, sudan fodder- berseem- cowpea fodder recorded highest nitrogen (443.6 kg/ha), phosphorus (146.8 kg/ha) and potassium (306.3 kg/ha) uptake followed by cowpea fodder- berseem- maize fodder with 411, 105.9 and 274 kg/ha nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively. Both these crop sequences showed negative nitrogen balance in soil. Meanwhile potassium balance was negative for most of the sequences. However, high value rice- capsicum - vegetable cowpea registered lowest nitrogen (134.5 kg/ha) and potassium uptake (129.20 kg/ha) leading to a positive nitrogen and potassium balance. © 2022 Bangladesh Botanical Society. All rights reserved.
Assessment of soil quality under different tillage practices during wheat cultivation: soil enzymes and microbial biomass
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2015) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra
Microbial processes, particularly enzyme activities, play crucial functional roles in soil ecology, hence serving as sensitive indicators of soil quality. We assessed the temporal dynamics of microbial biomass and selected soil enzymes (β-d-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, polyphenol oxidase, urease, glycine-aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase) during wheat cultivation, under four different tillage practices in the rice–wheat system. The four practices involved conventional tilling of soil before cultivating each crop (CTR-CTW); no tilling before cultivating rice but conventional tillage before wheat (NTR-CTW); conventional tilling before cultivating rice but no tilling before wheat (CTR-NTW) and no tilling before cultivation of each crop (NTR-NTW). Microbial biomass and activities of hydrolytic enzymes increased under NTR-NTW followed by CTR-NTW and NTR-CTW with respect to the conventional practice CTR-CTW, thus reflecting improvement in microbial activities with reduced tillage frequency. Enzyme activities generally depended on soil moisture and temperature, but nature of relationships varied among different practices. Nutrient demand appeared to be the strongest driver of alkaline phosphatase and urease, and soil temperature for glycine-aminopeptidase. Under CTR-CTW, activities of most of the extracellular enzymes were related with β-d-glucosidase or urease, but such relations altered under rest of the practices. The study showed that extracellular soil enzymes respond sensitively to tillage practices as well as environmental variables, particularly soil temperature and moisture and hence can serve as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil processes. Considering improvement in microbial biomass and enzymatic activities as indicators of better soil quality, adoption of no tillage apparently improved soil quality. Still, more number of field studies are required under tillage managements to explore the relationships between different enzyme activities and environmental factors. © 2015 Taylor & Francis.
Carbon footprints of rice cultivation under different tillage practices in rice-wheat system
(Springer International Publishing, 2015) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra
Continually rising concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere is increasing concerns over how to manage global warming. Quantification of sources and sinks of these gases have been carried out, but there remains incoherence among the estimates due to different nature of sources and processes related therewith. This renders inter-comparison and further utilization of available assessments quite incomparable. Except major point sources like thermal power plants, cement manufacturing, etc. which have been quantified confidently (Matthews et al., 2008), fugitive and sensitive sources/sinks still need proper quantification. Agriculture is one such system which plays dominating role in the global fluxes of CH4 and N2O, as their biggest emitter. Substantial inputs of energy, machinery, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the modern agriculture bear embodied emissions in addition to much focused direct emissions from soil (Lal, 2004a). At the same time, agricultural soils may reportedly act as considerable carbon sink (Lal, 2004b). Therefore it becomes essential to integrate all inputs-outputs to estimate the actual impact. © Capital Publishing Company 2015.
