Browsing by Author "Sanjay Singh Rathore"

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Conservation tillage and organic nutrients management improve soil properties, productivity, and economics of a maize-vegetable pea system in the Eastern Himalayas
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2021) Raghavendra Singh; Subhash Babu; Ravi Kant Avasthe; Ram Swaroop Meena; Gulab Singh Yadav; Anup Das; Kamal Prasad Mohapatra; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Amit Kumar; Chandu Singh
Soil quality restoration and sustainable crop production in the rainfed ecosystem of the Indian Himalayas can be achieved through effective conservation tillage and organic management. Hence, a six-year (2013 to 2019) study was conducted to quantify the effect of tillage and organic nutrient management on soil properties, productivity, and profitability of the maize-vegetable pea (Pisum sativum) system. Three tillage practices [conventional (CT), reduced (RT), and no-till (NT)] and four organic nutrients management practices [(ONM)-farmyard manure @ 8 Mg ha−1 farmers practice (ONM1), 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through manures (ONM2), 75% RDN through manures + maize/vegetable pea stover in either of the crops (ONM3), and 50% RDN through manures + maize/vegetable pea stover in either of the crops (ONM4)] were tested. The results indicated that the NT had higher soil organic carbon (SOC, 16.49 g kg−1), available N (354.5 kg ha−1), and lesser bulk density (1.31 Mg m−3) and penetration resistance (1.85 MPa) in comparison with that of CT at 0–10 cm depth. The system productivity under NT was 9.6% higher than that obtained under CT. The ONM3 had higher SOC content, plant-available N, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) than ONM1. The integration of RT-ONM2 enhanced SMBC, DHA, maize, and vegetable pea yield by 27.2%, 35.7%, 38.0%, and 60.3%, respectively, over CT-ONM1. Thus, the study suggested that the adoption of effective conservation tillage with adequate organic nutrient management has the potential to advance the soil properties and productivity of maize-vegetable pea system in the Himalayan Region. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Greening rice-fallow areas: integrating pulses and oilseeds for sustainable cropping in eastern India
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Rakesh Pradeep Kumar; Anup Das; S. K. Mondal; Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Bhagwati Prasad Bhatt; Janki Sharan Mishra; Anil Kumar Singh; Jaipal Singh Choudhary; Sanjeev Kumar; Prem Kumar Sundaram; Ashish Kumar Biswas; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Puspa Parameswari; Dhiraj Kumar Singh; Santosh Muthu Suresh Kumar; Akram Ahmad; Kirti Saurabh; Kumari Shubha; Ajay Vinod Kumar; Manibhushan; Pawan Jeet; Ved Prakash; Bal Krishna Jha; Sushant Kumar Naik; S. S. Mali; Surendra Kumar Ahirwal; Vinod Kumar Singh; Devendra Mandal; Manoj Kumar Roy; Arbind K. Choudhary; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot; Suresh Kumar Chaudhari
Rice-fallow areas, widespread in rainfed rice-growing regions of South Asia, remain uncultivated during the post-rainy (winter) season due to multiple challenges, including inadequate irrigation infrastructure, cultivation of long-duration rice varieties, and soil moisture imbalances. South Asia has approximately 22.3 million hectares of rice-fallow land, with India contributing the largest share (88.3%). Eastern Indian states, which account for 82% of India’s rice-fallow area, presents significant opportunities for cropping intensification. However, several constraints—such as biotic (pest and disease), abiotic stresses (temperature extremes, drought, etc.), rapid soil moisture depletion, and disturbances from free-grazing livestock-hinder efforts to cultivate a second crop, perpetuating poverty among the small and marginal farmers. Introducing stress-tolerant rabi crops, particularly pulses (chickpea, lentil, lathyrus, field pea) and oilseeds (mustard, toria, safflower, linseed), offers a promising solution to enhance system productivity and improve the farmers’ livelihoods. Policymakers have recently increased the public investment in rice-fallows intensification, yet fragmented and ad-hoc initiatives often fail to deliver sustainable outcomes due to complex and multidimensional challenges involved. This study critically examines the key issues affecting rice-fallow lands and provides strategic recommendations to convert these underutilized areas into the productive cropping systems during winter and spring. Additionally, it reviews Central and State Government programs related to rice-fallow management, emphasizing the need for research to align with ongoing policy initiatives for maximum impact. The findings of this study offers a valuable insights for the policymakers, planners, and stakeholders, highlighting the potential of pulses and oilseeds to enhance the food security, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production systems in the region. © © 2025 Kumar, Das, Mondal, Upadhyay, Bhatt, Mishra, Singh, Choudhary, Kumar, Sundaram, Biswas, Rathore, Singh, Parameswari, Singh, Kumar, Ahmad, Saurabh, Shubha, Kumar, Manibhushan, Jeet, Prakash, Jha, Naik, Mali, Kumar, Ahirwal, Singh, Mandal, Roy, Choudhary, Rajpoot and Chaudhari.
Scientific validation of indigenous organic formulation-panchagavya for sustaining rice productivity and residual effect in rice-lentil system under hot semi-arid eco-region of middle indo-gangetic plains
(National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), 2019) Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Avijit Sen; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Bipin Kumar; Ram Kumar Singh; Saroj Kumar Prasad; Ardith Sankar
Combined application of organic source of nutrient and inorganic fertilizers increases nutrient synchrony and reduces losses leading to sustainable productivity. With this concept in mind a field trial was conducted at Varanasi, India during 2013–14 and 2014–15, to evaluate and validate the efficiency and efficacy of panchagavya (blend of five cow products i.e. dung, ghee, curd, urine and milk) in combination with recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) on rice yield, soil microbial population, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil enzymatic activity and their residual effects on lentil. Application of panchagavya (D4-seedling root dip + one spray at 30 days after transplanting-DAT @ 6% + application through irrigation water at 60 DAT) produced higher productive tillers/m2, number of filled spikelets/panicle, leaf area index (LAI), grain yield, soil bacterial and fungal population, SMBC and dehydrogenase activity. Application of 100% RDF significantly increased grain yield (5935 kg/ha) but 120% RDF recorded the highest straw yield (8283 kg/ha) and biological yield. Residual effect of panchagavya at D4 level resulted in higher (19.1% over control) seed yield of lentil. However, conjunctive use of 100% RDF and D4 ensured maximum net return (1194.9 $/ha).Therefore, use of indigenous product i.e. panchagavya in combination with fertilizer can be inferred to improve soil health, ascertain high productivity, profitability and sustainability in rice-lentil production, while preserving natural resource base under hot semi-arid eco-region of middle Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). © 2019, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved.
Soil Health, Energy Budget, and Rice Productivity as Influenced by Cow Products Application With Fertilizers Under South Asian Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains Zone
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2022) Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Avijit Sen; Yashwant Singh; Ram Kumar Singh; Saroj Kumar Prasad; Ardith Sankar; Vinod Kumar Singh; S.K. Dutta; Rakesh Kumar; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Kapila Shekhawat; Subhash Babu; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Bipin Kumar; Abir Dey; G.A. Rajanna; Ramesh Kulshekaran
The comprehensive use of organic, inorganic, and biological components of nutrient management in rice ecologies can potentially address the twin challenges of declining factor productivity and deteriorating soil health. A field study was thus conducted at Varanasi, India during the year 2013–14 and 2014–15 to assess the effect of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) along with cow product (blends of 5 cow by-products i.e., dung, ghee, curd, urine, and milk that is known as panchagavya) on soil health, energy budget, and rice productivity. The results revealed that the inclusion of panchagavya as seedling root dip + 6% spray at 30 days after transplanting (DAT) + an application with irrigation water (15 l ha−1) at 60 DAT (D4) along with 100% RDF (F3) noted significantly higher rice grain yield (6.34 t ha−1) and higher dehydrogenase activity. However, the soil bacterial and actinomycetes population, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), urease, and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher with D4 along with 120% RDF (F4). Carbon output (5,608 kg CO2 eq ha−1), energy use parameters viz. energy output (187,867 MJ ha−1), net energy returns (164,319 MJ ha−1), and energy intensity valuation (5.08 MJ (Figure presented.)) were significantly higher under F4. However, the energy ratio (8.68), energy productivity (0.292 kg MJ−1), and energy profitability (7.68) remained highest with 80% RDF (F2), while the highest carbohydrate equivalent yield (4,641 kg mha−1) was produced under F3. The combination of F3 with D4 resulted in the highest productivity, optimum energy balance, and maintaining soil quality. Therefore, a judicious combination of cow product (panchagavya) with RDF was found to improve the rice productivity, energy profitability, and soil quality under south Asian eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGPs). Copyright © 2022 Upadhyay, Sen, Singh, Singh, Prasad, Sankar, Singh, Dutta, Kumar, Rathore, Shekhawat, Babu, Singh, Kumar, Dey, Rajanna and Kulshekaran.
