Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 9

Influence of Plant Spacing and Seedling Age on Growth, Flower Yield, and Quality of Statice (Limonium sinuatum L.) under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Prayagraj, India

2026-05-29T11:31:44+00:00

Statice (Limonium sinuatum L.) is an important ornamental crop widely valued for its attractive flowers. However, its growth, flower yield, and quality are greatly influenced by agronomic practices such as plant spacing and seedling age, which regulate resource utilisation and physiological efficiency under specific agro-climatic conditions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different seedling ages and plant spacing on the growth, flower yield, and quality of statice under Prayagraj agro-climatic conditions. The study was carried out at the experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), India during the Rabi season 2021-2022. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with 8 treatments, which were replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of four seedling ages: T1 (25 days), T2 (30 days), T3 (35 days), and T4 (40 days), and two plant spacings: S1 (45 × 60 cm) and S2 (30 × 45 cm), resulting in eight treatment combinations. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. In growth parameters, T₇(40-day seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm) recorded the significantly highest number of leaves (80.49), leaf length (32.20 cm), and plant spread (45.65 cm²). Whereas, plant height was recorded significantly highest (84.80 cm) in T₆ (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In photosynthetic characteristics, the maximum leaf area (66.09 cm²), leaf weight (24.94 gm), and chlorophyll content (97.90 SPAD UNITS) was recorded in T₇ (40 days seedlings + spacing 45×60 cm). In flowering parameters, the minimum number of days for flower stalk initiation (47.28 days) and flower duration (45.72 days) was recorded significantly in T₇(40 days seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm), whereas the length of flower stalk was recorded significantly highest (80.07) in T₆(35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). The maximum yield with superior quality of flower stalks/plot was obtained significantly highest (80.22) in T₆(35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In post-harvest parameters, the vase life of statice flowers placed in water recorded maximum (8.69 days) in T₆(35 days seedlings + spacing 30x45 cm), whereas vase life of statice flowers placed in 2% sucrose (14.35 days) and shelf life (63.33 days) of flower was recorded maximum in T₇(40 days seedlings + spacing of 45x60 cm). The study revealed that both seedling age and plant spacing significantly affect the growth, yield, and quality of statice. Transplanting 35-day-old seedlings at a spacing of 30 × 45 cm is most suitable for achieving higher yield and better quality flower stalks, while 40-day-old seedlings at wider spacing (45 × 60 cm) are recommended for improved vegetative growth and post-harvest longevity.

Microplastic-Induced Perturbations in Agro-Pedospheric Microbial Networks and Crop Homeodynamics

2026-05-29T11:36:32+00:00

Microplastic (MP) contamination in agricultural soils has emerged as a pervasive environmental challenge, driven by extensive plastic production and inadequate waste management practices. Since the mid-twentieth century, global plastic output has exceeded 8,000 million tonnes, a substantial fraction of which has fragmented into microplastics (<5 mm), enabling their widespread distribution across agroecosystems. This chapter critically examines the sources, environmental pathways, and mechanistic impacts of MPs within the agro-pedospheric system, with particular emphasis on soil structure, microbial dynamics, and crop productivity. Microplastics enter agricultural soils through diverse anthropogenic routes, including plastic mulch degradation, biosolid application, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and organic amendments. Once incorporated, MPs induce multifaceted alterations in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Structural disruptions include reductions in bulk density, porosity, and aggregate stability, which collectively impair water retention and nutrient cycling processes. At the biological level, MP exposure alters soil microbial community composition, reduces microbial biomass and enzymatic activity, and disrupts key functions such as nitrogen fixation and carbon mineralisation. These changes adversely affect plant growth by inhibiting seed germination, root development, nutrient acquisition, and overall crop performance, thereby posing a significant risk to agricultural sustainability and food security. The chapter further evaluates emerging remediation strategies, including biochar application, microbial bioaugmentation, phytoremediation, and the adoption of biodegradable lignocellulosic bioplastics as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. While these approaches demonstrate promising potential, their large-scale applicability and long-term effectiveness require further validation under field conditions. Overall, this chapter provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge, identifies critical research gaps, and highlights the need for integrated management strategies and policy interventions to mitigate microplastic pollution and ensure resilient agroecosystems.