Common foods for boosting human immunity: A review
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2023) Deo Narayan Singh; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Tej Pratap Dubey; Pushp Raj Shivahre; Ram Kumar Singh; Tejbal Singh; Deepak Kumar Jaiswal
We are frequently exposed to potentially harmful microbes of various types on a daily basis. Our immune system is an amazing collection of unique organs and cells that defends us from hazardous germs as well as certain diseases. It plays a crucial role in protecting the body against external invaders, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Maintaining a healthy immune system requires consuming a balanced diet that provides a variety of macro- and micronutrients. By consuming sufficient amounts of water, minerals such as zinc and magnesium, micronutrients, herbs, and foods rich in vitamins C, D, and E, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, one can enhance their health and immunity, and prevent infections. This article provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on common foods known for their potential to boost human immunity. The review begins by discussing the various components of the immune system and their functions. It then delves into the current understanding of how nutrition can influence immune response, highlighting the importance of a well-balanced diet in supporting optimal immune function. The article presents an extensive analysis of a range of common foods that have been studied for their immune-boosting properties. These foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and animal-based foods. Each food category is explored in terms of its specific nutrients and bioactive compounds that contribute to immune support. Foods such as milk, eggs, fruits, leafy greens, and spices like onion, garlic, and turmeric contain beneficial compounds that can enhance the immune system's function, activate and inhibit immune cells, and interfere with multiple pathways that eventually lead to improved immune responses and defense. The available literature on the issue was accessed via online resources and evaluated thoroughly as a methodology for preparing this manuscript. © 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping system of Varanasi for enhanced productivity and employment generation
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 2022) Priyanka Saha; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Harsita Nayak; Tejbal Singh; Anamika Barman
A field experiment was conducted during 2019-20 with an objective to study the effect of diversification of rice- wheat cropping system with different fodder, legume and high value crops for enhanced productivity and employment generation under irrigated ecosystem. The rice equivalent yield was maximum with sudan fodder (4412 kg/ha), capsicum (8371 kg/ha) and lady's finger (6519 kg/ ha) for rainy (kharif), winter (rabi) and summer season, respectively. However, high value rice-potato-lady's finger recorded significantly higher system productivity and was comparable to high value rice-capsicum-vegetable cowpea sequence. Cropping sequences containing more than one crop gave better land use efficiency and more employment generation opportunities by engaging more farm labours. Hence, both the sequences, S9and S10recorded higher land use efficiency and labour engagement over other crop sequences thus leading to better employment generation. © 2022 Indian Council of Agricultural Research. All rights reserved.
Effect of NPKS and Zn application on growth, yield, economics and quality of baby corn
(2014) Rakesh Kumar; Jitendra Singh Bohra
A field experiment was conducted during the pre-kharif season of 2012 and 2013 at Varanasi to study the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) (100% and 125% recommended dose of fertilizer), sulfur (0, 25 and 50 kg S ha-1) and zinc (0, 5 and 10 kg Zn ha-1) fertilization on growth, yield, economics and quality of baby corn. Growth attributes like plant height, number of green leaves, stem girth, dry matter plant-1, crop growth rate (CGR), chlorophyll content of leaves, yield attributes like number of baby cobs plant-1, cob and corn weight, length and girth of corn as well as yield of cob, corn and green fodder besides gross return, net return and benefit:cost ratio were increased significantly with application of 125% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer) over 100% RDF. Increasing level of sulfur application up to 50 kg S ha-1 had a marked effect on all the growth characters, yield attributes and yield. Each increment of zinc application up to 10 kg Zn ha-1 correspondingly improved growth, yield attributes, cob yield, corn yield and green fodder yield as well as gross return, net return and the benefit:cost ratio. © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.
