<div style="text-align: justify;">The pot culture experiment for two consecutive years was conducted at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, MPKV, Rahuri to study the influence of various soil amendments on concentrations of heavy metals viz. Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb in berseem fodder crop. The pots were filled with soil irrigated with sewage water for more than thirty five years. The soil was treated with different amendments viz. FYM, gypsum, fly ash and their combinations. All the pots were supplied with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers by maintaining five plants per pot. The experiment was laid out in CRD with eight treatments and three replications. Initial soil properties were pHe 8.38, ECe 4.1 dSm-1, organic carbon 7.6 g kg-1, calcium carbonate 83.8 g kg-1, heavy metals viz. Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were 0.35, 2.60, 2.23, 10.34 mg kg-1, respectively. Total four cuttings of berseem in each year were taken and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations. Two years pooled mean showed that, there was significant effect of different soil amendments on decreasing concentration of cadmium, chromium and lead as compared to control. Pooled mean of both years showed that the combined application of FYM + gypsum + fly ash each @ 10 g kg-1 soil (T8) registered significantly lower concentration of Cd, Cr and Pb in berseem as compared to rest of the treatments, but found at par with treatment (T5) FYM + gypsum each @ 10 g kg-1 soil. The reduction in concentrations of these heavy metals were higher in treatments where FYM was applied either alone or in combination with other amendments followed by gypsum and fly ash. Pooled mean values of two years showed significantly higher crude protein content due to application of FYM + gypsum + fly ash each @10 gkg-1 soil (T8) and at par with treatment T5. Pooled mean of two years showed numerically higher crude fiber&nbsp; due to treatment T8 (application of FYM + gypsum + fly ash each @ 10 g kg-1 soil) followed by T5 (application of FYM + gypsum each @ 10 g kg-1 soil). Significantly higher Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) was recorded in T2 (application of FYM @10 g kg-1 soil) followed by T3 (application of gypsum @ 10 g kg-1 soil) treatment.&nbsp;</div>

​Effects of Application of Soil Amendments on Concentrations of Heavy Metals and Quality of Berseem Grown on Soil Irrigated with Sewage Water

Background: Nutrient availability is impaired by soil acidity limiting its accessibility to plants especially phosphorus get immobilized by Fe3+&nbsp;and Al3+&nbsp;in acid soil, thereby, resulting in poor growth, seed development and yield. Liming is an imperative soil management practices to keep in check the soil acidity-induced fertility constraints, along with integrated use of fertilizers and organic fertilizers. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The experiment consist of four soil amendments levels [SA0&nbsp;(control), SA1&nbsp;(5% LR), SA2&nbsp;(PSB) and SA3&nbsp;(5% LR+PSB)] and four phosphorus levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5&nbsp;ha-1) laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Lime (CaCO3) was applied in furrows 10 days prior to sowing and seed was treated with PSB a day before sowing. Phosphorus levels and the recommended dose of nitrogen and potassium were applied as basal. 
&nbsp; 
Result: SA3 (5% LR+PSB) significantly increased the seed yield by 29.9% and stover yield by 35.7% over control. Among P levels application of 60 kg P2O5&nbsp;ha-1&nbsp;significantly increased the seed and stover yield and was found highest over preceding P levels but was found at par with P40; application of 40 kg P2O5&nbsp;ha-1&nbsp;increased the seed yield by 44.9% and stover yield by 55.9% over control. Interaction effect of soil amendments and phosphorus was significant on seed and stover yieldand nutrient uptake. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) decreased with increase in phosphorus levels while P uptake efficiency (PUPE), fertilizer P uptake efficiency (FPUPE), fertilizer P utilization efficiency (FPUTE) and fertilizer P use efficiency (FPUE) were highest at P40. 
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Nutrient Composition, Uptake, Yield and Phosphorus Use Efficiency of Black Gram as Influenced by Soil Amendments and Phosphorus in Acidic Soil of Nagaland