Problems and Prospects of Vegetable Production Improvement in India: A Review

2026-05-29T11:41:37+00:00

The global imperative to increase food production in a sustainable manner, with the objective of feeding a growing population without compromising the planetary systems upon which agriculture depends, is particularly urgent in the context of vegetable crop production. India is the world's second-largest producer of vegetables, yet persistent structural, agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic challenges constrain the sector's potential to ensure nutritional security and rural livelihoods at the scale that both the nation's population and its agricultural heritage demand. This review examines the principal problems confronting vegetable production in India—including degraded soil health, water scarcity, excessive agrochemical dependency, severe post-harvest losses, climate vulnerability, seed system deficiencies, and fragmented market linkages—alongside the most promising emerging prospects for sectoral transformation. This narrative approach was adopted because the breadth of the subject matter—spanning agronomy, ecology, economics, public health, and institutional policy—precludes the construction of a single, replicable search string capable of capturing the full range of relevant evidence within a unified quantitative synthesis framework. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2026 and authoritative institutional data, the review synthesises evidence on technological interventions encompassing precision agriculture, protected cultivation, integrated pest management, genomics-assisted breeding, sustainable production systems, and digital value chain development. The analysis reveals that while production volumes have expanded substantially over the past two decades, yield gaps remain wide relative to global benchmarks, and the environmental and nutritional dimensions of vegetable farming are inadequately addressed by current policy frameworks. Sustainable intensification, inclusive market development, climate-adaptive variety improvement, and targeted public investment in research, extension, and post-harvest infrastructure are identified as the most consequential pathways toward a resilient, productive, and nutrition-sensitive vegetable sector. The article concludes by delineating priority areas for future research and calls for coherent policy integration across agricultural, nutritional, and environmental governance domains.

A Comparative Study of the Agronomic Performance of Local and Improved Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench) Varieties Introduced into the Korhogo Agroclimatic Zone, Northern Côte d’Ivoire

2026-05-29T11:44:21+00:00

Sorghum production in northern Côte d’Ivoire is increasingly constrained by biotic factors (diseases, weeds, and birds), abiotic stresses (poor soils and prolonged drought), and climate variability, highlighting the need for high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties. This study aims to evaluate the agronomic performance of introduced improved sorghum varieties and local cultivars in the Korhogo agroclimatic zone in northern Côte d’Ivoire, in a context of climate variability. To this end, four local cultivars selected on the basis of seed colour and size, as well as three improved varieties from Senegal, were studied in a completely randomised block design with three replicates. Agronomic and phenological traits, including plant growth, flowering, maturity, and yield components, were measured throughout the cropping cycle. The results reveal that there is agromorphological diversity within the varieties studied. Ascending hierarchical classification (AHC) identified three groups of varieties. Multiple analysis of variance showed a significant difference between these three groups. Group 1 consisted of the introduced improved varieties (V1, V2 and V3), which yielded the highest yields (1.56 t/ha) with a shorter average growing season of 105.66 days. Group 2 comprised three local cultivars (V5, V7 and V4), which were characterised by a long average growing season (134.44 days), tall plants (266.20 cm) and a low yield (0.34 t/ha). Group 3, meanwhile, consisted of a single local cultivar (V6) which had a long average cycle duration (144.66 days), a high number of leaves (13.83 leaves) and zero yield. This study clearly demonstrates that the improved short-cycle varieties introduced performed better under the agro-climatic conditions of the study area and could help to increase sorghum production there. Varieties from the other groups could serve as elite parents in a breeding and development programme aimed at creating varieties that meet the needs of farmers.

Advances in Digital Agriculture and Remote Sensing for Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: A Comprehensive Review

2026-05-30T12:02:32+00:00

Drought is among the most pervasive and economically devastating natural disasters affecting agricultural productivity, food security, and ecosystem stability worldwide. The convergence of digital agriculture and remote sensing technologies has fundamentally transformed the capacity of scientists, policymakers, and land managers to detect, monitor, and respond to drought events with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. This review synthesises the current state of knowledge on the application of remote sensing platforms—including optical, thermal, microwave, and gravimetric systems—alongside digital agriculture tools such as geographic information systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and decision support systems, for drought monitoring and early warning. The literature for this review was identified through systematic searches of the following academic databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search strategy employed a combination of Boolean operators and controlled vocabulary terms. Key remote sensing indicators discussed include vegetation indices, soil moisture products, evapotranspiration estimates, and land surface temperature anomalies, all of which contribute to multi-parameter drought assessment frameworks. The review further examines major global and regional drought early warning systems and evaluates their operational integration of satellite-derived data. Despite considerable advances, persistent challenges remain, including data gaps in developing regions, inconsistencies between sensor platforms, limited ground-truth infrastructure, and the need for locally calibrated thresholds. Future directions point towards the integration of artificial intelligence with multi-source satellite data streams and the democratisation of drought monitoring through open-access platforms. This review provides a holistic synthesis of technological advances and identifies priorities for research, operational implementation, and policy frameworks to strengthen drought resilience in a changing climate.

