Browsing by Author "Prashant Sharma"

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ASSESSMENT OF AGRONOMIC ZINC BIOFORTIFICATION OF ALLEY CROPPED PEARL MILLET
(Bangladesh Botanical Society, 2023) Kamlesh Verma; Saroj Kumar Prasad; Manoj Kumar Singh; Prashant Sharma
The availability of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) at the specific plant growth stage is crucial for attaining the higher nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and uptake. An experiment was conducted, having 4-N scheduling [No N; ½[basal]+ ½[3rd visible leaf (VL)]; ¼[basal]+ ½[3rdVL]+ ¼[panicle extended in flag leaf sheath (PEFLS)]; ½[basal] + ¼[3rdVL]+ ¼[panicle visible (PV)], and 4-Zn scheduling [No Zn; 2.5 kg/ha [basal]+ 0.25% spray(*) [panicle initiation (PI)]; 2.5 kg/ha [basal]+0.25% [PI]*+ 0.25% [PEFLS]*; 2.5 kg/ha [basal]+ 0.25% [50% panicle emergence (PE)]*+ 0.25% [milk stage (MS)]*. Nitrogen schedule at ¼[basal]+ ½[3rdVL]+ ¼[PEFLS] recorded the maximum nutrient content, uptake, and NUE. Similarly, the maximum nutrient content, uptake, and nutrient use efficiency observed in the Zn at 2.5 kg/ha [basal]+0.25% [PI]*+ 0.25% [PEFLS]*. Moreover, N and Zn interacted significantly to increase the grain N and Zn content and uptake by grain. © 2023 Bangladesh Botanical Society. All rights reserved.
Carbon storage and economic efficiency of fruit-based systems in semi-arid region: a symbiotic approach for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience
(Springer Nature, 2024) Manoj Kumar Singh; Sarwan Kumar Yadav; Bhalendra Singh Rajput; Prashant Sharma
Enhancing our understanding of carbon (C) stock in diverse horticulture and fruit-based agroforestry systems has potential to provide farmers with supplementary advantages in terms of poverty alleviation and livelihood development which can significantly benefit C market initiatives like UN-REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation). Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the biomass accumulation, C storage and economic efficacy of seven agro-ecosystems, namely guava-based agri-horticulture system (AHS), mango-AHS, guava- pure orchard (PO), mango-PO, Indian gooseberry -PO, teak boundary plantation (TBP) and annual cropping system (ACS) under two different landscape positions viz., upland and lowland in the semi-arid region of Vindhyan ranges. The result indicated that mango-AHS accumulated significantly (p < 0.05) higher biomass (26.01 t ha−1) and vegetation C density (13.01 t C ha−1) whereas, soil (35.23 t C ha−1), litter (0.64 t C ha−1), and total C density (46.63 t C ha−1) was maximum under mango-PO closely followed by mango-AHS. The guava-PO system exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher C sequestration (2.11 t C ha−1 yr−1), and CO2 abatement (7.76 t CO2 ha−1 yr−1) rate compared to other systems with C credit generation of 129.76 US$ ha−1 year−1. However, mango-AHS was the most lucrative system providing net returns of 4835.48 US$ ha−1 yr−1 and 5.87 benefit–cost ratio. The C credits help in getting farmers an additional income; however, the economic impact of C credit was low (1.16–6.80%) when weighed against the overall economic efficacy of the different systems. Overall, the study concluded that farmers in the region should adopt fruit-based systems, especially agroforestry systems to establish mutually beneficial relationships between mitigation of climate change and livelihood stability. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.). © The Author(s) 2024.
