Browsing by Author "Gaber, Ahmed"

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    Application of Sewage Sludge in a Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) System Influences the Growth, Yield, Quality and Heavy Metals Accumulation of Rice and Wheat in the Northern Gangetic Alluvial Plain
    (MDPI, 2022) Jatav, Surendra Singh; Singh, Satish Kumar; Parihar, Manoj; Alsuhaibani, Amnah Mohammed; Gaber, Ahmed; Hossain, Akbar
    For a sustainable and profitable agriculture production system, balanced and integrated use of nutrients is a key strategy. In addition, partial replacement of chemical fertilizers with organics ones reduces both environmental concerns and economic costs and provides greater soil health benefits. With this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted to assess the yield and economic benefits of a rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) as influenced by the joint application of sewage sludge (SSL) and fertilizer. The treatments comprised: without fertilizer or SSL; 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF); 100% RDF + 20 Mg ha?1 SSL; 100% RDF + 30 Mg ha?1 SSL; 50% RDF + 20 Mg ha?1 SSL; 60% RDF + 20 Mg ha?1 SSL; 70% RDF + 20 Mg ha?1 SSL; 50% RDF + 30 Mg ha?1 SSL; 60% RDF + 30 Mg ha?1 SSL and 70% RDF + 30 Mg ha?1 SSL. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The result of our study indicate that the highest percent increase in mean plant height i.e., ~14.85 and ~13.90, and grain yield i.e., ~8.10 and ~18.90 for rice and wheat, respectively, were recorded under 100% RDF + 30 Mg SSL ha?1 treatment compared to 100% RDF, while 70% RDF + 20 Mg ha?1 SSL produced a statistically equivalent grain yield of 100% RDF in RWCS. The application of 20 and 30 Mg SSL ha?1 along with recommended or reduced fertilizer dose, significantly increased the heavy metal content in plant and soil systems above that of 100% RDF, but this enhancement was found within permissible limits. Moreover, the reduced use of SSL i.e., 20 Mg SSL ha?1, resulted in lower heavy metal content in grain and soil than did the 30 Mg ha?1 SSL treatment, but significantly higher than in the absolute control or 100% RDF treatment. In summary, the use of 20 Mg ha?1 SSL along with 70% RDF provided a safer, profitable and sustainable option in a rice-wheat cropping system in the middle Ganegatic alluvial plain. � 2022 by the authors.
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    Efficient nutrient management for enhancing crop productivity, quality and nutrient dynamics in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in the semi-arid region of northern India
    (Public Library of Science, 2023) Kumar, Sandeep; Sharma, Surender Kumar; Dhaka, Anil Kumar; Bedwal, Sandeep; Sheoran, Seema; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Jangir, Chetan Kumar; Kumar, Dinesh; Kumar, Rakesh; Jat, Ram Dhan; Meena, Ajit Kumar; Gaber, Ahmed; Hossain, Akbar
    Various faulty farming practices and low-performance cultivars selection are reducing crop yields, factor productivity, and soil fertility. Therefore, there is an urgent need to achieve better nutrient dynamics and sustainable production by selecting more nutrient-responsive cultivars using efficient nutrient management. The present experiment aimed to enhance crop productivity, seed quality, nutrient efficiency, and soil nutrient dynamics through efficient nutrient management under different lentil cultivars. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, assigning three cultivars (viz. Sapna, Garima, and HM-1) in the main plots and ten nutrient management practices in the sub-plots, replicating them thrice. Results revealed that cultivar HM-1 recorded significantly higher seed yield (1.59�1.61 Mg ha-1) and the uptake of N (67.2�67.6 kg ha-1), P (6.8�7.0 kg ha-1), K (13.8�13.9 kg ha-1), Zn (60.4�61.1 g ha-1), and Fe (162.5�165.2 g ha-1) in seed compared to Sapna and Garima. Also, the cultivar HM-1 was more efficient in terms of partial factor productivity for NPK (PFP; 24.27�24.59 kg kg-1), partial nutrient balance (PNB; 2.09�2.13 kg kg-1) and internal utilisation efficiency (IUE; 11.64�11.85 kg kg-1). The study showed that the lentil cultivar HM-1 could be successfully grown by substituting 50% RDN with organic manures, i.e., vermicompost, without compromising crop productivity and soil fertility, thereby sustaining soil-human-environment health. � 2023 Kumar 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.
