Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 8

Growth and Yield Response of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to Vermicompost Enriched with Biofertilizers, Bioagents and Micronutrients

Sarika Donga — 2026-04-24

Background: In recent years, there has been growing global concern over the excessive use of inorganic fertilisers and chemicals, which contribute to environmental pollution and pest outbreaks. Vermicompost is the best organic carrier for microbial cultures; hence, it can be enriched with N-fixing microorganisms, phosphate-solubilising microorganisms, K-solubilising/mobilising microorganisms, cellulolytic/waste-decomposing microorganisms, various microbial bioagents, and micronutrients to prepare a single product and enhance the manurial and biological value of the vermicompost.

Aim: The aim of this chapter is to study the response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to vermicompost enriched with biofertilizers, bioagents and micronutrients.

Methodology: A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, during the kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications, comprising ten treatments ranging from control to combinations of vermicompost (2 t/ha), biofertilizers, bioagents, and micronutrients. Five plants were selected randomly from each net experimental plot and tagged. Growth parameters, viz., plant height, number of branches, Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) meter reading and number of root nodules, and yield attributes viz., number of mature pods per plant and pods weight per plant were recorded from the tagged plants and their average was considered for the final record. Pod yield and haulm yield were recorded from the net plot size of each experiment plot and converted into hectare base. Shelling percentage was counted on the basis of a 150 g pod sample taken randomly from net plot produce.

Results: The results indicated that the highest plant height (35.64 cm), number of branches per plant (8.11), number of root nodules per plant (154.5) at 45 days after sowing (DAS), dry weight of root nodules per plant at 45 DAS (0.982 g), SPAD meter reading at 45 DAS (39.09), number of mature pods per plant (18.40), pod weight per plant (15.37 g), 100-kernel weight (44.08 g) and shelling percentage (73.16%) with the highest pod yield (2.305 t/ha) and haulm yield (3.889 t/ha) were achieved by application of Vermicompost 2 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Rhizobium + Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria + Potash Solubilizing Bacteria each 2 L/ha) + Trichoderma harzianum 3 kg/ha + Pseudomonas fluorescens 3 L/ha + Beauveria bassiana 3 kg/ha + Micronutrients (Fe + Zn + Cu + Mn) Grade-V at 40 kg/ha, which is considered the more effective application among all treatments improves growth, pod and haulm yield of groundnut under clay soil conditions.

Conclusion: Application of enriched vermicompost significantly improves growth, yield, and soil fertility of kharif groundnut in calcareous clayey soils of the South Saurashtra Agroclimatic Zone. This integrated approach offers a sustainable strategy for enhancing productivity and microbial activity.

A Conceptual Framework for Social Media Communication in Digital Agricultural Extension

P. M. Nkoana — 2026-04-24

Background: The post-pandemic era has accelerated the adoption of social media as a primary communication tool across multiple service sectors, including agricultural extension.

Aim: This chapter develops a conceptual social media communication model for digital agricultural extension, grounded in communication theory, user behaviour, and digital transformation in rural advisory systems. The chapter argues that traditional linear extension communication approaches are increasingly inadequate in digitally mediated environments characterised by interactivity, real-time engagement, and user-centred information exchange.

Methodology: The study is based on a review and synthesis of communication theory, participatory communication, and user behaviour literature. Drawing on these theoretical perspectives, the chapter conceptualises extension officers and farmers as active co-creators of knowledge within a social media-driven communication ecosystem.

Results: The proposed framework integrates key communication components, namely source, message, channel, receiver, and feedback, within a circular and interactive structure that reflects contemporary online communication behaviour. The chapter further examines post-pandemic shifts in digital user behaviour, platform accessibility, communication efficiency, and structural constraints affecting social media use in agricultural advisory services.

Conclusion: The framework is intended to support researchers, extension practitioners, policymakers, and agricultural institutions in strengthening digital advisory systems. Although conceptual in nature and not empirically validated, it provides a foundation for future research and practical application.

