Browsing by Author "Sumit Rai"

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Conservation Agriculture for Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration in the Indian Himalayan Region
(Springer Singapore, 2023) Ashish Rai; Sumit Tripathi; Ayush Bahuguna; Sumit Rai; Jitendra Rajput; Anshu Gangwar; Rajeev Kumar Srivastava; Arvind Kumar Singh; Satish Kumar Singh; Dibyanshu Shekhar; Rahul Mishra; Eetela Sathyanarayana; Supriya Pandey
Mountains the most significant agro-ecosystems that directly or indirectly support human life. The areas surrounding the hills are abundant in biodiversity and have enormous potential for sustaining Indian agriculture. It has been widely recognised that the ecological fragility and sensitivity of the Himalayas to climatic aberrations, topography, peculiar geographical features, and some of the particular identified problems, which may be soil loss, runoff, steep slopes, acidity of soils, and loss of soil nutrients, form it a very distinct region as opposed to plains in terms of socioeconomic situation. Conventional agriculture was one of the best aspects of food production during the green revolution and after India gained its independence for securing food and nutrition through intensive agricultural practices, but on the flip side, it has simultaneous effects on resource degradation and soil biodiversity. The need for food and fodder, an ever-growing population, the preservation of soil biodiversity, declining soil health, climate change, the use of unbalanced fertilisers, and decreased farm profitability all call for a paradigm shift in the agriculture sector. On the other hand, increasing the intensity of the hillside agriculture system without implementing any conservation measures greatly increases the likelihood of disastrous conditions. Conservation agriculture has long been known to improve soil health and sustain agricultural production systems by reducing environmental footprints. Between the atmosphere and the lithosphere, numerous biological and physical processes are regulated by soils. An integral aspect of soil that promotes agricultural sustainability is soil health. However, each measurement of a specific soil health parameter is always tied to a unique set of circumstances. A fundamental concern in maintaining soil health to feed an expanding population is resource conservation. Climate change is a topic of discussion on a worldwide scale in the current globalisation context. The greenhouse effect is best for life but only up to a point beyond which it becomes dangerous. Due to urbanisation, changes in land use, cropping patterns, and other factors, human influences on climate change go beyond the range of natural fluctuation. Climate change in the soil system is significantly influenced by carbon regulation in the soil. The rate of organic matter decomposition is accelerated by an increase in mean annual temperature, which affects aggregate stability, water storage capacity, and nutrient balance— all of which are crucial for healthy soil structure, soil fertility, productivity, and sustainability. In actuality, soil bacteria break down organic materials, but a change in temperature regime may change the microbial population. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on nutrients uptake and productivity of onion
(Technoscience Publications, 2016) Sumit Rai; Priyanka Rani; Maneesh Kumar; Avinash Rai; Sanjay Kumar Shahi
A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season (2009) to find out the effect of integrated application of organic manures (FYM and vermicompost), inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers (PSB and Azotobacter) on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by onion (Allium cepa L.). There were six treatments comprised of varied levels of FYM, vermicompost, chemical fertilizers, PSB and Azotobacter. The experiment was laid out under randomized block design (RBD) and the treatments were triplicated during the experiment. Significantly higher yield of onion (74.85 q ha-1) was observed in the plots received 50% N through vermicompost +25% N through urea + PSB + Azotobacter (T6) as compared to other treatments. Similar significant effect was observed on nutrient content (N, P, K and S) and nutrient uptake (N, P, K and S). On the basis of results obtained it can be concluded that the integrated use of organic manures (vermicompost and FYM) along with chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers (PSB and Azotobacter) can substitute the nitrogen requirement of plant to the extent of 25% and increased the yield, content and uptake of N, P, K and S by onion significantly over the sole use of chemical fertilizers.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on physico-chemical soil properties under rice crop in hot sub humid ecoregion of middle gangetic plains of India
(Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 2016) Maneesh Kumar; Avinash Kumar Rai; Sumit Rai; Priyanka Rani; Mohsina Anjum
A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season (2010) to find out the effect of integrated use of urea, zinc, poultry manure and Azotobacter on physico-chemical properties, available NPKS content of soil under rice crop (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) during kharif seasons with seven treatments and three replications. The details of various treatments applied to rice crop are as follows: T1 (Control); T2 (100% RDF); T3(100% RDF+ Zn); T4 (50 % RDF + 50 % N through urea); T5 (50 % N through poultry manure + 50 % N through urea + Zn); T6 (50 % N through poultry manure + 25 % N through urea+ Azotobacter); T7 (50 % N through poultry manure + 25 % N through urea + Azotobacter + Zn). The integrated use of poultry manure along with urea, zinc and Azotobacter were found to build up in organic carbon, available N, P, K and S content of soil under rice plants significantly over the sole use of chemical fertilizer. The plots which had received poultry manure and chemical fertilizers with Azotobacter showed significant improvement in residual soil fertility. It could also be concluded that the application of poultry manure with Azotobacter has good performance over sole application of manure.
