Browsing by Author "Lal, Rattan"
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Publication Advance methodological approaches for carbon stock estimation in forest ecosystems(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Nandal, Abhishek; Yadav, Surender Singh; Rao, Amrender Singh; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Lal, RattanThe forests are a key player in maintaining ecological balance on the earth. They not only conserve biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and protect watersheds but also promote the above and below-ground ecosystem services. Forests are known as air cleaners on the planet and play a significant role in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. As per programs launched in the Conference of Parties (COP) 26, there is a need to promote policies and programs to reduce the atmospheric carbon (C) through the forest ecosystem; it is because forests can capture the atmospheric CO2 for a long time and help to achieve the goals of net-zero emission CO2 on the earth. Therefore, there is an urgent need to know the advanced technological approaches for estimating C stock in forest ecosystems. Hence, the present article is aimed at providing a comprehensive protocol for the four C stock estimation approaches. An effort has also been made to compare these methods. This review suggests that tree allometry is the most common method used for the quantification of C stock, but this method has certain limitations. However, the review shows that accurate results can be produced by a combination of two or more methods. We have also analyzed the results of 42 research studies conducted for C stock assessment along with the factors determining the amount of C in different types of forests. The C stock in vegetation is affected by temporal and spatial variation, plantation age, land use, cropping pattern, management practices and elevation, etc. Nevertheless, the available results have a large degree of uncertainty mainly due to the limitations of the methods used. The review supports the conclusion that the uncertainty in C stock measurements can be addressed by the integration of the above-mentioned methods. � 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Publication Carbon sequestration potential and CO2 fluxes in a tropical forest ecosystem(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Yadav, Vikram Singh; Yadav, Surender Singh; Gupta, Sharda Rani; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Lal, Rattan; Sheoran, Narender Singh; Jhariya, Manoj KumarCarbon (C) is a key product of forests, but not widely studied for available C stock, and biomass of tree species in typical forest ecosystems of India. Therefore, it is useful to estimate C stock at national and regional levels for establishing forest-based policies and developing roadmap for long-term plans and strategies to reduce the rate of increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Hence, present investigation was conducted to assess C storage and CO2 fluxes in tropical dry deciduous forest ecosystems of Jhumpa and Kairu in the southern Haryana, India. The C stock of trees in above ground biomass (AGB) was calculated by assuming the C content at 50% of the total biomass. Concentration of C in composite samples of shoots and roots of shrubs and herbs was estimated by the ash method. Soil C storage was determined on the basis of C concentration and soil bulk density up to 60 cm depth. The AGB of trees ranged from 33.1 to 75.8 Mg ha?1; the belowground biomass from 9.0 to 18.5 Mg ha?1 and total plant C storage from 24.3 to 53.9 Mg C ha?1. The total biomass of shrubs was 16.2 Mg ha?1 for the Salvadora oleoides forest at Jhumpa compared with 8.4 Mg ha?1 for the Acacia senegal-Acacia tortilis forest at Kairu. Net primary productivity of various components of trees in these forest ecosystems ranged from 8.1 to 9.6 Mg ha?1 y?1 and net flux of C from 4.6 to 5.8 Mg C ha?1 y?1. The annual litter fall in two forest ecosystems ranged from 3356 to 4498 Kg ha?1. S. oleoides contributed 50.0% and 47.3% towards the above ground and below ground C pools corresponding to the 17.9 Mg C ha?1and 4.1 Mg C ha?1, respectively. S. oleoides played a dominant role in biomass production and C assimilation in S. oleoides-A. tortilis forest at Jhumpa, while Prosopis juliflora and A. senegal were the highest contributors in A. senegal-A. tortilis forest at Kairu because of a high girth class and high density of trees, respectively. The cumulative soil organic carbon (SOC) stock up to 60 cm depth was more in