Browsing by Author "Mrinal Sen"

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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.
Comparative performance of Haloxyfop-R-methyl formulations on weed suppression, growth and energy use in soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation
(Horizon e-Publishing Group, 2025) Alok Sinha; Jainendra Kumar Singh; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot; Kiranmoy Patra; K. Srikanth Reddy; Ayan Sarkar; Ankur Singh; Mrinal Sen
Soybean cultivation during the rainy (Kharif) season frequently encounters severe weed infestations, which compete with the crop for essential resources and result in substantial yield losses if not effectively managed. To address this challenge, a field experiment was conducted during the 2022-2023 rainy season at the Agricultural Research Farm of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study employed a randomized block design with three replications and eight treatments, comprising different doses and sources of haloxyfop-R-methyl 10.5 % EC, propaquizafop 10 % EC, a weed-free plot and an untreated control. Among the herbicidal treatments, haloxyfop-R-methyl 10.5 % w/w EC (BCSPL sample) applied at a concentration of 0.33 g/L (T3) demonstrated the most effective weed suppression, which translated into improved crop growth and higher yield performance. This treatment significantly reduced weed density and biomass accumulation, thereby enhancing weed control efficiency, weed control index, treatment efficiency index and crop resistance index, while simultaneously lowering the weed persistence index. As a result, T3 recorded a higher stover yield of 2152 kg/ha and a seed yield of 1499 kg/ha, along with an improved harvest index of 41.22 %. Additionally, substantial increases were observed in energy use efficiency (49.14 %), energy efficiency ratio (50.63 %), energy productivity (50.81 %) and energy profitability (53.83 %) in comparison to the untreated control. Thus, haloxyfop-R-methyl 10.5 % w/w EC (BCSPL sample) at 0.33 g/L represents a viable, efficient and sustainable weed management strategy for maximizing soybean productivity and profitability under rainy season conditions in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plains of India. © The Author(s).
Crop residue: Status, distribution, management, and agricultural sustainability
(Elsevier, 2024) Mrinal Sen; Arkaprava Roy; Khushboo Rani; Arpita Nalia; Tanmay Das; Priti Tigga; Debopam Rakshit; Kousik Atta; Saptarshi Mondal; Vishwanath; Abinash Das
Crop residues are essential components of agricultural systems, with the potential to enhance soil health, conserve moisture, reduce erosion, and contribute to agricultural sustainability. This chapter examines the status, distribution, management, and significance of crop residues in achieving sustainable agriculture. The chapter begins by discussing the status and distribution of crop residues, highlighting the variability across regions, crops, and farming systems. Factors such as crop type, yield levels, harvesting methods, and postharvest operations influence the quantity and quality of crop residues. Understanding their status and distribution is crucial for designing effective management strategies. Next, the chapter delves into various management practices employed for crop residues. These practices include retention, incorporation, utilization as animal feed, bioenergy production, and composting. Each approach has its benefits and challenges, and their proper implementation is essential for maximizing the advantages of crop residues while minimizing potential drawbacks. The chapter emphasizes the role of crop residues in agricultural sustainability. Proper management of crop residues enhances soil health by improving organic matter content, nutrient cycling, and soil structure. It also contributes to erosion control, water conservation, and climate change mitigation. The significance of crop residues in achieving sustainable agriculture lies in their ability to improve overall farm productivity, reduce external inputs, and promote environmental stewardship. In conclusion, crop residues play a crucial role in agricultural sustainability. Understanding their status, employing appropriate management practices, and harnessing their benefits can lead to improved soil health, water conservation, and reduced environmental impact. This chapter provides valuable insights into the importance of crop residues and serves as a guide for farmers, researchers, and policymakers in optimizing their utilization for sustainable agriculture. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Revolutionizing water treatment: membrane bioreactor as decontaminant of pesticide residue
(Elsevier, 2025) Atanu Sarkar; Joydeep Karan; Ayan Sarkar; Abhijit Mandal; Mrinal Sen
Pesticide residues contaminating water bodies from agricultural and industrial sources pose a major environmental threat that conventional treatment methods struggle to address effectively. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs), combining biological degradation with membrane filtration, have emerged as a promising solution for removing persistent pesticide contaminants from water. In this chapter we will provide an in-depth examination of the fundamental mechanisms, operational factors, and performance assessment of MBRs applied to pesticide removal. It explores the interplay between membrane separation processes like microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration and the metabolic activities of specialized microbial communities capable of breaking down pesticides. For successful decontamination of pesticides using MBR clear understanding of the biodegradation pathways and enzymatic mechanisms underlying the transformation and mineralization of different pesticide classes such as organochlorines, organophosphates, and synthetic pyrethroids is important. Various operational parameters like hydraulic retention time, solid retention time, mixed liquor suspended solids concentration, and redox conditions influence pesticide removal efficiencies and degradation kinetics in MBRs. Besides physicochemical properties of pesticides, such as hydrophobicity, volatility, and molecular structure, also affect the bioavailability and susceptibility of pesticides to degradation. Recently there are diverse kinds of membrane reactors like submerged MBR, extractive MBR, MF MBR, membrane filtration MBR containing polyethylene hollow fiber, MBR incorporated with semiconductor diode laser, etc. Along with pesticide removal from water MBRs can also be used for the removal of other emerging contaminants, including endocrine-disrupting compounds and antibiotics. Through a review of case studies and pilot-scale applications the performance of MBRs in treating pesticide-contaminated water from agricultural runoff, industrial effluents, and municipal wastewater will be evaluated. Challenges associated with MBR implementation, including membrane fouling, energy consumption, and potential toxic by-product formation, will also be addressed. MBR is an emerging technique, and in future it can be further explored or modified by integrating it with advanced oxidation processes, developing novel antifouling membrane materials, and applying omics techniques (metagenomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics) to optimize MBR performance and elucidate complex microbial dynamics involved in pesticide biodegradation. The comprehensive analysis of MBR can provide a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, deepening the understanding of MBR technology’s potential to tackle pesticide water contamination while paving the way for future advancements in this field. © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.