Effects of conventional tillage and no tillage permutations on extracellular soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass under rice cultivation
(2014) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra
Extracellular soil enzymes hold a cardinal position in nutrient dynamics by regulating bioavailability of elements, and hence are linked with soil health. The present study aimed to analyze the responses of extracellular enzymes involved in mineralization of carbon (β- d-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH), polyphenol oxidase (PPO)), nitrogen (urease (UR), glycine-amino peptidase (GAP)) and phosphorous (alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) under four permutations of conventional tillage and no tillage under rice-wheat system in eastern Indo-gangetic plains during rice cultivation period. The permutations were: tillage before sowing/transplantation of each crop (RCT-WCT), tillage before transplantation of rice and no tillage before sowing of wheat (RCT-WNT), tillage before sowing wheat and no tillage before sowing of rice (RNT-WCT) and no tillage before sowing of each crop (RNT-WNT). Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and activities of BG, CBH, ALP and UR increased with reduction in tillage frequency, becoming the highest under RNT-WNT and the lowest under RCT-WCT. Principal component analyses (PCA) condensed the variables in to two components, apparently described by soil temperature and moisture content under all the tillage permutations. Most of the enzymes and soil properties identified to be associated under PCA followed linear relationships. Under RCT-WCT, CBH, UR and ALP were related with BG. Different orders of residue incorporation and tillage under RCT-WNT, RNT-WCT and RNT-WNT masked these relations. Results indicated that reduction in tillage frequency made the soil healthier. Relationship of BG with other enzymes appeared as a probable indicator to reflect deviations from the conventional cultivation practice in the study region. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Greenhouse gas emissions from rice crop with different tillage permutations in rice-wheat system
(2012) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra
Global agriculture lies in intersection of two inescapable issues of the present times, viz. keeping pace with growing food demand and participating in climate change mitigation efforts. Rice cultivation is a major emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and no tillage of soil is becoming popular due to low economic investments with improved soil conditions. However, how these arrangements will affect GHG emissions need to be quantified. Therefore, monitoring over diverse agricultural practices is essential for optimum utilization of cultivable land and resources, while identifying the chances of emission reductions. We assessed the impacts of four tillage practices in rice-wheat cultivation system on fluxes of GHGs (CH 4, N 2O and CO 2) and yield of rice. The tillage practices were tilling of soil before sowing of every crop (RCT-WCT), tillage before sowing of rice but no tillage before sowing of wheat (RCT-WNT), tillage before sowing of wheat but no tillage before sowing of rice (RNT-WCT), and no tillage before sowing of rice as well as wheat (RNT-WNT). Reduction in tillage frequency led to significant reductions in fluxes of CH 4 and N 2O, but increased CO 2 while permutations of tillage and no tillage influenced grain yield. RNT-WCT produced next to or comparable to the most yielding RCT-WCT. Although it is difficult to select the best performer since no single tillage permutation showed consistent increment in yield with accompanied emission reductions, RNT-WCT, however may be considered as better agricultural practice for the study region. Long term and extensive spatio-temporal monitoring is still required before making any recommendation. It is also essential for understanding the factors that cause declination in yields under no tillage. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Impact of four tillage permutations in rice-wheat system on GHG performance of wheat cultivation through carbon footprinting
(2013) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra
The world which is facing dual challenges of global warming and food insecurity warrants critical assessment of cultivation practices to improve yield and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. No tillage is gaining popularity, but responses of GHG fluxes associated with soil, farm activities and other agricultural inputs under different tillage managements need to be explored. In the present study, spatial and yield scaled carbon footprints of wheat cultivation were calculated under four permutations of tillage and no tillage practices in rice-wheat system covering all direct and indirect emissions. The practices were tillage of soil before sowing of every crop (RCT-WCT), tillage before transplanting of rice, but no tillage before sowing of wheat (RCT-WNT), tillage before sowing of wheat, but no tillage before sowing of rice (RNT-WCT), and