Alfisol soils of rainfed semi-arid tropics (SAT) are degrading due to several physical, chemical, and biological constraints. Appropriate soil-nutrient management practices may help to check further soil degradation. A long-term experiment comprising tillage and conjunctive nutrient use treatments under a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)-mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilkzec) system was conducted during 1998-05 on SAT Alfisols (Typic Haplustalf) at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad. The study evaluated soil and nutrient management treatments for their long-term influence on soil quality using key indicators and soil quality indices (SQI). Of the 21 soil quality parameters considered for study, easily oxidisable N (KMnO 4 oxidisable-N), DTPA extractable Zn and Cu, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates, and hydraulic conductivity (HC) played a major role in influencing the soil quality and were designated as the key indicators of 'soil quality' for this system. The SQI obtained by the integration of key indicators varied from 0.66 (unamended control) to 0.83 (4 Mg compost þ 20 kg N as urea) under conventional tillage (CT), and from 0.66 (control) to 0.89 (4 Mg compost þ 2 Mg gliricidia loppings) under reduced tillage (RT). Tillage did not influence the SQI, whereas the conjunctive nutrient-use treatments had a significant effect. On an average, under both CT and RT, the sole organic treatment improved the soil quality by 31.8% over the control. The conjunctive nutrient-use treatments improved soil quality by 24.2-27.2%, and the sole inorganic treatment by 18.2% over the control. Statistically, the treatments improved soil quality in the following order: 4 Mg compost þ 2 Mg gliricidia loppings > 2 Mg Gliricidia loppings þ 20 kg N as urea = 4 Mg compost þ 20 kg N as urea > 40 kg N as urea. The percentage contribution of the key indicators towards the SQI was: MBC (28.5%), available N (28.6%), DTPA-Zn (25.3%), DTPA-Cu (8.6%), HC (6.1%), and MWD (2.9%). The functions predicting the changes in yield and sustainability yield index with a given change in SQI were also determined.Additional keywords: semi-arid tropics, soil quality indicators, sorghum-mung bean, sustainability yield index.

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Rabi season of 2016-17 to study the performance of barley varieties under various nitrogen levels in sodic soil. The trial was laid out in Split Plot Design. Nitrogen levels (60, 75 and 90 kg N ha -1 ) were kept in main-plots and varieties (RD-2907, RD-2552, NDB-1173 and RD-2794 in sub-plots with three replications on sodic soils having low organic carbon (0.38 g kg -1 ), available nitrogen (185.0 kg ha -1 ), phosphorus (15.25 kg ha -1 ) and potassium (265 kg ha -1 ). Data manifested to nitrogen content and uptake of barley grain and straw as influenced by nitrogen levels and varieties. Maximum nitrogen content (1.68) in grain, (0.54%) in straw determined with application of 90 kg N ha -1 which was at par with the dose of 75 kg N ha -1 and lowest with 60 kg N ha -1 . The Maximum nitrogen uptake in grain (47.13 kg ha -1 ) and straw (24.80 kg ha -1 ) was recorded under the supply of 90 kg N ha -1 which was significantly higher than 75 and 60 kg N ha -1 . There was no significant difference in term of nitrogen content in grain due to different varieties of barley crop. Maximum nitrogen content (0.55) in straw was recorded in variety RD-2907 which was at par with RD-2552 (0.54%) and significantly maximum over rest of the varieties. Among the varieties of barley, maximum nitrogen uptake by grain and straw (48.31 and 25.25 kg ha -1 , respectively) was recorded in variety (RD-2907) which was at par with (24.52) RD-2552 and significantly superior to RD-2794 and NDB-1173. Nitrogen and protein content in grain increased with increasing levels of nitrogen. Maximum nitrogen content (1.68%) and protein content (10.54%) in grain was observed with 90 kg N ha -1 . The varieties had no significant effect on nitrogen and protein content in grain.

Aim: To study the amelioration of zinc deficiency in blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) through soil applied zinc in Typic Haplustepts soil of Rajasthan. Methodology: A two year field experiment was undertaken during Kharif 2016 and 2017 at Instructional Farm (Agronomy), Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, Rajasthan. The treatments comprised application of Zn to soil @ 3 kg Zn ha-1, 4 kg Zn ha-1, 5 kg Zn ha-1 and 6 kg Zn ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. Results: Application of zinc significantly (P=0.05) increased the number of nodules per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed yield, haulm yield, biological yield, nutrient (N, P, K & Zn) content and uptake, protein content, net return and B:C ratio in blackgram. Soil application of Zn@5 kg ha-1 significantly increased seed yield, haulm yield and biological yield by 72.53, 50.08 and 57.68 per cent over the control in pooled analysis, respectively. However, the effect of application of Zn@5 kg ha-1 on yield attributes, yield, nutrient content, uptake, quality and economics of blackgram was found statistically at par with the application of 6 kg Zn ha-1. Interpretation: The application of Zn@ 5 kg ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizer (NPK) resulted in significantly (P=0.05) higher productivity, nutrient uptake, quality and profitability of blackgram under Typic Haplustepts soil of Rajasthan.

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Carbon sequestration in the agricultural lands is possible through different soil management strategies and could be substantial with widespread implementation. Sequestration of historic carbon emissions is now essential as mitigation alone is not enough to stabilize our atmosphere. There are numerous management strategies for drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and holding it in the soil. Effectiveness of these strategies vary across different climates, soil types, and geographies. Still, it is a controversy about the durability of sequestration in soil and about the precise conditions that maximize drawdown of carbon emissions. Carbon sequestration in soil is the potential strategy which can reduce or mitigate the impacts of the global warming. The Asian countries are having more than 90% of rice fields, they are being blamed for their contribution in the methane emission and associated climate change. A major part of rice is grown under the continuous submergence condition that may influence the active and passive pools of soil carbon besides methane emission. In this paper we have reviewed the carbon sequestration potential of rice-based soils besides discussion on the mechanisms and strategies that promote accumulation of soil carbon while minimizing carbon emissions. The strategies viz. System of Rice Intensification, Integrated Nutrient Management, promoting mycorrhizal symbiosis in aerobic rice system besides enhancement of phytolith-occluded carbon are some of the key areas facilitating better carbon sequestration in rice ecosystem.

Nagar (Kumarganj), Faizabad (U.P.) during Rabi season of 2016-17 to study the effect of different date of sowing on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. The experiment comprised of 9 treatment combinations and tested in Randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. Experiment consisted of two factors, viz. dates of sowing and cultivars. Three wheat varieties, viz. Malviya-234, PBW-343 and NW-1012 were sown under three dates i.e. 20 November, 30 November and 10 December. 20 November has suitable date of sowing for high yield of wheat. PBW-343 cultivar was found most suitable for obtaining higher yield of wheat. Variety PBW-343 produced significantly higher grain and straw yield (39.45 and 55.50q ha -1 , respectively). Regarding the time of sowing, highest grainand straw yield (39.60 and 54.77q ha -1 , respectively) was recorded in the crop, sown on 20 November.