Changes in the weed seed bank in long-term establishment methods trials under rice-wheat cropping system
(MDPI, 2020) Prashant Sharma; Manoj Kumar Singh; Kamlesh Verma; Saroj Kumar Prasad
The rice–wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains is the backbone of food security in India. In the 1990s, due to the scarcity of resources, the traditional Crop Establishment (CE) method shifted from Conventional Till Puddle Transplanted Rice (CTPTR) to CT Direct Seeded Rice (CTDSR) and Zero-Till DSR (ZTDSR) in paddy; and in wheat, from Conventional Till Wheat (CTW) to Zero Till Wheat (ZTW), with residue retention in rice (RRR) or in both rice and wheat (RRRW). Shift in CE methods led to change in Weed Seed Bank (WSB) dynamics and ultimately affected the weed management program. After five years of field trials, soil samples were drawn as per 2-factors factorial randomized block design. Factor-I comprised 4-CE methods, whereas factor-II consisted of 3-soil depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm). Results showed CTPTR-CTW and ZTDSR-ZTW (RRRW) record the highest seed bank (SB) of grasses, sedges and BLWs as total weeds, in general; and predominant weeds like Echinochloa spp., Ammania baccifera, Commelina benghalensis and Digitaria sanguinalis, in particular. It also showed the higher species richness (DMg) and Shannon–Weaver (H’) indices. CTDSR-CTW and CTDSR-ZTW (RRR) show the lowest WSB and at par with Shannon–Weaver (H’) index; further, lowest species richness (DMg) under CTDSR-CTW. Species Evenness (J’) and Simpson index (λ) vary non-significantly with CE methods. Furthermore, 0–10 cm soil depth showed the highest SB of different category of total weed, predominant weeds as well as higher values of DMg, H’, and λ; whereas reverse trend was observed in Whittaker Statistic (βW). Interaction between CE methods and soil depth revealed most of WSB lying on the top layer in case of ZTDSR-ZTW (RRRW) and CTDSR-ZTW (RRR); while CTPTR-CTW showed almost uniform WSB distribution, and in case of CTDSR-CTW, a gradual decrease in WSB with soil depth. © 2020 by the authors.
Geospatial technology in agroforestry: status, prospects, and constraints
(Springer, 2023) Prashant Sharma; Daulat Ram Bhardwaj; Manoj Kumar Singh; Rahul Nigam; Nazir A. Pala; Amit Kumar; Kamlesh Verma; Dhirender Kumar; Pankaj Thakur
Agroforestry has an indispensable role in food and livelihood security in addition to its capacity to combat the detrimental effects of climate change. However, agroforestry has not been properly promoted and exploited due to lack of precise extent, geographical distribution, and carbon sequestration (CS) assessment. The recent advent of geospatial technologies, as well as free availability of spatial data and software, can provide new insights into agroforestry resources assessment, decision-making, and policy development despite agroforestry’s small spatial extent, isolated nature, and higher structural and functional complexity of agroforestry. In this review, the existing application of geospatial technologies together with its constraints and limitations as well as the potential future application for agroforestry has been discussed. The review reveals that the application of optical remote sensing in agroforestry includes spatial extent mapping, production of tree species spectral signature, CS assessment, and suitability mapping. Simultaneously, the recent surge in the use of synthetic aperture radar in conjunction with algorithms based on vegetation photosynthesis and optical data enables a more accurate estimation of gross primary productivity at different scales. However, unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with sensors, such as multispectral, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and thermal, offer a considerably higher potential and accuracy than satellite-based datasets. In the future, the health monitoring of agroforestry systems can be a key concern that may be addressed by utilizing hyperspectral and thermal datasets to analyze plant biochemistry, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water stress. Additionally, current (GEDI, ECOSTRESS) and future space agency missions (BIOMASS, FLEX, NISAR, TRISHNA) have enormous potential to shed fresh light on agroforestry systems. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Pinus roxburghii Sarg: Needle management to combat forest fire: Status, Prospects, and Constraints
(CRC Press, 2024) Prashant Sharma; Kamlesh Verma; Daulat Ram Bhardwaj; Manoj Kumar Singh; Dhirender Kumar; Pankaj Thakur
[No abstract available]
Response of alley-cropped pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) to nitrogen and zinc schedules under semi-arid regions
(Indian Society of Agronomy, 2023) Kamlesh Verma; S.K. Prasad; M.K. Singh; Prashant Sharma
