International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

Micronutrient Interactions in Wheat: Implications of Boron and Zinc Management in Acidic Soils of Terai Region of West Bengal, India

Srijayee Hazra — 2026-06-15

The soils of the Terai region of West Bengal are generally acidic in nature and deficient in available boron (B) and zinc (Zn) leading to widespread micronutrient constraints in the region. This study investigated the interaction effects of B and Zn on wheat growth, nutrient concentration and uptake in this region. A pot experiment was conducted using a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three levels each of B (0, 2 and 2.5 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg kg⁻¹). The experimental soil was acidic (pH 5.70) and deficient in available B and Zn which corroborates the typical micronutrient constraints of the region. Results revealed that B application significantly increased shoot dry matter yield, with maximum yield at 2.5 mg kg⁻¹ B. Zinc application showed a less consistent response, though a higher dose (10 mg kg⁻¹) significantly improved yield. The combined application of B (2.5 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (10 mg kg⁻¹) produced the highest biomass, indicating a positive interaction effect. B application significantly increased both B and Zn concentrations in plant tissues whereas Zn application reduced B concentration, indicating an antagonistic interaction at higher levels. However, Zn played a protective role by mitigating B toxicity and improving nutrient balance. Nutrient uptake data indicated substantial increases in both B and Zn uptake with combined application, particularly at higher levels. The findings demonstrate that balanced application of B and Zn enhances wheat productivity and nutrient use efficiency in acidic soils. The study highlights the importance of Zn–B stoichiometry in optimizing crop performance and suggests that appropriate micronutrient management strategies are essential for sustainable wheat production and biofortification in micronutrient-deficient regions.

Impact of Sugarcane Residue-based Amendments on Soil Organic Carbon Stock and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) under Natural Farming Protocols

Divyesh Vasava — 2026-06-17

Declining soil organic carbon and increasing reliance on synthetic fertilizers are important constraints to sustainable crop production. The present field experiment was conducted during the kharif season at Surat, Gujarat, India, to evaluate the influence of sugarcane residue-based amendments and natural farming practices on soil properties, nutrient uptake, soil organic carbon stock, and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of control, sugarcane trash mulching, sugarcane bagasse compost, press mud application, natural farming with biochar, and recommended dose of fertilizers. Soil samples were collected before sowing and after harvest for analysis of soil organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and bulk density. Plant samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake at harvest. The results showed that sugarcane residue-based amendments improved soil organic carbon, nutrient availability, bulk density, nutrient uptake, and crop yield compared with the untreated control. Among the treatments, natural farming with biochar recorded the highest soil organic carbon content (0.68%), grain yield (1328 kg ha⁻¹), and biomass yield (3025 kg ha⁻¹). The same treatment also recorded the highest final soil organic carbon stock (13.36 t C ha⁻¹) and carbon accumulation (4.04 t C ha⁻¹). Press mud application also showed improvement in soil organic carbon and carbon stock. The findings indicate that recycling sugarcane residues through organic amendments, particularly when combined with biochar-based natural farming inputs, can improve soil health and support black gram productivity under the tested conditions. However, longer-term evaluation is needed to confirm the persistence of these effects across seasons and soil types.

Influence of Filtered and Unfiltered Solar Radiation on the Growth Pattern and Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don - A Preliminary Study

Ganapathy Pandiarajan — 2026-06-17

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is an important medicinal plant known for the production of biologically active indole alkaloids and other secondary metabolites. This preliminary study evaluated the influence of different solar-radiation regimes on plant growth, epicuticular wax accumulation and vincristine content in C. roseus. Seedlings were grown for 50 days under three light environments: ambient high solar radiation, ambient low solar radiation produced by 40-50% light filtration, and UV-B-filtered solar radiation. Growth responses were assessed using shoot length, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight, while epicuticular waxes and alkaloids were analysed using spectrophotometric, thin-layer chromatographic and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. Plants grown under filtered radiation showed improved vegetative growth compared with plants exposed to ambient high solar radiation. In contrast, open daylight conditions were associated with earlier flowering. Total epicuticular wax content was highest under ambient high solar radiation, with values of 345.6 +/- 28 ug/g fresh weight, followed by ambient low solar radiation at 309.6 +/- 42 ug/g fresh weight and UV-B-filtered radiation at 291.6 +/- 32 ug/g fresh weight. Wax-class analysis indicated variation in free fatty acids, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, beta-diketones, wax monoesters and alkanes among treatments. HPLC analysis detected vincristine in leaf extracts from all three light environments. Vincristine content was 820.4 +/- 18 ug/g leaf dry weight under ambient high solar radiation, 830.4 +/- 32 ug/g leaf dry weight under ambient low solar radiation and 316.2 +/- 27 ug/g leaf dry weight under UV-B-filtered radiation. These findings suggest that light quality and quantity influence growth and secondary metabolite accumulation in C. roseus, with UV-B exclusion reducing vincristine accumulation under the conditions of this study.