Influence of Biofertilizer (N-Fixing Bacteria) and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Physiological Traits and Yield of Wheat

Abdelshakoor Haroon Suliman — 2026-04-24

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most widely cultivated crops globally. Wheat productivity can be significantly enhanced through integrated nutrient management involving biofertilizers, organic manures, and chemical fertilisers. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphate-solubilising biofertilizers improve growth, physiological traits, and yield components, with positive correlations observed between grain yield, leaf area, tiller number, and biomass, highlighting their critical role in sustainable wheat production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biofertilizer (nitrogen-fixing bacteria) in combination with nitrogen fertiliser on the physiological traits and yield performance of wheat. A multi-location experiment was carried out over two consecutive winter seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) across three regions of the New Halfa scheme to evaluate the effects of biofertilizers—specifically nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphorus-solubilising bacteria—combined with nitrogen and phosphorus supplementation via chicken manure on the growth and performance of wheat plants. Ten plants were randomly selected per plot, and physiological parameters such as shoot dry weight (DWT), leaf area (LA), and leaf area duration (LAD) were measured. Yield attributes, including spike length, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield (kg ha⁻¹), were recorded. Correlation analysis was performed using mean values of the measured parameters, and statistical analysis was conducted using Statistix 10, appropriate for a randomised complete block design (RCBD). The results revealed that, addition of amended N or P to bio fertilizer causes significant positive correlation between the grain yield of wheat with physiological traits such as leaf area duration (LAD, r = 0.45), net assimilation rate (NAR, r = 0.21), crop growth rate (CGR), and yield components including shoot dry weight (DWT, r = 0.34), grains per spike (r = 0.13), 1000-grain weight (r = 0.77), spike grain weight (r = 0.61), and harvest index, while LAD also showed strong correlations with DWT (r = 0.70) and NAR (r = 0.16), indicating their critical contribution to yield formation. These findings indicate that the measured traits substantially contribute to the final yield. The study concludes that the combined application of biofertilizer with nitrogen substantially improves wheat growth and yield by enhancing carbohydrate synthesis and the uptake of essential nutrients.

A Review of Genetic and Biotechnological Approaches for Sustainable Aquaculture Development

Arun S. Ninawe — 2026-04-24

With the advancements in sequencing technology and bioinformatics, it is exciting to investigate the function and importance of different types of molecules, such as circular RNAs, which govern numerous biological functions. India is the leading country in the promotion of biosciences, accelerating the pace of development in biotechnology in broad areas of agriculture, health care, animal sciences and environment. Worldwide, in food production, enormous challenges exist in agriculture and allied sciences to meet the growing demand for food for around 9 billion world’s population. This review highlights modern genetic and biotechnological approaches in sustainable aquaculture. Extensive reviews were made to understand fish biotechnology and aquatic sciences research practised in India and various parts of the country globally known. Fish biotechnology applications in genetic modification leading to productivity, marketability and customer acceptability. The deficit in world food production can be met with alternative food resources to feed the billion mouths. While considering aquatic resources, the cultivated seafood production system emerged as an alternative source of smart protein in the food production system, with quality fish production. Considering the advancements in aquatic food production system genetic application in fisheries and aquaculture, India plays a vital role in the blue revolution mission. The success has been achieved in the fish breeding programme by selecting healthy and genetically superior broodstocks based on desirable traits such as growth rate, disease resistance, and fecundity. The induced breeding with the use of hormones or other techniques leads to breeding the fish successfully. The success of gene transfer improved the economically important species, helping in producing fast-growing individuals with the introduction of foreign growth hormone genes in modiﬁed fish. The work on chromosome manipulation and gene transfer research witnessed big success in tissue culture system and production of new genetic material. Promotion of fish research on aquatic organisms is likely to switch over to the commercial production of more valuable species. In the improvement of fish, the use of synthetic hormones in fish breeding, production of monosex, uniparental and polyploidy individuals used to produce triploids, tetraploids, haploids, gynogenic and androgenic using molecular biology and fish transgenics. The genetic engineering techniques lead to transgenic fish with high productivity and profitability. India is making accelerated developments in aquaculture and sustainability improvement. The biotechnological interventions empower aquaculture stakeholders to accelerate genetic progress, optimise production traits, and ensure long-term sustainability. Ultimately, the integration of genetic engineering and molecular biology in aquaculture enhances production efficiency, strengthens husbandry practices, and improves the overall performance of cultured species.