no tillage before sowing of rice as well as wheat (RNT-WNT). Direct emissions were the most prominent contributor to carbon footprint with CH4 fluxes from soil having the largest individual share. RCT-WCT acting as a CH4 sink left negative spatial carbon footprints, however, it was positive for rest of the practices. N2O fluxes were negligible compared to CH4 and CO2 under all the practices. Although carbon sequestration in soil under RCT-WNT, RNT-WCT and RNT-WNT could offset indirect emissions completely, its impact on overall spatial carbon footprints ranged from 3.2 to 6.0%. Yield scaled carbon footprints ranged from -8.11 to 23.82kgCO2-ekg-1. Improvement in yield occurred only under RNT-WNT. Footprint analysis recognized RCT-WCT as the most GHG efficient practice and RCT-WNT as the least efficient. The study further suggested that reducing CH4 and CO2 emissions will reduce spatial carbon footprints of wheat cultivation. RCT-WCT practice not only provided higher yield but also reduced GHG intensity of wheat production in the study region. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Integrated assessment of diversification of rice-wheat cropping system in indo-gangetic plain
(2011) Ravi Kant Singh; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Triyugi Nath; Yeshwant Singh; Kalyan Singh
Diversification of rice-wheat cropping system may improve the productivity and sustainability of agricultural production in the Indo-Gangetic plane region (IGPR), but the choice of alternative sequences to be used requires integrated assessment of various crop sequences. A long-term field experiment was initiated during 2000-01 on sandy loam soil at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India to assess 10 rice-based cropping sequences - rice-wheat, rice-chickpea, ricewheat- green gram, rice-wheat-Sesbania (green manure), rice-mustard-green gram, rice-lentil-cowpea (fodder), rice-pea, rice-lentil + mustard (3:1)-cowpea (fodder), rice-maize (cob) + vegetable pea (1:1)-cowpea (fodder) and rice-potato-green gram in randomized block design with four replications. The data contained in this paper are for the year 2002-03 and 2003-04. Substitution of rice-wheat with 300% intensity cropping sequences particularly with rice-potato-green gram resulted in maximum production cost but gave the highest system productivity, net return, benefit:cost ratio, production efficiency, profitability and energy productivity. Inclusion of summer grain/fodder legume or Sesbania for green manuring improved the content of soil organic matter. The soil P status was positively affected in all the sequences and particularly those with summer crops. Decline in soil available K in all the sequences indicated inadequacy of present recommended rate of fertilizer K to all the component crops in different sequences. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.
Microbial Seed Priming Enhances Chickpea Performance and Yield Potential Under Subtropical Conditions of India
(Springer, 2023) Priyanka Saha; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Harsita Nayak; Tejbal Singh; Suman Sen; Santosh Kumar; Sushil Kumar
The synthesis and application of inoculants containing microorganisms in crops are gaining more attention worldwide. Among inoculants, mostly crop-specific strains of Rhizobia are used for legume crops to enhance their production potential. There is, however, meagre research on the utilization of endomycorrhizae and signal molecules like lipo-chitooligosachharide to increase yield potential in legumes, notably in chickpea. Thus, this experiment was attempted at the Agricultural Research Farm of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during the winter season of 2019–2020 with the objective of enhancing the production potential of chickpea through seed priming with microbial inoculants. The experiment consisted of eight treatments viz., T1 (control), T2 (Rhizobium 20 g + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria 20 g), T3 (endomycorrhizae 1 g), T4 (endomycorrhizae 2 g), T5 (endomycorrhizae 4 g), T6 (endomycorrhizae 1 g + lipo-chitooligosaccharide 0.33 ml), T7 (endomycorrhizae 2 g + lipo-chitooligosaccharide 0.33 ml) and T8 (endomycorrhizae 4 g + lipo-chitooligosaccharide 0.33 ml). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design and replicated four times. Seed priming significantly influenced plant height, dry weight, leaf area, root length, nodule number, pods per plant, grain and straw yield. Among treatments, seed priming with endomycorrhizae 4 g + lipo-chitooligosaccharide 0.33 ml (T8) proved better in terms of plant height, dry matter, leaf area, nodule number, and root length. Furthermore, the endomycorrhizae (4 g) + lipo-chitooligosaccharide (0.33 ml) combination resulted in higher grain (2.60–48.34%) and straw (1.05–59.16%) yields than the other treatments. Based on the obtained results, seed priming of chickpea with endomycorrhizae + lipo-chitooligosaccharide is suggested for better performance and enhanced production potential. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The National Academy of Sciences, India.