A. senegal-A. tortilis forest at Kairu (16.3 Mg C ha?1) than that in the SO-AT forest at Jhumpa (12.9 Mg C ha?1). The results of this study revealed that S. oleoides and P. juliflora are key species as they sequester more C under a range of disturbances. Carbon sequestration potential of the studied forest ecosystems was 3.55 to 4.35 Mg C ha?1 y?1 which indicates a high C sequestration potential of these ecosystems. � 2022 Elsevier B.V.Publication Comprehensive environmental impact assessment for designing carbon-cum-energy efficient, cleaner and eco-friendly production system for rice-fallow agro-ecosystems of South Asia(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Kumar, Rakesh; Mishra, Janki Sharan; Mali, Santosh Sambhaji; Mondal, Surajit; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Lal, Rattan; Jha, Bal Krishna; Naik, Sushanta Kumar; Biswas, Ashis Kumar; Hans, Hansraj; Sundaram, Prem Kumar; Choudhary, Arbind Kumar; Monobrullah, Mohammad; Kumar, Sanjeev; Kumar, Santosh; Raman, Rohan Kumar; Bhatt, Bhagwati Prasad; Kumar, UjjwalHigh energy consumption and carbon emission are the major components of environmental pollution. Reducing carbon-footprints and improving energy use efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.) - fallow production systems of South Asia is a great challenge. The present experiment was conducted for five consecutive years (2016�2020) with an aim to design the most carbon-cum-energy efficient, cleaner/safer and eco-friendly production systems for rice-fallows in eastern India. This split-plot experiment had crop establishment-cum-residue management (CERM) treatments in main-plots and post-rainy/winter season crops in sub-plots. The production systems selected for analysis included three crop establishment methods [(1) zero-till-direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR), (2) conventional-till direct-seeded rice (CTDSR), and (3) transplanted puddled rice (TPR)], and two residue management practices [(i) with residue, and (ii) without residue] in combination with five potential winter season crops i.e., chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), and mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Results revealed an increase in overall system productivity from 3.5 to 5.13 Mg ha?1 due to the diversification of rice-fallow systems with oilseed and pulse crops. Irrespective of residue management practices, ZTDSR increased the yield by 15 and 31% in chickpea, 15 and 34% in lentil, 33 and 50% in safflower, 9 and 19% in linseed, and 7 and 15% in mustard as compared to CTDSR and PTR, respectively. Moreover, adoption of ZTDSR reduced energy uses by 23.3%, while increased energy ratio and net returns by 14.3 and 10.9%, respectively, over TPR. Pulse based crop rotations (rice-lentil and rice-chickpea) under ZTDSR with surface crop residue yielded 21.5% higher system net returns as compared to rice-oilseed production systems. ZTDSR treatment also reduced carbon-footprint (C-footprint) by 2.8% compared to TPR-based production systems. Similarly, rice-oilseed systems had a 16.1% lower C-footprint in comparison to rice-pulse sequences. Hence, rice-chickpea, rice-lentil and rice-safflower production systems in combined with ZTDSR along with residue retention can be viable production systems with higher system productivity, better economic returns, higher energy ratio and lower C-footprint. These systems will ensure an efficient utilization of natural resources leading to long-term sustainability of the rice-fallow production systems of South Asia. � 2021Publication Designing an ecofriendly and carbon-cum-energy efficient production system for the diverse agroecosystem of South Asia(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Kumar, Rakesh; Mishra, J.S.; Mondal, Surajit; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Sundaram, P.K.; Bhatt, B.P.; Pan, R.S.; Lal, Rattan; Saurabh, Kirti; Chandra, Naresh; Samal, S.K.; Hans, Hansraj; Raman, R.K.There is an urgent need for identification of the eco-friendly/cleaner production system that is more productive and profitable; efficient user of energy, water, and carbon-based inputs, and also environmentally safer. The four years study was conducted from 2016 to 2019, where the dominant rice-wheat cropping system is practiced extensively after �Green Revolution�. The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate: (1) energy budgeting, (2) carbon auditing, (3) production and economic efficiency of diverse cropping systems for upland rainfed as well as irrigated ecosystems of eastern India. Tillage and cropping