Impact of addition of biochar along with PGPR on rice yield, availability of nutrients and their uptake in alluvial soil
(Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 2016) Awtar Singh; S.K. Singh; Sumit Rai; Dileep Kumar
A pot experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences B.H.U., Varanasi, India during kharif season of 2012 to investigate the efficacy in enhancing uptake of nutrients and yield of rice crop grown in an alluvial soil. The treatments comprised of four levels of rice husk biochar (RHB) (i.e. 0, 1.8, 3.6 and 7.2 g kg-1 soil), two levels of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (uninoculated and inoculated) and two levels of N, P, K and Zn fertilizers (100% and 75% of RDF). One of the important findings of the investigation pointed beneficial effects of RHB could be exploited if it was applied along with PGPR. Combined application of RHB (3.6 g kg-1 soil) along with PGPR was produced significantly higher rice yield and uptake of nutrients in rice. Inoculation with PGPR also resulted in significantly higher rice yield, nutrients uptake and their availability in soil over uninoculated conditions.
Influence of mulching and NPK levels on growth, yield and economics of pearl millet in bael based agri-horticultural system under rainfed Vindhyan region
(Technoscience Publications, 2015) Sandeep Kumar; Achin Kumar; Sumit Rai; Suryakant; Rajesh Singh
A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2013 to find out the effect of mulching and NPK levels on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in bael (Aegle marmelos) based agri-horti system under rainfed condition of Vindhyan region. There were twelve treatment combinations comprised of three levels of mulching (no mulch, wheat straw mulch and dust mulch) and four levels of RDF NPK (50%, 75%, 100%, 125%). The experiment was laid out under split-plot design with three replications. Significant improvement was recorded in growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, dry matter accumulation per plant, number of ears per plant, ear length, number of grains per ear, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, stover yield, harvest index (%), nutrient uptake and economic returns. Significantly higher yield of pearl millet (1908 kg/ha) was observed in the plot that received 125% RDF, which was found at par with the 100% RDF and in case of mulching, the maximum yield was observed with dust mulch (1942 kg/ha) than all other treatments. The application of dust mulch and 125% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) NPK (T12) treatment have distinct superiority as compared to all other treatments under bael based agri-horti system and more suitable for moisture conservation practice in pearl millet. © 2015, Technoscience Publications. All rights reserved.
