Browsing by Author "Kadagonda Nithinkumar"

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Agroforestry: Harnessing the unrealized potential for negative carbon emission
(Elsevier, 2025) Nilutpal Saikia; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; Shreyas Bagrecha; Sk Asraful Ali; Mrinal Sen; N. Anthony Baite; Alapati Nymisha; Prabhu Govindasamy; Sunil Kumar Prajapati; Rohit Bapurao Borate; Niraj Biswakarma; Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena
Climate change presents an urgent and existential threat, necessitating immediate action to curb global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasizes the need to drastically reduce carbon dioxide (CO) emissions and remove billions of metric tons of CO from the atmosphere annually. Agroforestry—an integrated approach combining trees with agricultural systems—emerges as a critical option for achieving negative carbon (C) emissions. Agroforestry functions as a negative C sink through several key mechanisms. It sequesters C in both above-ground biomass (trunks, branches, leaves) and below-ground biomass (roots) as trees and shrubs capture atmospheric CO through photosynthesis. Additionally, agroforestry systems enhance soil organic carbon storage, improve soil health, and reduce soil erosion through tree roots that stabilize soil and prevent the loss of C-rich topsoil. Improved nitrogen (N) cycling in these systems, often facilitated by N-fixing plants, reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, agroforestry enhances biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, which contributes to more effective C sequestration over time. It also offers alternatives to fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and can generate C credits that contribute to net-zero emission goals. Recognized globally for its production and environmental benefits, agroforestry is increasingly seen as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. Recent studies suggest that its expansion could significantly contribute to climate change mitigation, with the potential to sequester up to 0.31 Pg C yr−1. To fully capitalize on agroforestry’s potential, accurate research, standardized protocols, and reliable C stock reporting are essential. Integrating agroforestry into global and national C monitoring frameworks requires the development of models capable of predicting C sequestration under diverse climate scenarios. Addressing gaps such as the lack of standardized datasets involves establishing rigorous protocols for sampling, analysis, and data management. Active engagement from the research community is critical to establishing agroforestry as a cornerstone in the global effort to combat climate change and achieve net-zero emissions. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Efficient manure management in achieving net-zero goals in the dairy sector
(Elsevier, 2025) Shreyas Bagrecha; Ridhi Pandey; Rajesh Kumar Meena; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; Nilutpal Saikia; Shubham Pal; Sandeep Naresh Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena
The dairy sector has occupied a pivotal position within the agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the global economy but also to the guarantee of food security and livelihood to many individuals. However, climate change poses a significant issue for modern society, and the dairy sector is not exempt from its own set of obstacles. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the dairy sector have become a growing global concern, with poor manure management playing a significant role. Manure, if not handled properly, can emit significant amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, two potent GHGs. Livestock manure alone contributes 51-118 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. Different kinds of manure management methods are used in dairy farming, and they are based on balances between economic, social, and environmental factors. Implementing innovative manure management practices provides a practical option to reduce these emissions and achieve net-zero emission targets. Effective manure management methods encompass appropriate storage, precise application, anaerobic digestion, composting, biofiltration, and adding additives and inhibitors. Consequently, use of manure to enhance soil health, while biogas generates clean energy, which plays a vital role in sustainability frameworks, going beyond just their environmental benefits. By implementing a suite of manure management practices, the dairy sector can significantly reduce its GHG footprint, which will ultimately support the worldwide shift toward a net-zero economy. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Microbial dynamics and carbon stability under biochar-amended soils
(Elsevier, 2024) Shreyas Bagrecha; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; Nilutpal Saikia; Ram Swaroop Meena; Artika Singh; Shiv Vendra Singh
Biochar is a potentially valuable soil amendment that can improve soil quality and mitigate climate change through the sequestration of carbon in the soil. It is a carbon-rich and fine-grained material that is produced by allowing organic matter to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. This chapter delves into the intricate interplay among soil microbial dynamics, biochar, and carbon stability, focusing on significant microbial groups involved in carbon cycling processes. Additionally, it examines the influence of biochar on the composition, diversity, and functional capabilities of microbial communities. Apart from that, biochar effects on enzymatic processes and the breakdown and stabilization of soil organic carbon. Overall, this chapter offers valuable insights into the complex interplay among biochar, soil microbes and carbon stability, thereby shedding light on the potential of biochar in sustainable soil health management tool for climate change mitigation and agricultural sustainability. The chapter findings make a valuable contribution to our comprehension of the microbial dynamics included in carbon sequestration mechanisms, thereby establishing a foundation for subsequent investigations and the implementation of practical strategies in the field of agro-environmental management. © 2024 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
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.