Browsing by Author "Prakash Kumar Jha"

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Active and Passive Carbon Fractions in Contrasting Cropping Systems, Tillage Practices, and Soil Types
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) S. Rakesh; Abhas Kumar Sinha; Deepranjan Sarkar; Dewali Roy; Divya Bodiga; Samaresh Sahoo; Prakash Kumar Jha; Pradeep Kumar Dubey; Amitava Rakshit
The rate of change in the relative amount of active and passive carbon (AC and PC) due to the land management practices (cropping systems combined with tillage) may vary with soil types depending on their level of chemical and/or physical protection from the decomposition but has rarely been directly measured. We have quantified the C storage potentiality of different soil types, namely old alluvial Inceptisol of Malda and recent alluvial Entisol of Coochbehar in West Bengal (subtropical eastern India) under the influence of different cropping systems (rice-maize: RM and rice-wheat: RW) and tillage practices (zero-tillage: ZT and conventional tillage: CT). The key objective was to demonstrate the short-term impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on soil C dynamics over the conventional practice. Research revealed that after short-term CA, total organic carbon (TOC), AC, PC, and total nitrogen (TN) showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement under the RM cropping system over the RW. The highest TOC content under the RM cropping system was recorded in the sites of Malda over the Coochbehar sites. The ZT significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the TOC in the upper layers (0–5 and 5–10 cm) and the CT showed improvements in the lower depths (10–20 cm). We observed some irregular variations in the interactions of the cropping system and tillage with respect to different sites. However, the ZT performed better in improving C fractions under RM and RW as compared to CT. The TOC and TN stocks were maximum in the lower depth which was evident in both soil types. The TOC linearly regressed on TN accounted for 94.2% variability (R2 = 0.942) of the C accumulation in soil and vice-versa. The PC was in a significant relationship with TN (R2 = 0.943), but AC was moderately regressed (R2 = 0.851). Lower stratification ratio values in Coochbehar soils (sandy loam in texture) indicated higher profile distribution of AC and PC in the soil profile; while in the Inceptisol, accumulation of the C fractions on the soil surface due to heavy texture resulted in the higher stratification values. The novelty of this study is that old alluvial Inceptisol showed a comparatively greater amount of AC and PC storage capability in comparison with the new alluvial Entisol. Conclusively, our study demonstrated that the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA practice/ZT) in cropping systems with higher C biomass input would significantly enhance the AC and PC fractions; however, the amount of storage is highly governed by the soil type and climatic factors. © 2023 by the authors.
Bioaccumulation of fluoride in plants and its microbially assisted remediation: A review of biological processes and technological performance
(MDPI, 2021) Rakesh Kumar; Rama Sinha; Pushpa Kumari Sharma; Nishita Ivy; Pawan Kumar; Nishi Kant; Aprajita Jha; Prakash Kumar Jha; Pankaj Kumar Gupta; Prabhakar Sharma; Rakesh Kumar Singh; Rajeev Pratap Singh; Ashok Ghosh; P.V. Vara Prasad
Fluoride is widely found in soil–water systems due to anthropogenic and geogenic activities that affect millions worldwide. Fluoride ingestion results in chronic and acute toxicity, including skeletal and dental fluorosis, neurological damage, and bone softening in humans. Therefore, this review paper summarizes biological processes for fluoride remediation, i.e., bioaccumulation in plants and microbially assisted systems. Bioremediation approaches for fluoride removal have recently gained prominence in removing fluoride ions. Plants are vulnerable to fluoride accumulation in soil, and their growth and development can be negatively affected, even with low fluoride content in the soil. The microbial bioremediation processes involve bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biosorption. Bacterial, fungal, and algal biomass are ecologically efficient bioremediators. Most bioremediation techniques are laboratory-scale based on contaminated solutions; however, treatment of fluoride-contaminated wastewater at an industrial scale is yet to be investigated. Therefore, this review recommends the practical applicability and sustainability of microbial bioremediation of fluoride in different environments. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Regenerative Agriculture: Translating Science to Action
(CRC Press, 2024) Amitava Rakshit; Manoj Parihar; Vijay Singh Meena; Prakash Kumar Jha; Deepranjan Sarkar; Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil Abhilash
This book aims to focus on the current state of knowledge and scientific advances about the complex and intertwined issues of regenerative farming as a transformative solution for offsetting the disastrous climate effects of burning fossil fuels and impairments of natural resource bases. Regenerative agriculture advocates no-till practices, planting cover crops, integrating livestock and crop production, improving animal welfare practices, improving the social and economic well-being of communities, sequestering carbon, improving soil health, and increasing yields and profit with a positive impact on food access or food safety regardless of farm size. This book examines the innovations that will equip agriculture to cope with the competing challenges of addressing food and nutrition security, improving livelihoods, combatting climate change, and sustainably managing natural resources. The scope of this book extends to agricultural scientists, students, consultants, site owners, industrial stakeholders, regulators, and policymakers. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Amitava Rakshit, Manoj Parihar, Vijay Singh Meena, Prakash Kumar Jha, Deepranjan Sarkar, and Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil Abhilash.