Background: Predominantly cultivated in the areas where cool weather prevails, French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a nutritionally imperative legume crop grown for its protein rich seeds and green pods. The hilly region of Nagaland is well suited for this crop where it is grown as a kharif as well as a rabi crop. Due to steep slopes and prevailing soil degradation in the region, this study aims to deliver critical analysis on how the incorporation of organic manures may help restore the soil health and productivity so that sustainable agriculture can be achieved. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;Methods: An experiment was conducted to investigate how soil moisture and soil properties are influenced by organic amendments under French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation during the rabi season of 2024 at the research farm of ICAR KVK Peren, Nagaland. Randomized Block Design (RBD) was adopted for the aforesaid experiment with 3 replications and 8 treatments specifically, control (T1), FYM @ 10 t ha-1&nbsp;(T2), poultry litter @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T3), forest litter @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T4), pig manure @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T5), goat manure @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T6), vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T7) and enriched compost @ 2.5 t ha-1&nbsp;(T8). 
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Result: Outcomes of the study revealed that vermicompost (T7) delivered the peak soil moisture at early stages (21.71% and 22.22%) at 15 and 30 DAS, respectively, while forest litter (T4) maintained higher soil moisture at later stages (23.03%-25.06%) at 45 and 60 DAS and 24.11% at 75 DAS. Poultry litter (T3) significantly improved soil chemical and biological properties, recording highest soil pH (5.73), organic carbon (2.01%), available nitrogen (532.82 kg ha-1), available potassium (331.60 kg ha-1), soil microbial biomass carbon (220.02 &micro;g g-1), dehydrogenase activity (4.74 &micro;g TPF g-1&nbsp;soil h-1) and acid phosphatase activity (63.53 &micro;g PNP g-1&nbsp;soil h-1).

Organic Amendments Improve Soil Moisture Retention and Soil Properties under French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivation&nbsp;

Background: Different levels of nutrient management practice and soil amendments charred rice husk with Arbuscular mycorrhizae during the critical stages of the crop growth enhances the productivity of the groundnut crop.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiments were conducted summer, kharif and rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-2018 at AC and RI, TNAU, Madurai. The main plots consisted of three levels of irrigation scheduling viz., I1- 0.8 IW/CPE, I2- 0.6 IW/CPE and I3- 0.6 IW/CPE ratio and sub plot comprised of four level of nutrient management practices viz., N1-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N2- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N3-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza and N4- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment Arbuscular mycorrhiza. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the highest plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index, leaf single photon avalanche diode value, pod yield and haulm yield, nutrient uptake (N,P,K) of groundnut crop and soil enzyme activities in soil was registered with the application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza. The highest pod and haulm yield of 1783, 1935 and 1854 kg ha-1 and 4743, 4272 and 4338 kg ha-1 during summer, kharif and rabi&rsquo; 2017 seasons respectively of groundnut was registered with 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza.&nbsp;

Soil Application of Different Nutrient Levels with Soil Amendment Charred Rice Husk and Seed Treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhizae: Effects on Crop Productivity and Nutrient Uptake on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background: Pigeon pea is an important legume worldwide that is not cultivated by the farmers in Ndokwa, Delta State. Hence, the study looked at the possibility of evaluating the potential of pigeon pea in Ogume, a community in Ndokwa.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Top soils were collected from a fallowed land mixed thoroughly and filled into 4 kg bags and were divided into 3. The 1st was amended with poultry manure, 2nd&nbsp;was NPK 15:15:15 amended and 3rd was without amendment, tested with two varieties of Cajanus cajan. The experiment was a 2 by 3 factorial, in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Residual effects of the amendments were evaluated in 2020. Soil samples were taken to establish the fertility status before amendment and at harvest. Data were taken on the agronomic and yield parameters and were analyzed using ANOVA while means were separated using LSD at P&le;0.05.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Result obtained showed that the tallest plants (9.83&plusmn;0.51) were observed in the poultry manure in 2019 while the fallowed plots had the tallest plants (11.17&plusmn;0.49) in 2020, while in both years, the number of pods and dry pod weight was insignificant among the treatments and varieties. This shows that farmers do not need to spend much finance in amending the soil for pigeon pea cultivation in Ndokwa community, Delta State.