system treatments were laid out according to a completely randomized block design and replicated thrice. Ten cropping sequences were comprised of: T1) a farmers� practice of transplanted rice-wheat-mungbean, T2) conventional till-direct seeded rice (CTDSR)-wheat-mungbean, T3) soybean-maize, T4) CTDSR-mustard-urdbean, T5) foxtail millet-lentil-fallow, T6) pearl millet-chickpea-fallow, T7) finger millet-toria-fallow, T8) sorghum (grain)-chickpea-fallow, T9) maize cob�pigeon pea, and T10) sorghum (fodder)-mustard-urdbean. Energy contributions of different inputs were 42�55, 12�21, 8�18, and 4�12% for fertilizers, diesel, labour, and electricity, respectively. The amount of indirect (fertilizer, chemicals, and machinery) and direct (diesel and electricity) non-renewable energy inputs were 40�60 and 18�26%, respectively. Indirect renewable energy input (seed and crop residues) was 1�7% as compared to 15�24% of direct-renewable energy (human labour and irrigation water). The maximum energy input was recorded for T1 (53511 MJ ha?1). The maximum biomass production (40.2 Mg ha?1) was recorded with T9, while the maximum benefit: cost ratio (3.64) was noted for T10 and T8. The highest specific energy (33.5 MJ kg?1) and energy productivity (0.92 kg MJ?1) were recorded in T8 treatment. Irrespective of cropping systems, retention of crop residues accounted for 28.6�58.5% of total carbon input. The carbon sustainability index was 5�7 times higher for the millet-based production system [T6 (9.32) and T8 (10.27)] compared to cereal-based systems [T1 (1.66) and T2 (1.21)]. Diversification of the rice-wheat system through climate-resilient millets-based production system reduced 84% energy consumption and 87% carbon footprint. The millet-based production system also helps in reducing the carbon input by 172% and improves the energy use efficiency by 61% compared to the cereal-based cropping system. Therefore, the study has an innovative idea to support the crop modelling, policymakers, government planners, researchers, and producers to achieve the sustainable development goals in Indo-Gangetic Plains and similar agro-climatic conditions of South Asia. � 2020 Elsevier LtdPublication Greenhouse gases emissions and agronomic productivity as influenced by varying levels of N fertilizer and tank silt in degraded semiarid Alfisol of Southern India(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2023) Reddy, Sharan Bhoopal; Srinivasarao, Cherukumalli; Rao, Palli Chandrasekhar; Lal, Rattan; Rakesh, Suresh; Kundu, Sumanta; Singh, Ram Nagina; Dubey, Pradeep Kumar; Abhilash, Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil; Venkateswara Rao, Kondru; Abrol, Vikas; Somasundaram, JayaramanThe study aimed to assess the effects of combined application of urea nitrogen (N) and tank* silt (TS) on greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions [i.e., carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O)] and agronomic productivity of maize-horsegram system. A factorial [urea (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha?1)]�and tank silt (0 and 30 t ha?1) replicated thrice randomized block design was employed for this investigation. Results of the study showed that maize grain yield was significantly influenced by the sole application of both N fertilizer and TS. When both the N fertilizer and TS were combined, the grain yield was significantly (p < 0.01) improved by 5% (4870 kg ha?1) over the highest yield observed under only N. We have noticed a significant (p < 0.01) residual effect of N and TS on horsegram straw yield during all the years of experimentation. With the increase in N-rate, there was an increasing trend in CO2 emission noticed in all the years including the pooled year data. Compared to CO2 emission, N2O emission was greatly influenced by nutrient management and amendment application. Among the seasons, the post-rainy season (Rabi) had a slightly lower emission trend of CO2, during all the years as compared to the rainy season (Kharif). The observed results marked the marginal increasing trend of cumulative CO2 (cCO2) emissions with regard to increasing doses of urea. Tank silt addition slightly favoured a CO2 emissions. The trend of cumulative N2O (cN2O) emission was greatly influenced by the dose of urea following the order of N180 > N120 > N60 > N0. However, N fertilizer application influenced the cCO2 emissions (r�=�0.83), and significantly increased the cN2O emission (r�=�0.99). Therefore, optimum and timely application of urea combined with TS is recommended as an effective strategy to combat GHG-based