<div>Background: The uncertainty of groundnut productivity in the rainfed areas could be minimized by in situ conserving the soil moisture received through precipitation during the cropping period and improving the nutrient status.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during 2014-2015 rabi season to find out the effect of charred rice husk and other organic materials enriched with or without fertilizer nutrient on the moisture retention and nutrient supply during the deficit period of crop growth. The treatment consists of charred rice husk, biochar, lignite and farm yard manure alone and enriched with the recommended dose of nitrogen (10 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (10 kg ha-1) fertilizer and compared with the absolute control and recommended dose of fertilizer (10:10:45 kg NPK ha-1). 
 
Result: The structural morphology of organic materials was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that the particles of charred rice husk were uneven and the diameter varied from 3-4 &igrave;m with clod and block appearance, the particles of biochar were irregular in shape, uneven sized and diameter varied from 2-3 &igrave;m with block appearance and the lignite particles found spherical and aggregated. The chemical composition of organic manure with nutrient examined under SEM-EDAX revealed that the charred rice husk contains 64.31% carbon, 28.42% oxygen and 5.96% silica. Results of the study revealed that, application of enriched FYM at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher pod yield (2190 kg ha-1). The enriched biochar and charred rice husk produced comparable pod yield of 2010 kg ha-1 and 1983 kg ha-1, respectively.</div>

<div>Enriched Charred Rice Husk to Improve the Nutrient Management in Rainfed Groundnut</div>

<div>Background: Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) are essential plant nutrients and their deficiency in soils has the adverse effect on the crop productivity, moreover the antagonistic effect of P on Zn is also important study aspect. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to study the effect of phospho enriched compost and zinc on productivity, nutrient content and uptake of Blackgram (Vigna mungo&nbsp;L.) in Sub-humid Southern Hills and Aravalli region of Rajasthan.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was undertaken during Kharif 2018 at Rajasthan College of agriculture, Udaipur (Rajasthan). The treatments comprised of four levels of phospho enriched compost (PEC) i.e. control, PEC @ 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 t ha-1 and four levels of zinc i.e. control, Zn @ 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. 
 
Result: The increasing levels of phospho enriched compost and zinc upto 4 t ha-1 and 4 kg ha-1, respectively increased significantly (P=0.05) the number of nodules per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight, seed yield, stover yield, nutrient content (N, K and Zn) and uptake (N, P, K and Zn) in seed and stover of blackgram. Whereas, the application of zinc significantly decreased the phosphorus content in seed and stover as compared to control. However, the combined application of phospho enriched compost @ 6 t ha-1 along with zinc @ 6 kg ha-1 was found to record higher seed and stover yield. The application of phospho enriched compost @ 4 t ha-1 and zinc @ 4 kg ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizer results in significantly higher productivity, nutrient content and uptake of blackgram under Typic Haplustepts soil.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Effect of Phospho Enriched Compost and Zinc on Productivity and Nutrient Uptake of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Sub-humid Southern Hills and Aravalli Region of Rajasthan&nbsp;</div>

Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) represent a critical challenge to food security and economic stability, with losses estimated at 30-50%. This review critically examines the development and application of waste-derived, nutrient-enriched biodegradable coatings as a sustainable and transformative solution to this issue. It analyses the multifaceted postharvest challenges in SSA, including infrastructural gaps, crop diversity and weak market dynamics, which conventional preservation methods fail to address. The article details the principles of biodegradable coatings, highlighting their mechanisms of action as barriers to moisture, gases and microbes and surveys conventional biopolymers like starch, chitosan and alginate. Moving beyond current practices, the review identifies emerging research frontiers tailored for SSA, such as the valorisation of local agro-wastes (e.g., cassava peels, mango kernels), smart responsive coatings, nanostructured biopolymers, nutrient fortification and microbiome-aware design. These innovations position coatings not merely as passive barriers but as active, multifunctional preservation systems. Commodity-specific case studies underscore the potential of these coatings to extend the shelf life of key tropical fruits and vegetables. However, significant barriers to adoption persist, including a scarcity of field trials under real SSA conditions, high costs, low consumer awareness and underdeveloped regulatory frameworks. The review concludes that for biodegradable coatings to achieve their full potential, a systems approach is essential, integrating technological innovation with supportive policies, farmer training, consumer education and digital tools for supply chain management. This holistic strategy can position biodegradable coatings as a cornerstone of sustainable, resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems in SSA. 
&nbsp;