Soil–Climate Interactions and Productivity in Millet Cultivation in India: A Review

Ahmed Muneeb — 2026-04-24

Millets are small-grained cereals that serve as staples in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. In India, millets, including major types such as sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet, as well as a diverse set of small millets, are increasingly recognised as strategic crops for nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient agriculture. Yet, despite their ecological hardiness and cultural embeddedness, millet productivity remains constrained by interacting soil limitations, rainfall variability, suboptimal agronomy, and uneven access to improved cultivars and markets. This review synthesises contemporary evidence on the soil, climate and productivity dimensions of millet cultivation in India, with emphasis on rainfed agro-ecosystems where millets predominate. A focused literature search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar. Across regions, millet performance is shaped by inherently low soil organic carbon, widespread macro- and micronutrient deficiencies, and degraded physical structure in marginal lands, often intensified by limited organic inputs and low fertiliser use. Climatic exposure—particularly erratic monsoon onset, extended dry spells, and episodic heat stress—drives large year-to-year yield variability and reinforces risk-averse management. Advances in integrated nutrient management, land and water conservation, and targeted breeding for drought and heat adaptation have demonstrated potential to raise yields while sustaining soil health. This review highlights emerging system approaches, including millet-based agroforestry and diversified rotations, which align livelihood goals with soil restoration and climate adaptation. Genetic improvements have delivered important gains, but the effectiveness of improved cultivars depends on precise targeting to local soil–rainfall environments and adoption of feasible management practices. Sustainable scaling of millets will therefore require coordinated advances across agronomy, soil health strategies, breeding, and enabling institutions that create reliable market incentives. Finally, policy and institutional developments supporting millet revival are assessed in relation to on-farm constraints, value-chain barriers and evidence needs for equitable scaling. Future research should focus on improving soil health, climate adaptation, nutrient management, and cultivar development, alongside strengthening agroforestry systems and policy support to enhance sustainable millet productivity in India.

Development of an Agricultural Training Model for Smallholder Farmers and Extension Agents in Rice Post-harvest Value Addition in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone

Philip Jimia Kamanda — 2026-04-24

Assessment of the rice post-harvest value addition resources for extension agents revealed that the majority of the resources were insufficient. Human resources, equipment, and supplies for adding value to rice, services, and buildings are some of these resources. The majority of smallholder farmers are impoverished and have low social standing in their communities; hence, the best way to define them is as peasant farmers, according to the overall findings. The privilege of family ownership over lands is one of the farmers' distinctively peasant traits. A study was conducted to develop an agricultural training model for smallholder farmers and extension agents (farming actors) in rice post-harvest value addition in the Southern region of Sierra Leone. The study sought to identify the training needs and competencies of the farming actors in rice post-harvest value addition with a vision to identify their required training contents. Three ethical issues that guided the conduct of the study include informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality since the study dealt with human participants. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 400 smallholder farmers from 157,114 households by the use of Yamane's formula. A census of 50 extension agents operating in the region was also done. The training model development was aided by undertaking a training needs assessment. The model is largely a synthesis of the study objectives of the rice post-harvest value addition study. The assessment revealed that farming actors have limited resources, low value addition competencies, imperfect market situations, inadequate extension services, low profit margins, low livelihoods, peasant farming, and low motivation for extension agents. The extension agents have the greatest need for training in the usage of the coned heap style to pack paddy after harvest and heaping for no longer than a day before threshing, which are among the least priority training needs. Last but not least, the extension agents require thorough training in the use of a threshing machine as well as the use of feet to thresh paddy on concrete or drying floors.

The study further reveals low competency levels for the farming actors. The key expressed training needs of the farming actors include milling, packaging and marketing, and storage of rice, whilst the majority of the respondents preferred group training methods in rice post-harvest value addition. For effective training, the study further shows that training support, such as subject matter specialists, input suppliers, service providers, and infrastructure, among others, is to be provided. The study also provided a dynamic extension model as an alternative option to the generic training model type since farming situations are constantly changing. This dynamic model ensures that as the context issues change, there is a need for the farming actors to respond to those changes. It is therefore recommended that regular needs assessment, provision of support services, and monitoring of farming actors be done for full utilisation of the proposed model. The extension training model for smallholder farmers and extension agents in rice post-harvest value addition in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone developed a context-specific training model to be adopted by the agricultural extension system of Sierra Leone.

Women's Empowerment: A Paradigm Shift from Family Labour to Decision Makers in Agriculture

A. A. Mohod — 2026-04-24

The increasing participation of women in agriculture, widely described as the “feminisation of agriculture,” has reshaped rural production systems across many developing regions. However, women’s substantial labour contribution has not consistently translated into decision-making authority over land, inputs, income, and technology. Understanding whether strengthening women’s agency improves agricultural and nutritional outcomes is therefore critical for sustainable food systems. The analysis is guided by the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) and agency-based frameworks, focusing on five domains: production decisions, resource ownership, income control, leadership, and time allocation. Evidence from the studies shows a consistent positive relationship between women’s decision-making power and agricultural performance. Closing gender gaps in access to productive resources is associated with yield increases of 20–30% on women-managed plots, improved technical efficiency, and greater crop diversification. Women’s empowerment in production and income decisions is also linked to higher dietary diversity and improved child nutrition outcomes. However, persistent barriers, including insecure land tenure, extension bias, time poverty, and restrictive social norms, continue to limit these benefits. In many regions, the feminisation of agriculture driven by male out-migration results in increased responsibility without corresponding authority. Empowering women as agricultural decision-makers is therefore both a gender equity priority and an economic strategy for improving productivity, nutritional security, and rural resilience. Gender-transformative institutional reforms are essential to convert women’s labour participation into effective managerial agency.