Recalcitrant and labile carbon pools in a sub-humid tropical soil under different tillage combinations: A case study of rice-wheat system
(Elsevier, 2014) Divya Pandey; Madhoolika Agrawal; Jitendra Singh Bohra; T.K. Adhya; P. Bhattacharyya
In order to utilize agricultural soils as an option to offset atmospheric carbon, it is essential to ascertain the degree of stability of the accrued carbon. A two step acid hydrolysis technique was used to separate labile and recalcitrant carbon pools in soil upto 30cm depth to analyze their responses to different tillage managements after eight years of continuous practice in a sub-humid tropical rice-wheat system of Indo-Gangetic plains. There were four tillage practices; tillage before sowing/transplantation of every crop (RCT-WCT), tillage before transplanting of rice but no tillage before sowing the succeeding wheat crop (RCT-WNT), tillage before sowing of wheat but no tillage before sowing of rice (RNT-WCT), and no tillage before sowing of rice as well as wheat (RNT-WNT). It was observed that reduction in tillage frequency enhanced the total and recalcitrant carbon contents in soil with the maximum rate of sequestration recorded under RNT-WNT (0.59tCha-1yr-1). The fraction of carbon translated into recalcitrant pool was constant under all the tillage combinations indicating that carbon stabilization was dependent predominantly on organic matter input in the rice-wheat system. Conventional tillage on the other hand caused loss of carbon from the soil as observed by reduction in total soil carbon content under RCT-WCT. Reduction in recalcitrant carbon content under RCT-WCT further indicated that acid hydrolysis might not represent long term carbon accumulation reliably. Concentration of phenolics in labile pool increased under RNT-WNT, RCT-WNT and RNT-WCT practices which also had higher total and recalcitrant carbon pools. This indicated towards contribution of phenolics in carbon stabilization in the soil. Results of the present study further suggested that adoption of no till agriculture in the region offers significant carbon sequestration opportunity under proper agricultural management. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.
Response of alley cropping-grown sesame to lime and sulphur on yield and available nutrient status in an acidic soil of Eastern India
(Joint Center on Global Change and Earth System Science of the University of Maryland and Beijing Normal University, 2019) Ram Swaroop Meena; Sandeep Kumar; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Rattan Lal; Gulab Singh Yadav; Achyutanand Pandey
Applications of lime (CaCO 3 ) and elemental sulphur (S 0 –S) may be important to obtain high yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in an acidic soil. Thus, the overall goal of the present study was to assess the impact of lime and S application on sesame yield under acidic soils in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Sesame was grown in an alley cropping system, which integrated trees with grain crops. The impacts on sesame yields were assessed for different rates of lime (0, 100, 250 and 350 kg/ha) and S (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha). The field experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications of 16 treatment combinations. Application of lime at 250 kg/ha produced the best results in terms of the sesame yield (286.1 kg/ha) and improvements in soil chemical properties. Liming at 250 kg/ha increased available nutrients reserves (NPKS: 206, 21.9, 26.9, 16.2 kg/ha, respectively), soil pH (4.95), electrical conductivity (0.039 dS/m) and organic carbon (0.32%) over those in plots without liming (control). Similarly, significant effects of S application were observed in terms of the sesame yield (282.8 kg/ha) and improvements in soil chemical properties, e.g. available nutrient reserves of NPKS (205.6, 21.5, 262.8, 16.0 kg/ha, respectively), soil pH (4.35), electrical conductivity (0.036 dS/m) and organic carbon (0.314%) over those under control, while the minimum soil pH (4.35) was recorded with the application of 45 kg S than that under control (4.89). The interaction effects were significant between the lime and S levels on seed (361 kg/ha), stalk (426 kg/ha) and biological yield (887 kg/ha) for the application of 350 kg lime and 45 kg S/ha. Considering S as an important component of oil and lime for neutralizing soil acidity, their conjoint application is beneficial for farmers to sustain crop productivity in acidic soil of Eastern India. © 2019, The Joint Center on Global Change and Earth System Science of the University of Maryland and Beijing Normal University.