Development of Waste-derived, Nutrient-enriched Biodegradable Coatings for Extending Shelf Life of Tropical Fruits in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Enhancing agricultural productivity is crucial for achieving greater yields and boosting farmers&rsquo; incomes. Chickpeas, prominent pulse crops in India, play a significant role in global agricultural production. Despite their resilience to adverse conditions, optimizing chickpea growth and yield remains a challenge, necessitating integrated nutrient management strategies. 
 
Methods: The two field experiments were carried out consecutively in the same field during the rabi seasons of 2023-24 at the Instructional Farm of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, to study the influence of microbial enriched organic manures and nano-emulsion biofertilizers with inorganic fertilizers on chickpea growth, yield and economics. The study consists of twelve treatments of integrated nutrient management practices in randomized block design with three replications.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Application of 75% RDF along with nano-emulsion biofertilizer applied as seed treatment at 10 ml kg-1 seeds and two foliar sprays at 10 ml l-1 at 30 and 45 DAS proves to be a financially feasible and environmentally sustainable approach for chickpea production.

Influence of Microbial-enriched Organic Manures and Nano-emulsion Biofertilizers Combined with Inorganic Nutrients on the Growth, Yield and Economics of Chickpea Cultivation

<div>Background: A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive Rabi (winter) seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India to assess the impact of wheat varieties and integrated nutrient management practices on nutrient content and uptake and soil nutrient status. The soil of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture, low in organic carbon (0.24%), available nitrogen (159 kg/ha) and Zn (0.41 mg/kg), medium in available phosphorus (38.90 kg/ha) and high in available potash (287 kg/ha). 
 
Methods: Experiment was laid out in a Factorial RBD with three replications, consist of four wheat varieties viz. GW 273, GW 322, GW 451 and GW 496 and six integrated nutrient management (INM) practices viz. control, 100% RDF, 100% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB, 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB, 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + ZnSO4 and 50% RDF + 25% N through FYM + Azotobacter + PSB + ZnSO4.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The pooled results indicated that uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by grain and straw, grain yield and straw yield were found higher with wheat variety GW 451 as compared to other wheat varieties. Nutrient content in grain and straw was not significantly affected by different wheat varieties. Among nutrient management practices, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content, uptake, grain yield and straw of wheat were significantly higher under application of 100% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB. Further, result revealed that different wheat varieties did not bring any significant variation in available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and organic carbon content in soil. Moreover, highest available nitrogen and phosphorus in soil was recorded with the application of 100% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB. However, significantly higher organic carbon and zinc content in soil was observed under 50% RDF + 25% N through FYM + Azotobacter + PSB +ZnSO4.</div>

Effect of Wheat Varieties and Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Nutrient Content, Uptake and Soil Nutrient Status

<div>Background: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of solid-state fermentation (SSF) of cottonseed meal (CSM) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on anti-nutritional factors and amino acid profile.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A finely ground CSM was fermented with baker&rsquo;s yeast for 48 h at room temperature with periodic observations of pH, temperature and moisture. The fermented substrate was partially sun-dried and nutritional values were observed. 
 