Integrated Microcontroller-Based Control Systems for Precision Seed Metering Applications

G. Sindhuja — 2026-04-24

Uniform seed placement is essential for improving crop establishment and yield; however, conventional seed metering systems often suffer from slippage and poor synchronisation. In this study, a microcontroller-based Electronic Control Unit (ECU) was developed and integrated with a roto-planter to achieve precise control of seed metering using a PWM-controlled DC motor. The system was evaluated under laboratory conditions using a sticky belt test setup at forward speeds of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 km h⁻¹ with delay times of 0–3 s, followed by field testing at 2.0 km h⁻¹ using a paddy crop. Laboratory evaluation showed that seed spacing increased with delay time, and optimal performance was achieved at 3 s delay with zero missing index, zero multiple index and 100% quality of feed index. Field evaluation resulted in an average seed spacing of 19.50 ± 0.5 cm, closely matching the recommended 20 cm spacing for paddy. The developed system effectively improved seed spacing uniformity and eliminated mechanical transmission limitations, demonstrating its suitability for precision planting applications.

Rice Bran Autotoxicity: Impacts on Seed Germination, Growth and Yield Components in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Nanik Setyowati — 2026-04-24

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the principal food crop in Asia, feeding over half of the world’s population. Its production, however, is constrained not only by biotic and abiotic stresses but also by the plant’s own allelochemical activity. Rice residues and by-products, especially rice bran, contain secondary metabolites that may cause autotoxic effects, potentially inhibiting the germination, growth, and yield of rice. Rice bran, derived from the outer layers of the grain during milling, is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. It contains lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that contribute to both its functional value and its role in agricultural systems. This chapter examines the phenomenon of rice bran autotoxicity by synthesising experimental findings from greenhouse and laboratory studies and situating them within broader allelopathic research. The study employed laboratory germination assays and greenhouse experiments using a Completely Randomised Design with five replications and five extract concentrations (0–10%). Results indicated that aqueous rice bran extracts significantly reduced normal seedling germination, retarded radicle and plumule elongation, and diminished yield components such as panicle length, tiller number, and grain weight. The concentration threshold for severe autotoxicity lies between 5–10%, with IC₅₀ values for abnormal seedlings observed around 4.7%. Mechanistically, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and diterpenoids (momilactones) disrupt enzymatic activity, hormone regulation, and cellular redox balance. While these effects threaten crop establishment and yield when bran residues are mismanaged, they also suggest opportunities for eco-friendly weed control. Practical management strategies—such as composting, biochar conversion, and controlled application—can mitigate negative impacts while harnessing rice bran’s allelopathic potential. These findings highlight the importance of residue management in rice-based cropping systems where accumulation of allelopathic compounds may influence crop establishment.

Farm Mechanisation and Its Implications for Land Tenure Systems in Nigeria

Buba B. Shani — 2026-04-24

The increasing adoption of farm mechanisation in Nigeria, particularly tractorization, is reshaping agricultural production systems while generating complex socio-economic and institutional challenges. This study examines the interaction between mechanisation and land tenure systems, focusing on risks to land access, labour dynamics, and rural livelihoods. Using a qualitative narrative review of academic literature, policy documents, and institutional reports, the chapter analyses (i) the structure of land tenure systems in Nigeria, (ii) the status and drivers of agricultural mechanisation, and (iii) the socio-economic and political implications arising from their interaction. The findings indicate that while mechanisation enhances productivity and timeliness of operations, it contributes to land consolidation pressures, labour displacement, gender inequalities, and the marginalisation of smallholder farmers operating under customary tenure systems. The study concludes that without coordinated policy interventions, mechanisation may exacerbate inequality in land access and rural livelihoods. It recommends a gradual and regulated mechanisation strategy, reform of land tenure policies to integrate informal systems, and the promotion of alternative rural employment opportunities to ensure inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation.