Browsing by Author "Prabhakar Barnwal"

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Seed Priming: A Potential Supplement in Integrated Resource Management Under Fragile Intensive Ecosystems
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2021) O. Siva Devika; Sonam Singh; Deepranjan Sarkar; Prabhakar Barnwal; Jarupula Suman; Amitava Rakshit
A majority of agricultural activities are conducted under fragile lands or set-up. The growth and development of crops are negatively affected due to several biotic and abiotic stresses. In the current situation, research efforts have been diverted toward the short-term approaches that can improve crop performance under changing environments. Seed treatment or priming technology is in a transition phase of its popularity among resource-poor farmers. Suitable policy intervention can boost low-cost techniques to implement them on a larger scale in developing countries and to harness the maximum benefits of sustainable food production systems. Primed seeds have high vigor and germination rate that help in seedling growth and successful crop stand establishment under stress conditions. This review is attempted to assess different seed priming techniques in terms of resource use efficiency, crop productivity, cost–benefit balance, and environmental impacts. Moreover, a comprehensive study of the mechanisms (physiological and biochemical) of seed priming is also elaborated. A detailed examination of the applications of priming technology under diverse agroecosystems can improve our understanding of the adaptive management of natural resources. © Copyright © 2021 Devika, Singh, Sarkar, Barnwal, Suman and Rakshit.
Soil fertility management in organic farming
(Elsevier, 2021) Prabhakar Barnwal; Shiva Devika; Sonam Singh; Tusarkanta Behera; Aditi Chourasia; Biswajit Pramanick; Vijay Singh Meena; Amitava Rakshit
Soil fertility maintenance is one of the pivotal benefits of the organic farming systems. Management of the soil fertility under organic farming system has many concerns. Soil organic carbon is playing the key role in maintaining the soil fertility. Continuous losses of organic matter due to rapid turnover concerning climatic, anthropogenic as well as management practices create serious concern in the modern-day agriculture. Land cultivation without adding of organic inputs, results in depletion of total carbon content. On the other hand, addition of organic amendments to the soil is a better way to improve microbial biomass C and mineralizable C. Nutrient cycling in the systems under organic farming another important aspect of improving the soil fertility. It is the movement of nutrients within and between the various biotic or abiotic components in the global environment. These nutrients can either be obtained from their mineral or atmospheric sources or recycled from their organic forms by conversion into the ionic form, promoting uptake by plants and ultimately this return to the atmosphere or soil. Nutrient cycling is initiated and carried out by a great number of soil microorganisms; and these microbial activities have the requirement of organic substrate. Thus, maintenance of soil fertility under organic farming systems concerns about management of soil organic carbon, nutrient recycling in the system, management of the biological activities in the soil along with the in-depth knowledge of the factors of loss of organic matter, soil fertility loss and renewal etc. This chapter is mainly highlighting all these concerns. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
Trichoderma as a potent bioprimer for horticultural crops
(Elsevier, 2024) Jayesh Singh; Subhadip Paul; Prabhakar Barnwal; Sweta Kumari; Deepranjan Sarkar; Manoj Parihar; Vijay Singh Meena; Amitava Rakshit
In current changing agricultural production system increased use of agrochemicals to prevent plant diseases, pests for enhancing the crop production has become a major concern. The current farming practices are having significant impact on pest and disease resurgence, reduced soil organic carbon leading to degraded soil health, and has detrimental effects on ecosystem. Therefore, one of the feasible alternatives is microbial intervention in crop production. Numerous bacteria and fungi, especially endophytic fungi, work as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Among the scientists and farmers microbial inoculants products based on Trichoderma are getting emphasis because of their potential to increase crop output, nutritional quality, and resistance to a variety of environmental challenges like pests and plant pathogens. Moreover, Trichoderma as bioinoculant has much higher potential to be disseminated and used at mass level as its culture preparation, multiplication, and application is very simple resulting to become more adaptable to the farmers. In this chapter, numerous horticultural crops have been extensively explored for the use of Trichoderma species as bioinoculant. They also enhance soil fertility and control pathogens, among other advantages. However, there are numerous commercial formulations of Trichoderma sp. available in the market. Multiple carrier materials, including talc, plant growth medium (PGM), rice bran, coco peat, and coconut husk, are utilized to extend the shelf life of microbial products. The usage of Trichoderma sp. carrier formulation varies depending on the crop’s adaptability, its availability, and the farmer’s preference. Talc-based formulations are frequently utilized among the many Trichoderma formulations. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.