Microbes and compost: an emerging role in climate resilience agriculture
(Elsevier, 2024) Ashish Rai; Rahul Mishra; Abhik Patra; Arvind Kumar Singh; Sachin Sharma; A. Arvind; Ayush Bahuguna; Sumit Rai; Jitendra Rajput; Anshu Gangwar; Shankar Jha; Sumit Kumar Tripathi; Rajeev Kumar Srivastava; Dibyanshu Shekhar; Satish Kumar Singh; Tejaswini Kapil; Ram Babu Sharma; Supriya Rai
Microbes and their metabolic activity are crucial for a healthy and functioning soil. The rhizosphere, where plant roots and microbes mingle, is a bustling hub for nutrient cycling, energy flow, and microbial activity. Sustainable farming prioritizes nurturing these rhizospheric processes. Biofertilizers, including symbiotic and nonsymbiotic microbial partnerships, plant growth-promoting microbes, and arbuscular mycorrhizal collaborations, all play diverse roles in soil health and plant growth. Some microbes like Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., and Streptomyces spp. help convert insoluble phosphorus into plant available forms. Composting, is another sustainable process, transforms organic waste into valuable compost, a dual-action fertilizer and soil amendment. Microbes decompose organic matter in compost, turning it into a stable, plant-friendly material. This aerobic process breaks down easy-to-digest molecules, generating CO2 and more durable substances. Composting effectively manages organic waste, reusing nutrients, reducing volume and moisture, and breaking down harmful organics plus, intricate humic-like chemicals form, boosting soil health. Thus, understanding and nurturing the vibrant microbial world in the rhizosphere through sustainable practices like biofertilizers and composting is key to healthy soil and a thriving future for farming. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Molecular Basis of the Evolution of Pathogens Under Changing Climate Conditions
(Apple Academic Press, 2025) Chander Singh; Supriya Pandey; Umara Rahmani; Manisha Chaudhary; Aman Chauhan; Anshuman Semwal; Sumit Rai; Ramkumar; Varsha Mishra; Vishal Dinkar; Ashish Kumar Singh
In the last 200 years, environmental changes brought on by both natural and human activity have increased globally. Long-term changes in weather patterns and extreme weather event frequency are referred to as climate change. It is widely understood that infectious diseases can be impacted by climate change. The majority of research on the connections between disease and climate change has been on particular infections, modes of transmission, or the results of a single form of extreme weather. The environmental effects of climate change are becoming increasingly clear. All life forms are affected by the range and survivability of extreme weather events, rising average global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency of such events. Each disease may react differently to changes in CO2 concentrations, temperature, and water availability, which can have positive, neutral, or adverse effects on disease development. Temperature and humidity have an impact on the virulence mechanisms of pathogens, including the generation of toxins and virulence proteins, as well as pathogen reproduction and survival. Plant diseases can adapt to climate change by taking advantage of the current phenotypic plasticity, migrating to regions with favorable climates, or evolving new traits. Research is underway to develop indicators and predictive methods for locating disease outbreaks in the future. The populations of pathogens exhibit a wide range of genetic characteristics that have been a topic of interest among researchers in the origins and evolution of infectious disease. It is impossible to forecast how climate change will affect plant pathogens, but given that they have a greater range of adaptive mechanisms than their hosts and faster generation rates, they will likely have more opportunities to adapt and evolve. Due to the complex and interacting nature of these events, it can be challenging to identify the key point(s) that triggered the onset of a disease, which may have occurred millions of years ago during the coevolution of the host with its pathogen. Therefore, it is not unexpected that the molecular processes leading to the genesis of any disease have largely remained undiscovered. Therefore, in this manuscript, we are attempting to summarize recent research on the evolution of pathogens, the link between pathogens and climate change, the molecular basis of evolution, and the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity. © 2025 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.
Soil carbon dynamics in relation to soil surface management and cropping system
(Springer Singapore, 2019) Anand Prakash Singh; Satish Kumar Singh; Sumit Rai; Maneesh Kumar
A high soil organic matter content is synonymous with high-quality agricultural soils, as it affects many soil processes such as microbial activity, nutrient storage and release, water retention and soil aggregate formation. Due pressure on agricultural intensification with improved and science-based technology imposed a challenge to increase agricultural production without accentuating risks of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, hence affecting the terrestrial carbon balance, which has been a research focus for more than a half-century. Agricultural practices including soil surface management, crop rotation, residue and tillage management, fertilization, and monoculture affect soil quality, soil organic matter (SOM), and carbon transformation. Consequently, soil surface management practices and cropping system have a major effect on the distribution of C and N and the rates of organic matter decomposition and N mineralization. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020.