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    Integrated Nutrient Management Improves the Productivity and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Lens culinaris Medik
    (MDPI, 2022) Kumar, Sandeep; Sharma, Surendra Kumar; Thakral, Sanjay Kumar; Bhardwaj, Krishan Kumar; Jhariya, Manoj Kumar; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Jangir, Chetan Kumar; Bedwal, Sandeep; Jat, Ram Dhan; Gaber, Ahmed; Atta, Ahmed A.; Hossain, Akbar
    Enhancing nutrient use efficiencies (NUEs) is an important factor in achieving the longterm sustainability of a production system. Our two-year experiment was aimed at accessing the NUEs of the integration of macro-and micronutrient fertilization responses of three lentil (Lens culinaris) cultivars. Three cultivars were planted in the main plots, and ten nutrient combinations were used in the sub-plots: N1, control; N2, 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (20:40�N:P2O5); N3, vermicompost (VC) at 2 t ha?1; N4, 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + 100% recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) + VC at 1 t ha?1; N5, RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4; N6, RDF + 0.5% FeSO4; N7, RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.5% FeSO4; N8, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha?1 + 0.5% ZnSO4; N9, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha?1 + 0.5% FeSO4; and N10, 50% RDN + 100% RDP + VC at 1 t ha?1 + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.5% FeSO4 . The results show that the cultivar HM-1 (1.59�1.61 Mg ha?1) recorded a significantly higher seed yield than cultivars Sapna (1.31�1.33 Mg ha?1) and Garima (both 1.30 Mg ha?1), while the cultivar Sapna had significantly more stover yield (1.86�1.90 Mg ha?1) than cultivar HM-1 (1.68�1.73 Mg ha?1). Cultivar HM-1 was more efficient in terms of partial factor productivity for N (77.5�78.5 kg kg?1), P (48.2�48.7 kg kg?1), K (143.6�145.5 kg kg?1), Zn (1336�1352 kg kg?1), and Fe (417�421 kg kg?1) than Sapna and Garima. Application of 50% N + 100% P + VC at 1.0 t ha?1 + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.5% FeSO4 resulted in higher seed yield (1.63�1.65 Mg ha?1) and agronomic efficiency for N (26.3�28.8 kg kg?1), P (12.42�13.63 kg kg?1), and K (52.3�57.4 kg kg?1) over other tested practices in both years. Hence, it could be concluded that considering the integrated nutrient management paradigm including 10 kg N ha?1 coupled with 40 kg P2O5 ha?1 through synthetic fertilizers, vermicomposting 1.0 t ha?1 as an organic source and foliar spray of 0.5% each of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (N10) produced a 56.8% higher seed yield than the control, in addition to improving nutrient dynamics and NUEs for N, P, K, Zn, and Fe. Therefore, integrated fertilization coupled with cultivar selection could help to achieve the long-term food and nutritional sustainability targeted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). � 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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    Potassium and water-deficient conditions influence the growth, yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in a semi-arid agroecosystem
    (MDPI, 2021) Bhatt, Rajan; Singh, Jagdish; Laing, Alison M.; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Alsanie, Walaa F.; Gaber, Ahmed; Hossain, Akbar
    Groundwater and soil potassium deficiencies are present in northern India. Sugarcane is a vital crop in the Indian Punjab; it is grown on approximately 91,000 hectares with an average yield of 80 tonnes ha?1 and a sugar recovery rate of 9.59%. The role of potassium (K) fertilizer under both sufficient and deficient irrigation in ratoon sugarcane crops is not well documented. We conducted a split-plot ratoon cane experiment during 2020�2021 at the Gurdaspur Regional Research Station of Punjab Agricultural University, India, on K-deficient soils. Main treatments were fully irrigated (I1) and water stressed (I0) conditions, with sub-treatments reflecting K fertilizer application rates of 0 (M1), 67 (M2), 133 (M3), and 200 (M4) kg K ha?1. The ratoon sugarcane performance was assessed in terms of growth, productivity, sugar quality and incidence of key insect pests. At harvest, trends in the growth and yield parameters in I1 were improved over the I0 treatment, with cane height (+12.2%), diameter (+3.3%), number of internodes (+5.4%), biomass yield (+7.6%) and cane yield (+5.9%) all higher, although little significant difference was observed between treatments. Ratoon cane yield under irrigation was 57.1 tonnes ha?1; in water-stressed conditions, it was 54.7 tonnes ha?1. In terms of sugarcane quality parameters, measured 12 months after harvesting the initial seed crop, values of Brix (+3.6%), pol (+3.9%), commercial cane sugar percentage (+4.0%) and extractable sugar percentage (+2.8%) were all higher in the irrigated treatments than the water-stressed plot. Irrigated treatments also had a significantly lower incidence of two key insect pests: top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis) was reduced by 18.5% and stalk borer (Chilo auricilius) by 21.7%. The M3 and M4 treatments resulted in the highest cane yield and lowest incidence of insect pests compared to other K-fertilizer treatments. Economic return on K-fertilizer application increased with increasing fertilizer dosage. Under the potassium-deficient water-stressed conditions of the region of north India, a fertilizer application rate of 133 kg K ha?1 is recommended to improve ratoon sugarcane growth, yield, and quality parameters and economic returns for sugarcane farmers. � 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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    Productivity and Profitability of Irrigated Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum�L.) are Influenced by Irrigation Scheduling and Weed Management Approaches