Retrieval of crop traits using PROSAIL-based hybrid radiative transfer model and EnMAP hyperspectral data
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Prachi Singh; Prashant Kumar Srivastava; Prakash Kumar Jha; Jochem Verrelst; Pashupati Nath Singh; Rajendra B. Prasad
Implementing high spectral resolution imaging from the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) paved the way for detailed retrieval of agricultural traits for accurate crop monitoring and management. The proposed methodology involves the integration and detailed analysis of Radiative Transfer Modelling (RTM) with an integrated approach of machine learning (ML) and Active Learning (AL) algorithms for the retrieval of the Leaf Chlorophyll Content (LCC), Carotenoids (Car) and Leaf Area index (LAI) of wheat cropland from the continuous three years of the dataset. Reflectance values of leaf were collected using Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) − Spectroradiometer data ranging from 350-2500 nm and EnMAP satellite hyperspectral data extends spectral data range varies between 420 nm to 1000 nm in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) of EMR region, and from 900 nm to 2450 nm in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) region for crop parameters mapping for a larger spatial area of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The PROSPECT + SAIL (PROSAIL) RTM was employed to simulate spectral (reflectance) data, and fourteen ML algorithms were assessed for implementation into a hybrid model. Kernel Ridge regression (KRR) was combined with Euclidean-based Diversity (EBD) algorithms to retrieve crop characteristics due to their exceptional accuracy and reduced uncertainty. Spectral profiles were further used to train hybrid models using PCA (Principal Component Analysis) feature selection, and combined techniques (ML + AL) were applied to retrieve LCC, Car, and LAI. Afterwards, biophysical and biochemical spatial large-scale estimation were provided through atmospherically corrected, and noise-removed EnMAP hyperspectral data with the help of a trained and tested hybrid (ML + AL) model and validated with the ground-measured datasets. The performance indicators showed significantly very high values of correlation during calibration (LCC = 0.99, Car = 0.74, and LAI = 0.99) and validation (LCC = 0.66, Car = 0.57, and LAI= 0.88). The work showed that the optimized hybrid (KRR + AL) models customized for EnMAP hyperspectral data can efficiently estimate the wheat biophysical and biochemical parameters in near-real time therefore, expanding this workflow to agricultural fields may enable more effective monitoring and management of wheat crops. © 2025 The Author(s)
Underutilized edible fruit species of the Indo-Gangetic Plains: a systematic review for food security and land degradation neutrality
(Turkiye Klinikleri, 2024) S. Dinesha; S. Rakesh; Deepranjan Sarkar; Prakash Kumar Jha; Raghupathi Balasani; Shikha; Saswat Kumar Kar; Vishal Seth; Amitava Rakshit; Rahul Datta; Sezai Ercişli
Many underutilized edible fruit species (UEFS) are found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which support food security (FS) for both indigenous people and other dependent communities. Unfortunately, there is little study and fragmented information available about these naturally edible products. The UEFS of the IGP was the subject of a systematic review utilizing the PRISMA protocol, which produced implications for FS and land degradation neutrality (LDN). This review aims to survey, summarize, and annotate the published information about the angiosperms native and naturalized UEFS of IGP to identify and make use of this species, particularly for the sustainable development of this region. A systematic review confirmed that 371 species of UEFS, of which 62 species were threatened and near threatened (TNT)-UEFS. Among the TNT-UEFS, 41 species were threatened, while 21 species were NT. The threatened species were further categorized as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in the IGP as vulnerable (21 species), endangered (16 species), and critically endangered (four species). This systematic review suggests integration of the native and naturalized UEFS in afforestation and reforestation programs to aid in various ecosystem services. Calamus inermis, Corypha taliera, Licuala peltata, and Saurauia punduana are examples of multipurpose species that require immediate sustainable conservation and cultivation initiatives to save them from extinction in the near future. Multipurpose species such as Aegle marmelos, Buchanania lanzan, Manilkara hexandra, Syzygium cuminii, Tamarindus indica are immensely constructive and climate-smart by surviving in harsh agroclimatic conditions and have great potential for establishment on marginal and wastelands throughout the IGP region. These resilient fruit species enhance biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes in addition to providing food for humans. It progressively advances India’s commitment to LDN, combating climate change, and achieving the UN-SDGs, which call for reducing hunger and raising FS by 2030. As a result, the study will offer baseline data for the next investigations and be helpful to policymakers in creating sustainable and scientific policies for the IGP. © TÜBİTAK.