Long-term effect of rice-based cropping systems on pools of soil organic carbon in farmer's field in hilly agroecosystem of Manipur, India.

A comprehensive study on various pools of soil organic carbon (SOC) under different rice-based cropping systems is necessary for predicting their effect on soil quality through carbon build-up in soil and their impact on global climate change. The present investigation was undertaken to study the long-term effect of six different rice-based cropping systems (continuously followed by farmers > 10 years) on various SOC pools viz., total organic carbon (TOC), oxidizable organic carbon (C) and its different fractions [C (very labile), C (labile), C (less labile) and C (non-labile)], soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and lability index (LI) and SOC stock at the farmer's field of Kakching district under hilly ecosystems of Manipur, India.

Effect of nonwoven jute agrotextile mulch on soil health and productivity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) in lateritic soil.

A field experiment was conducted in winter season of 2015-2016 in the dry lateritic soil of Eastern India to study the effect of different thicknesses of nonwoven jute agrotextile mulches (NJATM) along with other mulches on soil health, growth and productivity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.). The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with six treatments viz.

Rehabilitating acid soils for increasing crop productivity through low-cost liming material.

Productivity of red and lateritic soils is low because of their acidity and deficiencies in few essential nutrients viz., nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, boron, molybdenum etc. We compared the effectiveness of basic slag, a low-cost liming material, with that of calcite as an ameliorant for these soils using mustard followed by rice as test crops.

Nitrate enrichment in groundwater from long-term intensive agriculture: its mechanistic pathways and prediction through modeling.

Nitrate (NO(3-)N) contamination of drinking groundwater is a serious worldwide problem. We studied the mechanistic pathways of the nitrate enrichment in a drinking groundwater system of an intensively cultivated district in India and predicted the enrichment through modeling. Analysis of groundwater samples (3472) showed that the nitrate content during the postmonsoon season (0.

Nitrate and fluoride contamination in groundwater of an intensively managed agroecosystem: a functional relationship.

A study was conducted to assess the potential of nitrate-nitrogen (NO(3)-N) and fluoride (F) contamination in drinking groundwater as a function of lithology, soil characteristics and agricultural activities in an intensively cultivated district in India. Two hundred and fifty two groundwater samples were collected at different depths from various types of wells and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), NO(3)-N load and F content. Database on lithology, soil properties, predominant cropping systems, fertilizer and pesticide uses were also recorded for the district.

Assessment of potential hazards of fluoride contamination in drinking groundwater of an intensively cultivated district in West Bengal, India.

We assessed the potential of fluoride (F) contamination in drinking groundwater of an intensively cultivated district in India as a function of its lithology and agricultural activities. Three hundred and eight groundwater samples were collected at different depths from various types of wells and analyzed for pH, EC, NO(3)-N load and F content. A typical litholog was constructed and database on fertilizer and pesticide uses were also recorded for the district.

Assessment of the potential hazards of nitrate contamination in surface and groundwater in a heavily fertilized and intensively cultivated district of India.

We made an inventory of nitrate (NO3-N) enrichment in surface and groundwater systems in the Hooghly district of India owing to intensive farming with high fertilizer doses as a function of quantity of fertilizers use, soil characteristics, types of crop grown, depth of groundwater sampling and also N-load in soil profiles. Water samples were collected from different sources at 412 odd sites spread over in 17 blocks of the district along with representative soil profiles. On average, the study area had high clay and NO3-N in soil profiles with an increasing and decreasing trends along depth, respectively.