Performance of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Varieties under Different Soil Amendments in Ndokwa, Delta State, Nigeria

<div>Background: Gypsum and organic amendments are potential ameliorants for reclamation of saline and/or sodic soil conditions to improve crop productivity and soil fertility. Application of gypsum at higher dose (&gt;1 t ha-1) with organic amendments such as FYM, crop residue on soybean crop is largely unknown for salt affected soils. Impact of these soil amendments on soybean chlorophyll pigments, symbiotic traits, nutrient uptake, nutrient harvest index, carbohydrate equivalent yield, crop productivity and economic returns is not being addressed properly. This is particularly true for oilseed crop grown under saline conditions. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted for two years (2017 and 2018) to assess the impact of amendments like gypsum, crop residue (CR), farm yard manure (FYM) with recommended dose of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (RNPK) fertilizer dose on soybean crop in degraded vertisol with eight treatments and three replications laid in randomized block design. 
 
Result: Results revealed that among treatments, phenological traits such as total chlorophyll (1.561 and 1.593mg g-1), carotenoid (0.156 and 0.154 mg g-1) at 30DAS (days after sowing), nodulation traits (33.6 and 32.4 nodules plant-1) and dry matter accumulation (26.2 and 23.9 g plant-1 at harvest) improved significantly in RNPK+Gypsum+CR+FYM and RNPK+Gypsum+FYM treatments respectively. Combined application of fertilizers with organic and gypsum amendments increased soybean yield by the magnitude of 49-53% compared to only fertilizer applied treatments. Higher biological yield (4169-4339 kg ha-1), carbohydrate equivalent yield (258.8-266.5 kg ha-1) and nutrient uptake (118: 8:47:11 -140: 9: 57: 12 kg ha-1N:P:K:S) were observed in RNPK+Gypsum+CR&plusmn;FYM treatments. Economic analysis showed higher net returns and benefit-cost ratio in RNPK+Gypsum+CR (Rs 15247 and 1.48) and RNPK+Gypsum (Rs 14499 and 1.59) treatments.&nbsp;</div>

Photosynthetic Pigments, Symbiotic Traits, Yield Attributes and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean Crop as Influenced by Soil Amendments on Degraded Vertisol of Chambal Tablelands

<div style="text-align: justify;">An incubation study was conducted to determine the influence of biochar and corn straw on CO2-C emission, soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N, and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) in a clay loam soil. Six treatments viz., CK (Control); S (Soil + 1% straw); B1 (Soil + 0.5% biochar); B2 (Soil + 2% biochar); SB1 (Soil + 1% straw + 0.5% biochar); SB2 (Soil + 1% straw + 2% biochar) were tested with three replications. Results showed that straw addition to soil with or without biochar increased CO2-C emission while sole-biochar addition (2%) reduced it. Straw and biochar also increased the soil microbial biomass C and N but greatest increase in microbial biomass N (111.9 &micro;g g-1) was recorded by biochar-straw combination. SOC and total N significantly increased following biochar and straw additions which suggest that organic amendments can improve soil chemical properties. Additionally, for soil mineral N, biochar reduced NH4+-N and NO3--N concentrations while straw increased NH4+-N concentration but greatly reduced &nbsp;that of NO3--N.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Dynamics of C and N in a clay loam soil amended with biochar and corn straw</div>

Background: Calcareous soils, covering 1.5 billion acres globally, which is around 17% of the country&rsquo;s geographical area of which India is having about 229 million hectares. Excessive NaCO3&nbsp;and CaCO3&nbsp;levels form water-impermeable caliche layers which limits mineralization and water retention in soil causes phosphorous fixation and ammonia volatilization. Under these condition plant experiences the iron chlorosis, poor germination and micro nutrient deficiencies. Synthetic fertilisers are avoided in calcareous soil due to nitrogen loss via volatilization and phosphorous fixation into insoluble form. To overcome these constraints addition of organic amendments along with chelated micronutrients are crucial for enhancing soil properties, nutrient uptake and crop productivity under calcareous condition. 
 
Methods: In this context a field experiment was conducted at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore during rabi 2023-24 to study the effect of organic amendments and foliar nutrition under calcareous soil condition. The experiment was laid out in Factorial randomised block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of different organic amendments as a soil application and chelated micronutrient as a foliar application. 
 
Result: Results indicated that the application of Pongamia seed cake @ 1.46 t ha-1+100 % RDF + Fe-EDTA 0.2% @ 30 and 45 DAS significantly improved growth characteristics viz plant height and DMP and the physiological parameters viz, SPAD value, CGR with higher grain yield (2891 kg ha-1), straw yield (5752 kg ha-1), biological yield (8643 kg ha-1) with higher B:C ratio. The same treatment combination recorded higher crop nutrient uptake and soil available nutrients with maximum NUE.