Salt Stress and its Mitigation Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Production
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2023) Priyanka Saha; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Anamika Barman; Anurag Bera
In agriculture, salinity has been a major limiting factor in food security. Soil salinity has been shown to limit land utilization and crop productivity. It is especially crucial to avoid such losses as the ever-increasing global population imposes a tremendous amount of pressure on human populations to produce more food and feed. Salt stress has a negative effect on the whole plant and can be seen at all phases of growth, including germination, seedling and vegetative stages. Tolerance to salt stress, on the other hand, varies with plant developmental processes and even from species and cultivars. Salinity in the agricultural system can be managed by adopting various mitigation strategies. To maintain higher productivity in salt-affected environments, salt-tolerant genotypes must be introduced, as well as precise site-specific production systems. Recent advances in genetics and biotechnology, along with traditional breeding methods, provide the potential to create transgenic cultivars that perform well under stress. Exogenous treatment of certain osmoprotectants and growth regulators, as well as nutrient management and seed rejuvenation strategies, may be beneficial for cost-effective agricultural production in saline soils. © 2023, Bentham Books.
Sustainable alternative crop rotations to the irrigated rice-wheat cropping system of Indo-Gangetic plains of India
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2022) Tej Ram Banjara; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Sushil Kumar; Tejbal Singh; Abhishek Shori; Kailash Prajapat
In recent years, the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic Plains is facing many problems in various fronts viz., agricultural, ecological, environmental and economical. Therefore, to ensure long-term sustainability, the rice-wheat cropping system needs to be diversified. The present study was conducted to identify an alternative cropping system for Indo-Gangetic Plains region of India by diversifying and intensifying the current rice-wheat cropping system. Ten treatments (rice-wheat = control, rice-wheat-green gram, rice-potato-green gram, rice-wheat-cowpea fodder, rice-potato-cowpea fodder, rice-berseem fodder-maize fodder, rice-berseem fodder-cowpea fodder, rice-mustard-sudan grass fodder, rice-mustard-cowpea fodder and rice-cabbage-cowpea fodder) were compared consecutively two years in randomized block design with three replications. Diversification of rice-wheat cropping system with rice-potato-green gram resulted in increase in system productivity (142.35%), gross returns (99.57%), net returns (130.34%), profitability (130.96%), relative production efficiency (142.53%), relative economic efficiency (130.79%) and labour employment (55.73%). The inclusion of legume crops in cropping sequences was found better in improving the soil quality parameters. Our results revealed the significance of diversification and intensification of rice-wheat cropping system under irrigated ecosystem of IGP as it enhanced system productivity, profitability and soil health. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Sustainable management of soil and environment
(Springer Singapore, 2019) Ram Swaroop Meena; Sandeep Kumar; Jitendra Singh Bohra; Mangi Lal Jat
Fertilizers have been used extensively around the globe since the Green Revolution, due to the high subsidies. However, extensive fertilizer use exacerbates soil degradation and causes yield stagnation, and as a result threatens food security and soil sustainability, especially in developing countries. This means that sustainable soil and environmental management are vital to provide food and nutritional security for present and future generations. This has led to the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) declaring 2015-2024 the International Decade of Soils. This book focuses on the impact of sustainable management of soil and environment on improving the functioning of soil-ecosystems and agronomic productivity, and also discusses food security, nutrient cycling, recent advances in INM technologies, eco-friendly cultivation, agricultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as conservation agriculture and its effects, and strategies for soil sustainability. Offering a comprehensive overview of management in the context of the sustainability of soil and the agroecosystems that it supports, it demonstrates the options available and provides insights into restoring soil health and matching soil nutrient supply with crop demand to ensure nutritional security in an eco-friendly environment. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019. All rights reserved.