Soybean crop intensification for sustainable aboveground-underground plant–soil interactions
(Frontiers Media SA, 2023) Ramesh Kumar Singh; Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Shiva Dhar; G.A. Rajanna; Vinod Kumar Singh; Rakesh Kumar; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Subhash Babu; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Kapila Shekhawat; Anchal Dass; Amit Kumar; Gaurendra Gupta; Gaurav Shukla; Sudhir Rajpoot; Ved Prakash; Bipin Kumar; Vinod Kumar Sharma; Sharmistha Barthakur
The major challenge of growing soybean, other than unfavorable weather and small farm size, is the non-availability of quality inputs at the right time. Furthermore, in soybean growing regions, crop productivity and soil environment have deteriorated due to the use of traditional varieties and conventional methods of production. Soybean crop intensification or system of crop intensification in soybean (SCI) is an agricultural production system that boosts soybean yields, improves the soil environment, and maximizes the efficiency of input utilization, although the contribution of SCI to crop productivity is not well understood as different genotypes of soybean exhibit different physiological responses. Therefore, a field study was conducted in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 using three crop establishment methods (SCI at a 45 cm × 45 cm row spacing, SCI at 30 cm × 30 cm, and a conventional method at 45 cm × 10 cm) assisted in vertical strips with four genotypes (Pusa 9,712, PS 1347, DS 12–13, and DS 12–5) using a strip-plot design with three replications. Compared with standard methods of cultivation, the adoption of SCI at 45 cm × 45 cm resulted in a significantly higher stomatal conductance (0.211 mol H2O m−2 s−1), transpiration rate (7.8 mmol H2O m−2 s−1), and net photosynthetic rate (398 mol CO2 m−2 s−1). The implementation of an SCI at 30 cm × 30 cm had significantly greater intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) (1,249 mol m−2 s−1) than the conventional method system, increasing crop yield from 9.6 to 13.3% and biomass yield from 8.2 to 10.7%. In addition, under an SCI at 30 cm × 30 cm, there were more nodules, significantly larger root volume and surface density, and increased NPK uptake compared with the other methods. Significantly greater soil dehydrogenase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, acetylene-reducing assay, total polysaccharides, microbial biomass carbon, and soil chlorophyll were found with SCI at 45 cm × 45 cm (13.63 g TPF g−1 soil hr.−1, 93.2 g p-nitro phenol g−1 soil hr.−1, 25.5 n moles ethylene g−1 soil hr.−1, 443.7 mg kg−1 soil, 216.5 mg kg−1 soil, and 0.43 mg g−1 soil, respectively). Therefore, the adoption of an SCI at 30 cm × 30 cm and/or 45 cm × 45 cm could provide the best environment for microbial activities and overall soil health, as well as the sustainable productivity of soybean aboveground. Copyright © 2023 Singh, Dhar, Upadhyay, Rajanna, Singh, Kumar, Singh, Babu, Rathore, Shekhawat, Dass, Kumar, Gupta, Shukla, Rajpoot, Prakash, Kumar, Sharma and Barthakur.