emissions (specifically N2O based) in semiarid rainfed regions. � 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Publication Integrated nutrient management improves soil organic matter and agronomic sustainability of semiarid rainfed Inceptisols of the Indo-Gangetic Plains(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2021) Srinivasarao, Ch.; Singh, S.P.; Kundu, Sumanta; Abrol, Vikas; Lal, Rattan; Abhilash, P.C.; Chary, G.R.; Thakur, Pravin B.; Prasad, J.V.N.S.; Venkateswarlu, B.Background: Climate and management practices impact the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of agricultural soils. Especially under the semiarid climate of India, organic matter is rapidly decomposed, and imbalanced nutrient input further exacerbates its depletion, thus facilitating the decline in soil quality and crop yields. Improving SOC contents through integrated nutrient management (INM), that is, conjunctive use of organic and chemical sources of nutrients, could ameliorate soil health and sustain crop yields. Aim: To assess the potential of the INM approach to enhance the SOC status, soil quality, crop production, and drought adaptation of pearl millet under rainfed conditions. Methods: Nutrient inputs were supplied through mineral fertilizers, organic manures, and a combination of both. SOC sequestration, sustainable yield index, plant-available N, P, K, and water, bulk density, and KMnO4-oxidizable C were estimated. Results: Higher SOC sequestration rate (0.50 and 0.48 Mg ha?1 y?1 in 50% N (fertilizer) + 50% N (farmyard manure), and 50% N (fertilizer) + 50% N (crop residue), respectively) and significant increase in soil fertility were recorded in organically amended treatments. Improvement of 1 Mg ha?1 of SOC stock in the root zone (0.4 m depth) reduced the severity of drought and increased the yield by 38 kg ha?1. Plots under organic amendments suffered less yield losses under short-duration droughts, but this positive effect could only be exploited when the rainfall deficit was up to 25%. Conclusion: Managements that add up to 1.2 Mg ha?1 y?1 SOC are adaptive and climate-resilient strategies in dry semiarid degraded Inceptisols of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. � 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbHPublication Reforming the Soil Organic Carbon Management Plans and Policies in India(Springer Nature, 2022) Meena, Ram Swaroop; Kumar, Sandeep; Rao, Cherukumalli Srinivasa; Kumar, Arvind; Lal, RattanThe importance of soil health and balanced fertilizer application based on soil test results must be taken into account in various agricultural community programmes and initiatives. In India, a programme on soil health management, integrated nutrient management and organic farming has been launched to improve soil carbon (C) management by incorporating and integrating multiple strategies, techniques and resources. In this respect, organic carbon (OC) stored in agriculture is one of the imperative strategies that enhance soil C content, maintain soil health and quality, mitigate climate change, conserve biodiversity and ultimately sustain the entire food system, although, to implement these technologies, policies, economic analysis and scientific as well as financial support are required especially for resource-constraint smallholders of developing countries. The SOC content in the upper layer of Indian cultivated soils is estimated to be 0.2% or less, which is well below the critical threshold level of 1.5% needed for healthy soil. The goal of this chapter is to provide understanding on sufficient food supply while also coping with changing climates, improving SOC, reducing losses and developing techniques to improve the soil C pool in rural soil. These policies for C management and restoration need to be tailored to the local situations, because the livelihood of millions of people across the country directly depends on how SOC pools are maintained using sustainable land management practices and policies. Hence, effective policy implementation relies on several factors that are well coordinated with socio-economic and natural characteristics and may be supported by good governance and stakeholder engagement. � The Editor(s)(if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.Publication Soil organic carbon restoration in India: Programs, policies, and thrust areas(CRC Press, 2021) Meena, Ram Swaroop; Kumar, Sandeep; Sheoran, Seema; Jhariya, Manoj Kumar; Bhatt, Rajan; Yadav, Gulab Singh; Gopinath, Kodigal A.; Rao, Cherukumalli Srinivasa; Lal, Rattan[No abstract available]Publication