Sk asraful ali’s research while affiliated with Indian Agricultural Research Institute and other places

Phosphorus (P), the second most important macronutrient after nitrogen, plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. However, its availability in soils is often limited due to fixation in insoluble forms, resulting in low phosphorus use efficiency and negatively impacting crop yields. To enhance phosphorus availability, various agents have been identified as effective solutions, including humic substances (such as humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin), phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs), zeolite, biochar, bentonite, and polymers. These agents increase phosphorus solubility and improve soil health, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. Their application not only boosts immediate plant growth but also contributes to long-term soil fertility and enhanced crop yields, addressing critical agricultural challenges and fostering a more resilient agricultural ecosystem. By integrating these solutions into farming practices, farmers can optimize nutrient management, improve crop productivity, and ensure environmental sustainability.

This chapter explores the crucial topic of crop diversification using legumes for the purpose of achieving sustainable production with environmental gain. Faced with the environmental drawbacks of monoculture, the integration of legumes proves revolutionary. Crop diversification, strategically achieved through practices like intercropping and rotation, not only optimizes yields but also mitigates risks associated with pests and market fluctuations. Legumes provide a beneficial influence on cropping systems by suppressing diseases, facilitating alternative pest management, and enhancing nitrogen retention; thanks to their nitrogen-fixing capabilities. The integration of legumes in the cropping system improves resilience and decreases the overall environmental impact of farming. This sustainable approach offers a viable alternative to address the increasing global food needs.

The present study was designed with the prominent objective to evaluate marketing cost, margin, and efficiency. Samples of 60 mushroom growers were surveyed from two blocks of Udham Singh Nagar district. Based on the production, respondents were grouped into three categories viz. medium, small and marginal. For the analysis, Acharya's method of marketing efficiency and Garrett's ranking was used. From the study it was revealed that, marketing cost of per kg of Original Research Article 791 mushroom in channel I, II and III was found Rs. 2.25, Rs. 23.66 and Rs. 40.1, respectively. Due to the absence of intermediaries, channel I had the highest modified marketing efficiency (MME). The study stressed the need for establishment of marketing facilities as a prerequisite to promote mushroom production and also ensure remunerative price. Addressing marketing issue like problem in delay payment, storage and transportation are the major problems which will help to embrace this venture on a long run by creating more revenue.

Potassium (K) is an essential mineral nutrient for plant growth, vital for several physiological functions, including the activation of enzymes and the regulation of osmotic pressure. Although potassium (K) is not a component of organic molecules or plant structures, it plays a crucial role in numerous biochemical and physiological processes that are vital for plant growth, productivity, quality and stress tolerance. A deficiency in potassium can result in stunted growth, lower yields, and weakened plant health. Understanding soil-plant K dynamics is vital for sustainable agriculture, considering factors like soil type and pH. Effective management practices, including K fertilization, are necessary to maintain optimal K levels. Intensive farming increases the demand and contributes to K deficiency. This article underscores the importance of comprehensive knowledge for assessing soil K status and advocates for strategic management to enhance crop production and quality in K deficient conditions.

No-till system is one of the principles of Conservation Agriculture ensuring, several benefits but during the initial period, weeds create major problem. Adoption of a long-term no-till system changes weed dynamics and communities that necessitates adjusting weed control methods. No-till systems accumulate seeds near the soil surface where they are more likely to germinate but are also exposed to greater mortality risks through weather variability and predation. Assuming no weed seed input into the system, emerging seed banks under a no-till system decrease more rapidly than under conventional tillage (Nichols et al., 2015). A long-term experiment (36 years) on no-tillage conducted at South Texas revealed that the no-till (NT) system had greater weed densities (especially of the perennial weed Sorghum halepense) and a high proportion of weed seeds (particularly small-seeded annuals) on the topsoil layer (Govindasamy et al.,2020). Weed emergence was delayed in the NT system over the conventional tillage (CT) system because of lower soil temperature and restricted sunlight to the soil surface. Higher density of small-seeded weed seeds near the soil surface in the NT system influenced a shift in weed dominance implying need-based weed management programs while transitioning to NT (Govindasamy et al.,2021). Kumar et al. (2022) reported that impact of zero tillage in post-rainy seasons in the transplanted rice pulse-based cropping (rice-chickpea-mungbean) system reduced viable weed seeds in soil surface vis-à-vis above ground weed density over time than CT in rice-wheat system. However, CT and CA witnessed a gradual shift in weed species, which was higher in CA than CT after 12 years of the experiment (Sharma et al., 2023). Long-term legume-based systems (maize-wheat-mungbean and maize-wheat-maize-chickpea) created identical weed community and higher weed diversity that eventually reduced the weed pressure in wheat than the maize-wheat system (Nath et al., 2021). Therefore, it could be concluded that adoption of a long-term no-till system leads to the weed shift in the fields that entirely depends on appropriate herbicide for weed control to avoid developing herbicide-resistant weeds. Cover crops, crop rotation, alteration of herbicide, precision weed management and integrated weed management could be viable options for effective control of weed population density and dry weight in the adoption of a long-term no-tillage system. Following all the practices is expected to efficiently control the weeds and increase resource use efficiency that could ensure sustainable profit for the farmers.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR), an innovative alternative to traditional transplanting, has gained popularity for its cost-effectiveness and labour-saving attributes. Weeds pose a significant threat to DSR. In this study, the effectiveness of various weed management methods, including hand weeding and herbicide applications, was evaluated. Hand weeding proved most effective in controlling weeds, while specific herbicides, such as bispyribac sodium + pyrazosulfuron (T2) and triafamone + ethoxysulfuron (T6) applied at 16 days after sowing (DAS), demonstrated superior weed control efficiency, improved growth parameters, and enhanced yield. Paspalum distichum was effectively controlled by penoxsulam + cyhalofop-butyl (T7). The study emphasizes the importance of customizing weed control to local conditions, with the choice of suitable herbicides and practices aligning with prevalent weed biotypes in the specific farming system. Understanding the nuanced impacts of post-emergence herbicides is crucial in navigating the intricate landscape of weed management in direct-seeded rice.