Soil micro-organisms play a pivotal role in food production through their significant effects on nutrient transformation and release, soil organic matter and carbon dynamics, and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to plants. The microbial consortia (MC) are mixtures of two or more microbial species/strains, living together symbiotically. Generally, a consortium of micro-organisms performs better than the inoculum of single microbial species. The MC, specifically plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biofilm biofertilizers can be used in non-legume cereal crops grown in a large area of the world. The MC may help in solubilization of plant nutrients from the soil native pool, production of beneficial substances (siderophores, hormones, etc.) for better root growth of non-legume crops and reduction in plant growth retarding hormone(s). The MC research focuses/encompasses, mainly legume crops, although there are prospect and substantial evidences of their use in non-legume crops. Reports indicate that the use of MC can enhance micronutrients, total organic carbon and N in soil. They could fix N, solubilize P and K, improve soil physico-chemical properties and act as phyto-stimulator. Globally, almost 50% of the total N, P and K used in crops are consumed by cereal crops, which are heavy feeder with high yield potential. Integration of MC with chemical fertilizers provides enormous scope for increasing nutrient-use efficiency in accordance with harmonious improvement in crop yield and soil health. The MC as a component of integrated nutrient management in non-legume cereal crops would considerably reduce the demand and use of mineral fertilizers and cost of cultivation and save nutrient for use in other crops of economic importance. They are low-cost and eco-friendly options and can improve soil health vis-a-vis enhancing productivity of non-legume crops.
Conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged as a promising technology for efficient rational use of available resources and sustained productivity in the long run. By saving inputs, reducing energy usage and greenhouse gases emissions, CA-based management practices are quite viable for bringing sustenance in agricultural crop production. The CA system can provide multiple ecosystem services such as provisioning, regulating and supporting services. The regulating services include improving carbon status, and physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, which further lead to provisioning services in terms of sustained crop and water productivity. Increased soil carbon sequestration improves supporting services, namely, soil aggregation that increases available soil moisture and can be helpful for better plant growth and development. It also improves soil biodiversity both above-and below-ground. Here we focus on the potential ecosystem service benefits accrued from CA. Conservation agriculture in the long run can be a strategy for sustainable crop intensification and a climate resilient crop management system.
Weeds are ubiquitous and eternal pests. In India, the total annual loss of agricultural produce by weeds, insects, diseases and other pests are estimated to be 37%, 29%, 22% and 12%, respectively. Weeds are, mainly, autotrophs, but few are heterotrophs/parasitic such as Orobanche/ Phelipanche sp (Broomrape). Several species that are dominant across the world are Orobanche cernua, Orobanche crenata, Phelipanche ramosa, Phelipanche aegyptiaca, Orobanche cumana, and Phelipanche muteli. Orobanche is an important holoroot parasitic weed and cause yield losses of many economically important crops. The damage by Orobanche can range from 0-100%. Studies highlighted annual crop losses due to Orobanche infestation was to the tune of $1.3 to 2.6 billion worldwide. A Orobanche plant can produce more than 500,000 seeds, whose longevity may vary from 2-20 years. The distribution, species diversity and biology of this weed have been discussed in this review. Sound management strategies involving physical, cultural, biological and chemical options, and above all, integrated Orobanche management have been contemplated as well. New biotechnological approach that must trigger to develop host plant's resistance against Orobanche and recommended selective herbicides should be envisaged for better Orobanche management.
Field experiments were carried out in order to investigate if brown manuring (BM) using Sesbania plants can be used to control weeds in maize, especially Cyperus rotundus (Experiment I), and further to optimize the BM technology through appropriate Sesbania seed rate (S), 2,4-D application time (T) and dose (D) (Experiment II). Each BM treatment received a pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha. Experiment I showed that the BM practice using 15 kg/ha Sesbania seed and 2,4-D 0.50 kg a.i./ha applied at 25 DAS led to better control of weeds, especially C. rotundus and higher maize grain yield. Further optimization studies (Experiment II) indicated that among the factors S, T and D, the BM combination S~25 kg/ha, D~0.50 kg a.i./ha and T~25 DAS (i.e. S25T25D0.50) resulted in lowest weed density (3.1/m2) and dry weight (3.8 g/m2) and highest weed control index (89.2%) at 60 days after sowing (DAS) which was at par with another BM practice S15T25D0.50. However, the later BM combination led to significantly higher maize productivity (5.25 t/ha) and profitability (net returns (NR) $878/ha), which were 103 and 280% higher, respectively, than the weedy check (WC). The Sesbania seed rate S~15 kg/ha gave 7% higher maize grain yield and 12% higher NR than its corresponding level S~25 kg/ha. Therefore, Sesbania BM with 15 kg seeds/ha and 2,4-D at 0.50 kg a.i/ha applied at 25 DAS can be recommended for effective and eco-friendly weed management in maize, which would provide higher maize grain yield and enhance farmers' profitability.
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