System of wheat intensification (SWI): Effects on lodging resistance, photosynthetic efficiency, soil biomes, and water productivity
(Public Library of Science, 2024) Ramesh Kumar Singh; Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Shiva Dhar; G.A. Rajanna; Vinod Kumar Singh; Rakesh Kumar; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Kapila Shekhawat; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Anchal Dass; Amit Kumar; Gaurendra Gupta; Sudhir Rajpoot; Ved Prakash; Sayantika Sarkar; Navin Kumar Sharma; Satyam Rawat; Satendra Singh
Intense cultivation with narrow row spacing in wheat, a common practice in the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia, renders the crop more susceptible to lodging during physiological maturity. This susceptibility, compounded by the use of traditional crop cultivars, has led to a substantial decline in overall crop productivity. In response to these challenges, a two-year field study on the system of wheat intensification (SWI) was conducted. The study involved three different cultivation methods in horizontal plots and four wheat genotypes in vertical plots, organized in a strip plot design. Our results exhibited that adoption of SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm resulted in significantly higher intercellular CO2 concentration (5.9-6.3%), transpiration rate (13.2-15.8%), stomatal conductance (55-59%), net photosynthetic rate (126- 160%), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception (1.6-25.2%) over the existing conventional method (plant geometry 22.5 cm × continuous plant to plant spacing) of wheat cultivation. The lodging resistance capacity of both the lower and upper 3rd nodes was significantly higher in the SWI compared to other cultivation methods. Among different genotypes, HD 2967 demonstrated the highest recorded value for lodging resistance capacity, followed by HD 2851, HD 3086, and HD 2894. In addition, adoption of the SWI at 20 cm × 20 cm enhanced crop grain yield by 36.9-41.6%, and biological yield by 27.5-29.8%. Significantly higher soil dehydrogenase activity (12.06 μg TPF g-1 soil hr-1), arylsulfatase activity (82.8 μg p-nitro phenol g-1 soil hr-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (3.11 n moles ethylene g-1 soil hr-1), total polysaccharides, soil microbial biomass carbon, and soil chlorophyll content were also noted under SWI over conventional method of the production. Further, increased root volumes, surface root density and higher NPK uptake were recorded under SWI at 20×20 cm in comparison to rest of the treatments. Among the tested wheat genotypes, HD-2967 and HD-3086 had demonstrated notable increases in grain and biological yields, as well as improvements in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and chlorophyll content. Therefore, adoption of SWI at 20 cm ×20 cm (square planting) with cultivars HD 2967 might be the best strategy for enhancing crop productivity and resource-use efficiency under the similar wheat growing conditions of India and similar agro-ecotypes of the globe. © 2024 Singh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The multifaceted role of zeolites in modern agriculture and environmental management
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Sayantika Sarkar; Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Tarik Mitran; Sanjay Singh Rathore; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Kapila A. Shekhawat; Subhash N.Sudhakara Babu; Sudhir Kumar Rajput; Manojit Chowdhury; Anjali Patel; Aman Singh; Vinod Kumar Singh
With global food security central to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), a growing population and shrinking resources are intensifying pressure on agriculture. To sustain productivity amidst declining soil fertility, biodiversity loss, increasing pest and disease incidences, and environmental degradation, agricultural science must refine technologies and adopt a sustainable approach that balances innovation with responsible resource use. Additionally, agriculture significantly contributes to climate change, accounting for a notable share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Zeolites, a group of versatile crystalline aluminosilicates, offer a promising solution to these challenges. Their properties as ion exchangers, water absorbers, and slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers can enhance agricultural sustainability. Zeolites can improve nitrogen use efficiency, enhance soil structure, and mitigate saline soil conditions by retaining nutrients and water and releasing them slowly to plants. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and improves resource use efficiency. However, the widespread use of zeolites in agriculture requires careful consideration. Mapping zeolite deposits is essential for sustainable extraction and use. Potential risks such as toxic surfactant leaching must be evaluated to prevent environmental contamination. Comprehensive field experiments are necessary to understand the long-term effects of zeolite application on soil health, microorganisms, and fauna in the rhizosphere. In conclusion, zeolites hold significant promise in promoting sustainable agricultural practices by improving soil health, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, and mitigating environmental impacts. Rigorous research is needed to ensure their safety and efficacy, integrating zeolites into agricultural systems for sustainable productivity and to address the challenges of traditional intensive farming. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.