Intensive agriculture is based on the use of high-energy inputs and quality planting materials with assured irrigation, but it has failed to assure agricultural sustainability because of creation of ecological imbalance and degradation of natural resources. On the other hand, intercropping systems, also known as mixed cropping or polyculture, a traditional farming practice with diversified crop cultivation, uses comparatively low inputs and improves the quality of the agro-ecosystem. Intensification of crops can be done spatially and temporally by the adoption of the intercropping system targeting future need. Intercropping ensures multiple benefits like enhancement of yield, environmental security, production sustainability and greater ecosystem services. In intercropping, two or more crop species are grown concurrently as they coexist for a significant part of the crop cycle and interact among themselves and agro-ecosystems. Legumes as component crops in the intercropping system play versatile roles like biological N fixation and soil quality improvement, additional yield output including protein yield, and creation of functional diversity. But growing two or more crops together requires additional care and management for the creation of less competition among the crop species and efficient utilization of natural resources. Research evidence showed beneficial impacts of a properly managed intercropping system in terms of resource utilization and combined yield of crops grown with low-input use. The review highlights the principles and management of an intercropping system and its benefits and usefulness as a low-input agriculture for food and environmental security.

Agricultural sustainability is of foremost importance for maintaining high food production. Irresponsible resource use not only negatively affects agroecology, but also reduces the economic profitability of the production system. Among different resources, soil is one of the most vital resources of agriculture. Soil fertility is the key to achieve high crop productivity. Maintaining soil fertility and soil health requires conscious management effort to avoid excessive nutrient loss, sustain organic carbon content, and minimize soil contamination. Though the use of chemical fertilizers have successfully improved crop production, its integration with organic manures and other bioinoculants helps in improving nutrient use efficiency, improves soil health and to some extent ameliorates some of the constraints associated with excessive fertilizer application. In addition to nutrient supplementation, bioinoculants have other beneficial effects such as plant growth-promoting activity, nutrient mobilization and solubilization, soil decontamination and/or detoxification, etc. During the present time, high energy based chemical inputs also caused havoc to agriculture because of the ill effects of global warming and climate change. Under the consequences of climate change, the use of bioinputs may be considered as a suitable mitigation option. Bioinoculants, as a concept, is not something new to agricultural science, however; it is one of the areas where consistent innovations have been made. Understanding the role of bioinoculants, the scope of their use, and analysing their performance in various environments are key to the successful adaptation of this technology in agriculture.

No abstract

The experiment was conducted at agricultural farm of Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati at Sriniketan of Birbhum district, West Bengal during pre-rabi season of 2015 to study the effect of zinc on growth and productivity of baby corn. The soil at experimental site was analysed sandy loam in texture with low in available N, medium in available P 2 O 5 and K 2 O and slightly acidic (p H : 4.78) in nature. The experiment was carried out in RBD with 8 treatments. Each treatment was replicated thrice and the different treatments viz. absolute control, soil application of Zn @ 6 kg ha-1 , soil application of Zn @ 10 kg ha-1 , seed

To fulfill the demand of increased population it is very essential to enhance crop productivity with precise inputs. Non-judicious application of inorganic fertilizers and other agrochemicals is degrading soil health, creating environmental pollution and also contributing to climate change. Nowadays, people became more aware towards health risks and demand for quality foods with less chemical residues is increasing as there is a progression of demand for organic products. But it is very difficult to produce adequate quantity of organic foods for the raised population in the developing countries as per standard organic practices. That’s why judicious use of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers is required to supply nutrients to crops. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as Rhizobium inoculation in groundnut (a major oilseed crop) can boost crop growth and enhance yield in a sustainable manner. Further, Rhizobium has multifaceted advantages in crop nutrient uptake and soil quality improvement. The article described the role of PGPR as well as Rhizobium in growth and productivity of groundnut towards production sustainability.