Assessing Regional Patterns of Horticultural Crop Diversification and Sustainability in Odisha, India

2026-06-05T07:01:42+00:00

Horticultural crop diversification involves growing a range of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, plantation crops, and spices to enhance sustainability. It improves soil health, biodiversity, and resource-use efficiency while reducing income risks and strengthening resilience to climate and market fluctuations. Although studies have examined the sustainability impacts of diversification using environmental, economic, and social indicators, limited empirical research exists in Odisha that quantitatively analyses regional dimensions. This study aims to assess regional patterns of horticultural crop diversification and sustainability in Odisha, India. The study uses secondary data from Odisha Agricultural Statistics, Statistical Abstracts, Agricultural Statistics in Odisha, and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics for the period 2014–15 and 2018–19. The Herfindahl Index and multiple regression analysis are employed for analysis. The results show clear regional variation in horticultural crop diversification across Odisha during 2014–15 and 2018–19. In 2014–15, most districts were concentrated in the low and very low diversification categories, indicating a generally less diversified horticultural structure. Highly diversified districts were limited and mainly concentrated in select regions such as Angul, Khordha, and Sundargarh. By 2018–19, a slight improvement in diversification is observed in several districts, with more districts shifting towards moderate diversification. However, a number of districts still remain in the low and very low categories, particularly in coastal and some interior regions. The regression results indicate changing impacts of agricultural inputs over time, with fertiliser consumption, farm mechanisation, and rainfall gaining greater statistical significance, while the influence of seed consumption declined. Overall, diversified horticulture systems offer financial advantages through greater revenue stability and market access in addition to improving soil health, water management and pest control. Climate, infrastructure and local knowledge are examples of region-specific characteristics that affect how well diversification strategies work. The study's overall findings demonstrate how diversifying horticulture crops might improve Odisha's agricultural landscape's resilience and sustainability. Promoting horticultural crop diversification in Odisha requires strengthening R&D, market linkages, sustainable farming practices, risk management support, and farmer training to enhance income, resilience, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Livestock Systems, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Sustainable Intensification: Balancing Protein Demand, Methane Mitigation, and Animal Welfare under Climate Change

2026-06-10T08:22:33+00:00

Global livestock systems face an unprecedented convergence of pressures: rising protein demand from an expanding human population, mounting obligations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — particularly methane — and growing imperatives to uphold animal welfare standards in the face of climatic change. Sustainable intensification has been extended to livestock production, encompassing approaches that increase productivity per unit of input, including land, water, feed, and greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining or enhancing the natural resource base. This review synthesises current evidence on the relationships between livestock production, GHG emissions, and the principles of sustainable intensification, examining how these three domains interact under evolving climatic conditions. Enteric fermentation and manure management together account for the majority of agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions, yet livestock also provide irreplaceable nutritional, economic, and cultural services to billions of people globally. Sustainable intensification offers a conceptual and practical framework for increasing production efficiency whilst reducing environmental footprints, though its implementation requires careful calibration across different agro-ecological contexts and livestock species. A range of methane mitigation strategies — including dietary manipulation, feed additives such as 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), selective breeding, and improved manure management — show considerable promise, yet none alone is sufficient to meet international climate targets. Animal welfare considerations, often marginalised in emission-reduction discourse, emerge as both an ethical imperative and a productivity lever, particularly as heat stress from climate change increasingly compromises performance and health across livestock species. Policy frameworks at national and international levels must align food security goals with climate commitments, recognising that trade-offs between protein supply, mitigation ambition, and welfare standards are real but not irresolvable. This review concludes that progress will require integrated, multi-disciplinary approaches that place the livestock sector at the intersection of food systems transformation and climate action.

Sources of Information & Their Extent of Utilisation by Actors in Akis for Betel Vine Growers in Nadia District of West Bengal, India

2026-06-10T08:28:23+00:00

Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS) is a concept to describe the exchange of knowledge and supporting services in rural areas. Elements of an AKIS are diverse actors from the private, public and charitable sectors relating to agriculture. Studying Agriculture Knowledge Information System (AKIS) in terms of generation, dissemination, transformation, utilisation, storage and retrieval of knowledge and information is needed for agricultural development. AKIS describes the sources and mechanisms of agricultural knowledge generation and exchange around innovations in agriculture so that farmers can address challenges around food security, resource use and climate change. Farm advisory services are an essential component of AKIS. The current study was undertaken to identify the sources of technological information & their extent of utilisation by actors in the agriculture knowledge information system for betel vine growers in Nadia district of West Bengal, and respondents included betel vine growers, extension workers, and researchers. Growing betel vine is a significant horticultural practice, and it's becoming increasingly popular in Nadia as a cash crop. The majority of the farmers in the study area have been using their own traditional planting materials for a long time and rely on their accumulated knowledge, skills, and past experiences to grow their crops. They weren’t very aware of the newer, improved and scientific cultivation methods of Betel vine. The study also found that participants got better information and technical advisories about growing betel vines from key influencers by attending training sessions, discussing with extension persons, input suppliers, neighbours, and various NGOs, and to some extent from electronic media. They considered family, neighbouring farmers and cooperatives as the most trustworthy sources of information, followed by demonstrations, outreach extension events, agricultural exhibitions, university experts, farmer fairs, informational flyers, input dealers, and electronic media to some extent. Setting up research centres, improving how knowledge and information would be transferred, and enhancing marketing systems could help betel vine growers achieve better profits. Young farmers are keen to grow betel vines, so this crop should be promoted in other parts of the district to enhance farmers’ income, supported by technologies with proper market linkage for gainful employment through need-based and location-specific technology support system.