Realizing the importance of tree-based cropping system and scheduling of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) in the semi-arid region, an on-field trial was conducted with pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] during the rainy season of 2017 at RGS Campus of Banaras Hindu University, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. The trial was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 4 N and 4 Zn treatment applications in different schedules. The results revealed that, N scheduled at ¼ [basal] + ½ (3rd visible leaf (VL) + ¼ panicle extended in flag-leaf sheath (PEFLS) produced the most synergetic effect on growth and yield of pearl millet. The grain yield increased up to 65% compared to no N application. Conversely, Zn schedules did not significantly influence the growth parameters (except dry-matter), while Zn application at 2.5 kg/ha (basal) + 0.25% panicle initiation (PI) + 0.25% PEFLS recorded about 37% more grain yield, than no Zn application. Additionally, the maximum biological and straw yields recorded with 2.5 kg/ha (basal) + 0.25% panicle emergence (PE) + 0.25% milk stage (MS) Zn application compared to the other treatments. Moreover, N and Zn interacted significantly to produce synergetic effect on the dry-matter, test weight, grain, straw, and biological yields. The maximum grain yield was observed with conjunctive application of N at ¼ [basal] + ½ [3rd VL] + ¼ [PEFLS] and Zn at 2.5 kg/ha [basal] + 0.25% [PI] + 0.25% [PEFLS], whereas the maximum biological and straw yields were recorded with application of the N at ¼ [basal] + ½ [3rd VL] + ¼ [PEFLS] and Zn at 2.5 kg/ha [basal] + 0.25% [PE] + 0.25% [MS]. © 2023, Indian Society of Agronomy. All rights reserved.
Soil weed seedbank under different cropping systems of middle Indo-Gangetic Plains
(Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2022) Prashant Sharma; Manoj K. Singh; Kamlesh Verma; Saroj K. Prasad
Trees on agricultural fields can have a positive or negative impact on weed seedbank (WSB) due to diverse environmental and soil characteristics. Therefore, soil samples were drawn in six cropping systems [two agroforest systems (AFS): guava, mango; three horticulture systems (HCS): guava, mango, Indian gooseberry; and annual crop system (ACS)] at two landscape positions (lowland and upland) and two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) using factorial randomised block design each replicated three times. Results showed that guava-AFS had the highest WSB of different categories in general and individual weed species in particular, except for Eragrostis pilosa and Dacty-loctenium aegyptium. Simultaneously, guava-AFS also showed the maximum Shannon-Weaver, species richness and Simpson index and was low in Whittaker statistics (βW ). The species evenness varied non-significantly with the cropping systems. Similarly, the landscape position had no discernible effect on any weed diversity indices; however lowland landscape position was dominated by Cyperus spp. and E. pilosa, while the upland by Phyllanthus niruri. Fur-thermore, with the exception of βW, the WSB and diversity indices were found to be higher on the topsoil (0–15 cm). Our study establishes that the AFS system in the semi-arid sub-tropics has a more diverse WSB indicating a heal-thy system, as opposed to HCS, which has a dominance of certain weed species, opening the door for more severe infestation of invasive weed species. © 2022, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.
Various presowing treatments for enhancing Melia dubia (Cav.) seed germination, seedling development, and vigor index
(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Alok Kumar Singh; J.K. Singh; Rikesh Kumar; Prashant Sharma; Nasam Midhun Kumar; Bipin Kumar Singh; Shruthi Srinivasan
Melia dubia (Cav.) is one of the most promising agroforestry multipurpose tree species. However, there is a shortage of this quality planting material due to its low germination ability. Our study assessed six different presowing treatments, namely, soaking in tap water for 24 h, soaking in a cow dung slurry for 7 days (CDS), scarification with 50 % H2SO4 for 5 min, soaking in 200 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) for 24 h, and soaking in CDS + H2SO4, GA3 + H2SO4 or the control (no application), for enhancing seed germination and growth in Melia dubia during 2019–20 in the Indo-Gangetic Plains region. STAR version 2.0.1 was used to analyze the observed data using one-way ANOVA. The results of this study showed that different treatments substantially impacted the germination and growth of Melia dubia. Compared with those of untreated seeds (control), the germination percentage of seeds treated with cow dung slurry significantly increased by 49 %, the biomass percentage significantly increased by 25 %, and the vigor index significantly increased by 79 %. In conclusion, our study revealed that treating Melia dubia seeds with cow dung slurry for a period of 7 days enhances germination and seedling growth and is also cost-effective for nursery managers and farmers due to the absence of associated costs. © 2024