Integrating Organic Amendments with Chelated Micronutrients for Improving Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) Productivity under Calcareous Soil Condition

Background: Pea (Pisum sativum L.) an important rabi season legume crop from the fabaceae family is cultivated in over 95 countries for both fresh and processed forms. It contains about 20-25% protein and ranks as the fourth most significant grain legume and is considered as one of the major green vegetables globally. Pea is native to the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe and Western Asia. Peas are a versatile and resilient crop that thrives in various agricultural systems, adapting to different soil types and temperatures. Peas offer a sustainable solution for farmers aiming to balance environmental care with productivity. 
 
Methods: An experiment entitled &ldquo;Effect of surface soil removal and organic amendments on growth, yield and nutrient content and uptake of pea (Pisum sativum L.)&rdquo; was conducted during the rabi season of 2023 at the experimental field of the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema campus. The study was conducted using a split-plot design. Surface soil removal was applied at the depths of 0, 5 and 10 cm designated as D0, D1&nbsp;and D2, respectively and various organic amendments were added including control (O0), FYM @ 5 t ha-1 (O1), vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 (O2) and poultry litter @ 2.5 t ha-1 (O3). 
 
Result: The results of the experiment showed that the surface soil removal of 5 cm (D1) and 10 cm (D3) underperformed considerably as compared to 0 cm (D1) in all aspects of growth, yield and N, P and K content and uptake. Additionally, the interaction between surface soil removal and organic amendments revealed that D0O1&nbsp;i.e. 0 cm soil removal combined with FYM @ 5 t ha-1&nbsp;performed significantly better than most of the interaction. 
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Effect of Surface Soil Removal and Organic Amendments on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content and Uptake of&nbsp; Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

<div>Background: Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of chemical fertilizers and N-rich-organic amendments using natural mineralization inhibitors, like neem extract, was recommended to minimize nitrogen (N) loss. This study hence aimed to evaluate the effects of combined uses of neem seed extract with cricket feces on soil N mineralization and plant NUE. 
 
Methods: The treatment combinations included i) amending materials involving unamended (Un), chemical fertilizer at a recommended rate of 312.5 kg N ha-1, 100 kg P ha-1 and 100 kg K ha-1 (CF) and three rates of cricket feces (CrF) [3.125 (CrFlow), 6.25 (CrFmedium) and 12.5 (CrFhigh) Mg ha-1], ii) in combination without (-Nm) and with (+Nm) neem seed extract. Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) was employed to assay the plant&rsquo;s NUE. 
 
Result: Neem seed extract inhibited the N mineralization under the Un (74%) and CF (84%) treatments, but not in any of the CrF treatments (-102%, -99% and -2% for CrFlow, CrFmedium and CrFhigh, respectively. In addition, the neem extract significantly decreased NUE parameters, including N recovery efficiency and agronomy NUE, only in CF treatment. Neem seed extract could only function as an N inhibitor in unamended and chemically fertilized soils.</div>

Effects of Application of Soil Amendments on Concentrations of Heavy Metals and Quality of Berseem Grown on Soil Irrigated with Sewage Water

Nutrient Composition, Uptake, Yield and Phosphorus Use Efficiency of Black Gram as Influenced by Soil Amendments and Phosphorus in Acidic Soil of Nagaland

Organic Amendments Improve Soil Moisture Retention and Soil Properties under French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivation

Soil Application of Different Nutrient Levels with Soil Amendment Charred Rice Husk and Seed Treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhizae: Effects on Crop Productivity and Nutrient Uptake on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Performance of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Varieties under Different Soil Amendments in Ndokwa, Delta State, Nigeria

Photosynthetic Pigments, Symbiotic Traits, Yield Attributes and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean Crop as Influenced by Soil Amendments on Degraded Vertisol of Chambal Tablelands

Dynamics of C and N in a clay loam soil amended with biochar and corn straw

Integrating Organic Amendments with Chelated Micronutrients for Improving Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) Productivity under Calcareous Soil Condition

Effect of Surface Soil Removal and Organic Amendments on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content and Uptake of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Inhibitory Effect of Neem Seed Extract on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization under Chemical and Organic Amendments