Result: After the SSF process on dry basses, the protein content of CSM increased from 8.74% to 12.67%. Besides increasing the nutritional value, the SSF showed a clear significant effect in reducing the anti-nutritional factors content of raw CSM like total gossypol from 0.28% to 0.21%, phytic acid from 3.3% to 0.3% and total tannin from 1.42% to 0.68%. CSM fermented with S. cerevisiae improved concertations of essential amino acids viz., histidine, isoleucine, valine, methionine and phenylalanine. The protein quality evaluation showed a significant increase in its nutritional value. Based on the present result, it can be concluded that the fermentation of CSM with S. cerevisiae decreases the anti-nutritional factors and improves essential nutrients.</div>

Solid-state Fermentation of Cottonseed Meal with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Gossypol Reduction and Nutrient Enrichment

The present investigation reports diversity in contents of &nbsp;cell wall components, nutrients and anti-nutrients in flours of lupin genotypes belonging to 3 species viz. Lupinus albus, Lupinus luteus and Lupinus angustifolius. Lupin genotypes exhibited 96.17&plusmn;0.24-98.36&plusmn;0.16% dry matter, 8.33&plusmn;0.18-30.94&plusmn;1.8 g hundred seed weight, 27&plusmn;1.41-36&plusmn;1.0% neutral detergent fibre, 22.25&plusmn;0.92-29.65&plusmn;1.48% acid detergent fibre, 0.85&plusmn;0.21-3.4&plusmn;0.71% lignins, 21.05&plusmn;2.33-26.90&plusmn;0.85% cellulose, 4.15&plusmn;1.2-10.75&plusmn;0.49% hemi-cellulose, 7.0&plusmn;0.1-10.1&plusmn;0.42% oil, 15.87&plusmn;0.88-30.1&plusmn;2.52% proteins, 9.02&plusmn;0.24-21.69&plusmn;1.33 mg/g sucrose and 29.70&plusmn;1.43-55.49&plusmn;2.25 mg/g starch. The contents of different anti-nutrients were in the range of 0.29&plusmn;0.04-0.52&plusmn;0.07 mg/g phytic acid, 0.85&plusmn;0.17-2.75&plusmn;0.06 mg/g saponins, 0.61&plusmn;0.10-1.34&plusmn;0.05 mg/g tannins, 1.80&plusmn;0.07-3.64&plusmn;0.13 mg/g total phenols and 85.63&plusmn;2.06-182.9&plusmn;17.6 mg/g amylase inhibitor activity. Lectins were absent in all lupin genotypes as well as in chickpea check &lsquo;GPF-2&rsquo;. Carotenoids isochromic red and yellow fractions in lupin genotypes were 0.21&plusmn;0.06-2.22&plusmn;0.31 and 0.71&plusmn;0.15-9.35&plusmn;1.98 mg/g, respectively. The activities of lipoxygenases (LOX) varied from 3.6&plusmn;0.85-10.95&plusmn;1.63 units/g for LOX-I and 3.1&plusmn;0.71-9.8&plusmn;0.1 units/g for LOX-II isozymes. All the lupin genotypes exhibited higher dry matter, acid detergent fibre, cellulose, oil, sucrose, phytic acid content and lower LOX-I and II activities as compared to chickpea check variety &lsquo;GPF-2&rsquo; at 5% level of significance. White lupins, Kiev Mutant and Andromeda were found to be better in nutritional quality as compared to chickpea check and other lupin genotypes studied. 
&nbsp;

Comparison of cell wall constituents, nutrients&nbsp;and anti-nutrients of lupin genotypes

<div>Background: The excessive usage of chemical fertilizers and the negligence on soil health regarding the conservation and use of organic sources of nutrients have not only caused the exhaustion of soil nutrient reserves but also resulted in soil health problems which is not conducive to achieving consistent increase in agricultural production. The beneficial influence of organic matter on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil is well known, the full appreciation of the same remains which is unfortunately ignored in modern agriculture. The regular recycling of organic wastes in the soil is the most efficient method of maintaining optimum nutrient reserves of soil and nutrient uptake by the plant. The Present Study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient status of soil under integrated usage of organic and inorganic sources. 
 