Nutrient Concentration and Uptake in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Influenced by Metallic Micronutrient Fertilisation in the Ganges–Yamuna Doab

Dhruvendra Singh Sachan — 2026-06-17

A two-year field experiment was conducted during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 rabi seasons at the Student’s Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the influence of metallic micronutrient fertilisation on nutrient concentration and uptake in wheat. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Two wheat varieties, DBW-222 and HD-2967, were assigned to the main plots, while nutrient management treatments involving soil and foliar application of zinc sulphate, iron sulphate and copper sulphate were assigned to the subplots. The results indicated varietal and nutrient-management effects on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration and uptake in grain and straw. On a pooled basis, DBW-222 recorded higher nutrient concentration than HD-2967, with 2.33% N, 0.371% P and 0.49% K in grain, and 0.770% N, 0.113% P and 1.189% K in straw. The same variety also recorded greater pooled nutrient uptake in grain, with 143.70 kg N/ha, 22.98 kg P/ha and 30.28 kg K/ha. Among nutrient management practices, soil application of zinc, iron and copper through ZnSO₄·7H₂O at 20 kg/ha, FeSO₄·7H₂O at 12 kg/ha and CuSO₄·5H₂O at 2 kg/ha recorded the highest pooled nutrient uptake. This treatment recorded 147.94 kg N/ha, 28.17 kg P/ha and 35.04 kg K/ha in grain, and 49.85 kg N/ha, 11.28 kg P/ha and 79.13 kg K/ha in straw. The findings suggest that combined soil application of zinc, iron and copper sulphates improved nutrient concentration and uptake in wheat under the studied agro-climatic conditions of the Ganges–Yamuna Doab.

Effects of Soil Fertility Management on the Diversity of Rhizobacteria in Millet Fields in Niger

HAROUNA MAIDOUKIA Abdoul Razack — 2026-06-17

Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly in Niger, is constrained by low productivity, recurrent drought, limited access to fertilisers and environmental degradation, all of which contribute to persistent food insecurity. Rhizobacteria are recognised as important components of the rhizosphere because they can support plant growth and may reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers. However, the response of rhizobacterial communities to farmers’ soil fertility management practices in millet fields remains insufficiently documented. This study analysed the effect of farmers’ soil fertility management practices on rhizosphere microorganisms. The research was conducted from 2015 to 2017 in three villages (Lélédjé, Moli Haoussa and Alambaré) located near Niger’s W National Park. Experimental plots of 16 m² were arranged in scattered blocks and subjected to animal penning, mulching, manure application and control treatments. The plant material was a local millet variety, somno (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). A total of 36 composite soil samples were analysed over the three years. Bacteria were isolated on five culture media, and colony numbers were expressed as colony-forming units per gram of soil. The highest bacterial counts were recorded on PCA and King A and B media, followed by PCA + GNO, whereas lower counts were observed on EMB and GNO media. Bacterial colony density differed among treatments, with animal penning and manure application producing higher densities than mulching and the control. These findings indicate that traditional soil fertility management practices used by farmers can maintain soils that are densely populated with cultivable rhizobacteria. Such practices may contribute to locally accessible strategies for improving soil biological fertility in millet-based farming systems in Niger.

Effect of Fruit Thinning Practices on Fruit Quality of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) CV. Local

Shailesh K. Chaudhary — 2026-06-18

A field experiment was conducted during 2024 at the Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, to evaluate the influence of fruit thinning practices on fruit quality of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Local. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Eleven treatments were assessed, including different levels of strand thinning, strand shortening, fruit thinning within strands, and an unthinned control. Fruit thinning was carried out 28–35 days after pollination at the hababouak stage. Fruits were harvested at maturity, and quality attributes such as total soluble solids, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar, and acidity were recorded. The results showed that thinning treatments influenced the quality parameters of date palm fruits. Among the treatments, thinning 50% strands per bunch recorded the highest total soluble solids (36.17 °Brix), reducing sugar (34.21%), non-reducing sugar (4.54%), and total sugar (38.75%), along with the lowest acidity (0.167%). The control treatment recorded the lowest total soluble solids (30.53 °Brix), reducing sugar (23.98%), non-reducing sugar (3.11%), and total sugar (27.09%), and the highest acidity (0.190%). The findings indicate that fruit thinning, particularly 50% strand thinning per bunch, improved fruit quality attributes under the conditions of the present study. This practice may help enhance the compositional quality of date palm fruits when applied at the pea stage of fruit development.

Importance of Vegetables in Home Food Gardening in Modern Cities: Advances and Future Perspectives

Yugamaya Pegu — 2026-06-15

The practice of home food gardening (HFG) has gained enormous importance in modern cities due to decreasing availability of agricultural land, rapid urbanisation and increased concern for food safety, nutrition and sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of global food supply systems and the value of local food production. The review assesses the importance of vegetables in Home Food Gardening in modern cities. Vegetables are a major part of HFG since they are rapidly produced, easy to maintain, high-yielding in small spaces, and bring high nutritional benefits. Some of the common types of gardening practices seen in modern cities are: yard garden, rooftop garden, balcony garden, community garden and street/plot garden. Newer innovations such as better crop varieties, hydroponics, aquaponics and smarter monitoring systems have raised productivity. But there are still issues like space constraints, expensive setup costs, lack of knowledge, poor soil, and insufficient light. These problems can be addressed through better urban design, affordable technologies, training and sustainable behaviours. Furthermore, HFG helps to improve urban life, healthier diets and environmental sustainability in general.