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Lakra, Kairovin; Husain, Karam; Pyare, Ram; Verma, Sunil K.; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Singh, Puneet Kumar; Gaber, Ahmed; Hossain, Akbar
    In all wheat growing regions of the world, wWater constraint and weed infestation are the main biological obstacles to increased wheat productivityy. This study may assist to enhance recommendations for controlling weeds in wheat and act as a�guide for Northern Indian irrigated wheat. Therefore, four irrigation levels and eight weed management practices in wheat were under-taken in a�split-plot design in four replication. The treatments consisted of four irrigation timing viz., irrigation at CRI and active tillering stage (I1), irrigation at CRI?+ jointing?+ booting (I2), CRI?+ active tillering?+ booting?+ flowering stage (I3) and irrigation at CRI?+ jointing?+ booting?+ flowering?+ milking stage (I4) were laid out to main plots and weeding regimes viz., W1-weedy check, W2-two hand weeding at 20�and 40�DAS, W3-sulfosulfuron 25% WG (75?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), W4-pendimethalin 1000?g�ha?1 (pre-emergence) fb clodinafop-propargyl 15% (400?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), W5-carfentrazone ethyl 20%?+ sulfosulfuron 25%WG (100?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), W6-halauxafen?+ penxasulam 23.5% (75?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), W7-halauxafen�methyl 1.21% w/w?+ fluroxypyr (80?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS) and W8-clodinafop-propargyl 15%?+ metsulfuron methy�l 1% (400?g�ha?1 35�DAS) were allocated to subplots. After two years of study, it was observed that the application of irrigation at the crown root initiation (CRI) stage and tillering stage showed a�lower density and weed biomass, leading to the highest WCE. Five irrigations at CRI?+ jointing?+ booting?+ flowering?+ milking stage resulted in the maximum yield attributes, yield and economic returns. Among the herbicides applied manely: sulfosulfuron 25%WG (75?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), pendimethalin 1000?g�ha?1 (pre-emergence) fb clodinafop-propargyl 15% (400?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), carfentrazone ethyl 20%?+ sulfosulfuron 25%WG (100?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), halauxafen?+ penxasulam 23.5% (75?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS), halauxafen�methyl 1.21% w/w?+ fluroxypyr (80?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS) and clodinafop-propargyl 15%?+ metsulfuron methy�l 1% (400?g�ha?1 35�DAS); carfentrazone ethyl 20%?+ sulfosulfuron 25%WG at 100?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS significantly reduced weed infestation and resulted in the highest yield and economic returns, followed by clodinafop-propagyl 15%?+ metsulfuron 1% 400?g�ha?1 at 35�DAS. Therefore, this experiment supports to find-out the relationship between irrigation and weed management to enhance wheat yield. � 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, part of Springer Nature.
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    The use of municipal solid waste compost in combination with proper irrigation scheduling influences the productivity, microbial activity and water use efficiency of direct seeded rice
    (MDPI, 2021) Dharminder; Singh, Ram Kumar; Kumar, Vishal; Pramanick, Biswajit; Alsanie, Walaa F.; Gaber, Ahmed; Hossain, Akbar
    Appropriate irrigation scheduling, along with proper nutrient management practice for direct seeded rice (DSR), are very much essential to attain higher water use efficiency. Huge amounts of municipal waste are been produced every year and these wastes are left untreated and have caused many environmental hazards. However, these wastes can be converted into potential manures for crop production when enhanced with microbial consortia. Concerning these, the current research was carried out to know the effect of compost of enriched municipal soil waste (E-MSWC) with suitable irrigation scheduling on growth, yield, microbial activity, and water use efficiency of the DSR grown under Indo-Gangetic plains during two consecutive rice seasons of 2017�2018 and 2018�2019 at Varanasi, India. From the experiment, it was found that E-MSWC applied at 10 Mg�ha?1 along with 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was capable to improve growth, yield, soil microbes, and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice. Amongst different enriched MSWC, the consortia (blend of N-fixing, P and Zn-solubilizing bacteria and Trichoderma) enriched MSWC was found to be the most effective. Concerning, different irrigation scheduling, it was observed that 50 mm cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) based irrigation was the most suitable as compared to providing irrigation at 75 mm CPE. Comparing rice varieties used in the research, the rice variety Swarna has appeared as a better choice in terms of yield and WUE than the variety, Sahbhagi. Thus, it can be recommended that irrigation at 50 mm of CPE in conjunction with 75% RDF + E-MSWC (consortia) at 10 Mg�ha?1 could improve the water use efficiency of rice grown in Indo-Gangetic plains. � 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.