Methods: A field experiment entitled &ldquo;Nutrient Management Interventions in Rice-Ragi Sequence&rdquo; was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 on sandy loam soil of the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. The seven treatments consisted of T1: 100% RDF (100-60-40 kg N-P-K ha-1); T2: 100% RDF + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T3: 125% RDF+Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T4: 75% RDF + Poultrymanure&nbsp; @ 0.82 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 50 kg ha-1; T5: 75% RDF + FYM @ 5.0 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T6:50% RDF + Poultrymanure @ 1.6 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 and T7: 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1. The experiment was laidout in randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated thrice during kharif rice and in rabi each kharif treatment was subdivided into four sub treatments (S1: Nofertilizer, S2: 100% RDF, S3:75% RDF and S4:50% RDF) and hence, The split plot design was adopted in rabi. Total No.of plots per each replication in the rabi was 28 (7x4=28).&nbsp; 
 
Result: Nutrient content and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc have increased significantly with the fertility levels and organics. 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc contents and uptakes in grain and straw of rice. In no till rabi ragi, N, P, K, Zn and calcium content and uptake in grain and straw were found to be significantly superior with 100% RDF (S2) to the rest of the treatments in both the years and in pooled data.</div>

Effect of Nutrient Management Interventions on Nutrient Uptake of Rice-zero Till Ragi under Coastal Lands

<div>Background:&nbsp;Weeds are the major biological constraint in okra due to its slow initial growth and wider row spacing. Due to severe crop weed competition, weeds removed considerable amount of nutrients from the soil. Competition exists between the crop and weed for nutrients results in nutrient deficiencies in crop. Hence the present experiment is formulated to assess the effect of stale seedbed, mulching and mechanical weeding on nutrient availability, nutrient uptake by crop and weed in okra. 
 
Methods: Experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Rabi 2020-21. Design adopted for the study was RBD with two factors. The first factor was seedbed preparation (S) and the second factor was weed management (W). Stale seedbed (S1) and normal seedbed (S2) were the two different seedbed preparation methods and dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb wheel hoe weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb hand weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W3), wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4), hand weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W5) and weedy check (W6) were the six different weed management options tried. Soil samples were collected after the harvest of the crop to determine the nutrient availability. Weed samples at 30 and 60 DAS and plant samples at harvest were analyzed to determine the NPK content and respective uptake of nutrients were calculated by multiplying the nutrient content with DMP. 
 
Result: Stale seedbed significantly enhanced the dry matter production and nutrient uptake by okra at harvest and lowered the nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS. Compared to non-stale, stale seedbed recorded significantly higher fruit yield. Among the weed management, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, recorded the lowest total weed dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS and resulted in the highest NPK uptake by crop and fruit yield. Uncontrolled weed growth resulted in a loss of 81.33, 18.16 and 50.84 kg N:P:K ha-1&nbsp;at 30 DAS and 102.09, 57.90 and 55.31 kg N:P:K ha-1 at 60 DAS, respectively. Nutrient removal by weeds was the lowest in wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and the highest in weedy check. It could be concluded that, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS was the best option for the management of weeds, higher nutrient availability and uptake and yield in okra.</div>

Nutrient Availability and Nutrient Uptake by Crop and Weed as Influenced by Stale Seedbed, Mulching and Mechanical Weeding in Okra

<div>A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2012-13 and 2013-14 to study the influence of sowing window, nutrient dose and foliar spray on yield and nutrient uptake of pigeonpea on sandy loam soil which was low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and available potassium. The experiment was conducted in a split-split plot design, consisting of three sowing windows in main plots, three nutrient doses in sub-plots and two foliar sprays in sub-sub plots. Crop sown during II FN of September produced significantly higher seed and stalk yield, nutrient content and uptake. Application of 30-60-20 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 improved seed yield, stalk yield, nutrient content and uptake of redgram. Higher seed yield, stalk yield and nutrient uptake by the crop was recorded with foliar application of NAA (25 ppm) and DAP (2 per cent) applied at 60 and 80 DAS. Interaction between sowing window and nutrient doses, sowing window and foliar sprays were significant in influencing yield of pigeonpea.&nbsp;</div>

Enriched Charred Rice Husk to Improve the Nutrient Management in Rainfed Groundnut

Effect of Phospho Enriched Compost and Zinc on Productivity and Nutrient Uptake of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Sub-humid Southern Hills and Aravalli Region of Rajasthan