Soil potassium fertility and management strategies in South Asian agriculture(Academic Press Inc., 2023) Srinivasarao, Ch.; Kundu, Sumanta; Rao, K.V.; Shukla, A.K.; Rao, A. Subba; Imas, Patricia; Bolan, Nanthi S.; Lal, Rattan; Prasad, J.V.N.S.; Abhilash, P.C.; Kumar, G. Ranjith; Meena, R.S.; Pratibha, G.; Narayanaswami, G.; Bansal, S.K.; Nataraj, K.C.; Jagadesh, M.; Mrunalini, K.; Jayaraman, S.; Jat, M.L.; Malleswari, S.N.; Whitbread, Anthony; Venkateswarlu, B.Almost one-fourth of the global population live in South Asia (SA) countries with 14% of cultivable land. Most of the countries in the South Asian region are facing multiple challenges like high population growth, declining farm land area, and low productivity in primary and secondary sectors leading to limited employment opportunities. Consequently, both availability and access to food are adversely affected. Regions exposed to natural disasters, tribal and the hilly regions of SA are amongst the most vulnerable in terms of food security. Accelerated efforts are required to ensure that conflicts do not exacerbate the already fragile food situation in SA. Despite recent strong gains in economic growth and agricultural productivity, food and nutritional security remains a major concern in SA. The region has the largest concentration of poverty and hunger in the world, with nearly 40% of the world's impoverished and 45% of the world's undernourished people. The enormity of malnutrition in SA can be gauged from the fact that it is the home to nearly two-thirds of the world's undernourished children. More than 56% of the world's low-birth-weight babies are born in SA. Furthermore, food and nutrition security remain major challenges with a large proportion of the world's poor living here and global hunger index (GHI) at 30.9. Overcoming these twin challenges require actions both at the national and regional level. Among production constraints and yield gaps, imbalanced nutrient use is a critical issue in many of the SA countries, with nutrient application focused mainly on nitrogen (N), leaving the possibility for other plant nutrient deficiencies including phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In some cases, the use efficiency of N may be low due to losses in the form of N2O emissions, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), or via leaching with the undesirable offsite effects. Among the primary nutrients, K is an essential nutrient for productivity, food quality and numerous functions in the plant system. It plays a major role in activating ?60 enzymes, regulating stomatal functions, controlling water relations especially under rainfed crop production, influencing the water balance of plant systems, and underpinning agronomic productivity and sustainability. Negative K balance in soil under intensive cropping is reported because of low external input and large crop removal, leading to large scale K mining in soils. Declining yield trends were observed in several fertilizer experiments 30�40 years long with continuous application of either N alone or NP without K under both irrigated and rainfed crop production systems in the region. Recent K fertility analysis indicates widespread K deficiency in light-textured alluvial soils, red and lateritic soils beside acid soil types in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The countries in SA depend largely on imported K fertilizers. Such imported fertilizer should be utilized most efficiently in the light of limited global K mineral reserves and 93% of world total K exports are from five countries viz. Canada (37.12%) followed by the Russian Federation, Belarus, Germany and Israel. Therefore, the current review addresses issues related to the K supplying capacity of soils in various crop production systems in SA, crop K responses, soil test methods followed, emerging issues in soil K fertility, K balance in major cropping systems and rationalizing K recommendations among crops, soil types and agro-ecological regions. The role of K in balanced nutrition, farm productivity, food and nutritional security in these countries is examined. The review also covers the critical role of K in climate change adaptation, mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and improving overall nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in the SA region. � 2023 Elsevier Inc.Publication Using industrial wastes for rice-wheat cropping and food-energy-carbon-water-economic nexus to the sustainable food system(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Meena, Ram Swaroop; Pradhan, Gourisankar; Kumar, Sandeep; Lal, RattanThis experiment aimed to develop a long-term sustainable food-energy-water-carbon-economic nexus module by converting industrial wastes (IWs) to compost. In the methodology, a split-plot design was employed to apply a different recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) levels, and carbon decomposing microbes (CDMs) converted IWs compost in the rice-wheat cropping. Four RDF levels were used in the main-plot, and nine combinations of CDMs + IWs were used in the sub-plot and replicated thrice. The result indicated that in the interaction impact of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK)100% +zinc (Zn)5kg + iron (Fe)5kg � IW1+CDM1 produced 80.2% more grain yield, 68.1 and 176.2% more net energy output and energy balance. There was higher water productivity and lower WFP than those for NPK0 � IW3+CDM3. Further, the main-plot NPK100% +Zn5kg + Fe5kg was observed sequentially at a maximum of US$ 126 and 2149/ha carbon societal and credit value. Meanwhile, the IW1+CDM1 noted a higher US$ 124 and 2094/ha of carbon societal and credit values, respectively in the sub-plot. The first two components from principal component analysis (PCA) of various energy indices and carbon dynamics explained 81 and 14% of the variability, respectively. The hypothesis of the experiment was that the use of IWs combined with inorganic fertilizers and CDMs for rice-wheat cropping; may help to increase crop productivity, carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration, soil organic carbon (SOC) pools, and reduce carbon footprints (CFs), water footprint (WFP), energy, and fertilizer load to feed the ever-growing population. � 2023 Elsevier LtdPublication Utilizing industrial wastes as compost in wheat-rice production to improve the above and below-ground ecosystem services(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Pradhan, Gourisankar; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Kumar, Sandeep; Lal, RattanThe prime objective of this study was to enhance the ESs and achieve sustainability in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)�rice (Oryza sativa L.) production system (WRPS). The study was conducted in the split-plot design (SPD). In this study's results were presented as the 2018�2021 average of the WRPS. As compared to zero fertilization in the main-plot, the applied treatment recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) 100%+ 5 kg zinc (Zn) + 5 kg iron (Fe) increased grain and straw-based ESs by 50% and 39%, respectively. Similarly, in the sub-plot, the carpet waste +Trichoderma viride (CW+M3) treatment had 24% and 22% more grain and straw-based ESs than the application of the bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju (B+M1) treatment, respectively. Furthermore, the grain and straw-based ESs interaction between the applications of RDF 100%+ 5 kg Zn + 5 kg Fe � carpet waste decomposed through Trichoderma viride (CW+M3) was significant and observed that the maximum monetary value was US$ 2638 and 557 ha?1 year?1, respectively. There was also 64% more carbon (C) flow and 144% higher soil fertility than those in zero fertilization � B+M1 treatment. While based on other indices in the main-plot, among the different RDF levels, the zero-fertilization plot had the maximum sustainable value index (SVI) (0.880 and 0.985) and sustainable yield index (SYI) (0.977 and 0.983) of wheat and rice in an average of the system for 2018�2021 of WRPS. Furthermore, the sub-plot B+M1 had wheat's highest SVI (0.865) and SYI (0.958). Moreover, in the case of rice, the maximum SVI (0.928) and SYI (0.952) were observed in the pressmud + Pleurotus sajor-caju (PM+M1). All the variables are positively correlated except total, and partial factor productivity. Based on the regression study, the C flow-based ESs contributed to 99.9% variability in grain-based ESs. Based on the above results, this experiment provides unique and distinct information for above and below-ground ESs in WRPS and using IWs to maintain a long-term sustainable food system. The experiment hypothesized that using the IWs as a nutrient source will enhance nutrient use efficiency (NUE), reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and maintain yield sustainability, improve ESs in WRPS, improve soil health, and ensure a green-sustainable food production system. Additionally, it is an assessable and practical method of sustainably managing waste that correlates well with green economic sustainability to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). � 2023 Elsevier B.V.
