<div>The light texture coastal saline soils are well known for the deficiency of both macro and micronutrients especially zinc, boron, iron and manganese, etc. The zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) plays an important role in improving the growth, yield and quality of sesame. A field experiment was conducted to find out the influence of organics and micronutrients fertilization on the soil properties and yield of sesame in coastal saline soil. The experiment was carried out in a farmer&rsquo;s field at Ponnanthittu coastal village, near Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. The Physico- chemical properties and nutrient status of initial soil were: pH- 8.43, EC- 4.25 dS m-1, organic carbon- 2.30 g kg-1 and DTPA Zn &ndash; 0.70 mg kg-1 and Mn- 0.96 mg kg-1, respectively. &nbsp;The treatments included were T1 -Control (Recommended dose of NPK), T2 &ndash;125% NPK + Composted coirpith (CCP) @ 12.5 t ha-1, T3 -T2 + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 soil application (SA), T4 -T2 + MnSO4 @ 5 kg ha-1 (SA), T5 -T2 + (ZnSO4 + MnSO4) SA, T6 -T2 + ZnSO4 &nbsp;@ 0.5 % foliar application (FA),T7 -T2 + MnSO4 (FA), T8 -T2 + (ZnSO4 + MnSO4 )FA, T9 -T2 + ZnSO4 &nbsp;(SA) + ZnSO4 (FA), T10-T2 + MnSO4 &nbsp;(SA) + MnSO4 (FA) and T11-T2 + (ZnSO4 &nbsp;+ MnSO4 ) SA + (ZnSO4 + MnSO4 )FA. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications, using sesame variety TMV 7. The results of the study indicated that the combined application of 125 per cent NPK + composted coirpith (CCP) @ 12.5 t ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + MnSO4 @ 5 kg ha-1 through soil application along with foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + MnSO4 twice at 0.5 per cent significantly increased the soil nutrient availability, microbial population, enzyme activity and yield of sesame in coastal sandy soil. This treatment recorded the highest sesame seed yield of 815 kg ha-1 and stalk yield of 1805 kg ha-1 as compared 100% recommended NPK alone 421 and 944 kg ha-1 of seed and stalk yield, respectively.</div>

<div>Influence of Organic Manures and Micronutrients Fertilization on the Soil Properties and Yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Coastal Saline Soil</div>

Background: Coffee plants in Sumbermanjing Wetan are commonly cultivated on dry lands that rely solely on rainfall as the source of water input that eventually makes them susceptible to climate change. The deficiency of organic material and water availability for these plants poses a significant challenge for coffee farmers in Sumbermanjing Wetan. Therefore, a research was conducted to investigate the addition of various organic matter through biopore infiltration holes in coffee plantations with the following objectives: i) to analyze the impact of applying organic matter on the distribution of soil pores and ii) to examine the effect of organic matter application on soil moisture content. 
 
Methods: The research was carried out in the Smallholder Coffee Plantation of Argotirto Village, Sumbermanjing Wetan District, Malang Regency. A randomized block design was implemented with five treatment groups, which included the control (P1), two biopore holes + manure (P2), two biopore holes + compost (P3), two biopore holes + green manure (P4) and surface-applied manure (P5), each repeated three times. The observed variables included the percentage of soil organic matter, pore distribution, available water capacity and soil moisture content. 
 
Result: The findings indicated that addition of organic matter in biopore infiltration holes enhanced soil organic material content, where treatment P4 (two biopore holes + green manure) exhibiting the highest soil organic material values in the first and third months after the application. The application of organic matter increased soil porosity in all treatments, where treatment P4 (two biopore holes + green manure) showing the highest available water capacity. This suggests that the utilization of organic matter can improve soil aggregation, thus increasing porosity and available water capacity. Consistently, soil water content at a depth of 40-60 cm tended to increase in the third month following biopore infiltration holes application, indicating that the addition of organic matter through biopore infiltration holes can enhance soil moisture at subsoil.

Improvement of Soil Pore Distribution and Soil Moisture Content using Organic Matter Addition Technology

Background: Soil organic carbon stocks (SOCs) play a critical role in supporting soil quality and ecosystem functions. Information on SOCs content in coastal lands is scanty and the types of clay minerals and soil fraction size that affect SOCs are still debated. We evaluated the SOCs content and identified the mineral type and soil fraction affecting the SOCs on coastal land.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Soil samples were collected from each layer of nine different soil profiles in three subdistricts: Seunuddon (SD), Lapang (LP) and Dewantara (DT) in Aceh Utara Regency of Indonesia. The soil profiles were taken from different distances (300, 900 and 1500 m from the shoreline-d.f.s).&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that SOCs possessed by each soil layer of coastal land in Aceh Utara varied between 0.64 to 43.45 MgC ha-1. The highest to lowest average total of SOCs content for the location is SD&gt;DT&gt;LP, while for the position, the distance to the shoreline is 900 m&gt;1500 m&gt;300 m. Clay minerals such as labradorite, smectite, vermiculite and chlorite positively increase the SOCs content. Very fine sand is a size of the soil fraction that affects the increase in the levels of SOCs in coastal land.

Soil Fractions Affect on Soil Organic Carbon Stock in the Coastal Land of Aceh Utara Regency, Indonesia

<div>Background: Maize is one of the best cereal crop as it is also known as &ldquo;Queen of cereals&rdquo; by giving good taste, having more hybrid varieties, good production and price also. But to make maize best cereal well fertile and neutral soil is important. In the several previous years tthere was good soil, plant and environment relationship but due to passing the time soil health was deteriorated by using the more amount of inorganic fertilizers (beyond the limit). The insect pest attack was also increased due to uses of more amount of fertilizers. Soil becomes topic in nature and most of the inorganic chemical leached down and mixed with the water table. 
 
Material: The two year field experiment was conducted at experimental farm at Lovely Professional University Phagwara Punjab during the kharif season 2019- 2020 to study the influence of integrated use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on physio-chemical properties of soil and yield of kharif maize in coarse loamy Typic Haplustept soil with 8 treatments treatments T1- Control, T2 - RDF (125:60:30) kg ha-1, T3- RDF +10 ton farmyard manure ha-1, T4- 75% RDF + 10 ton farm yard manure ha-1+ Vermicompost @2 ton/ha, T5-75% RDF +10 ton farmyard manure ha-1, T6- 50% RDF +10 ton farm yard manure + vermicompost@2 ton ha-1 + azotobacter ha-1, T7-50% RDF +15 ton of farmyard manure +azotobacter ha-1, T8-25 % RDF + azotobacter + vermicompost@ 2 ton ha-1 in RBD design with 3 replications. 
 
Result: The soil pH was found highest in T2 (RDF (125:60:30) kg ha-1) (7.8) whereas highest EC was found in T6 (50% RDF +10 ton farm yard manure + vermicompost@2 ton ha-1 + azotobacter ha-1) (0.27 dsm-1). The highest bulk density found under T1 (Control) ( 2.02 gcm-3) and porosity was highest in T8 (25 % RDF + azotobacter + vermicompost@ 2 ton ha-1) (37.96%). In T6 (50% RDF +10 ton farm yard manure + vermicompost@2 ton ha-1 + azotobacter ha-1), the highest amount of Nitrogen (412.3 kgh-1), phosphorus (67.77 kgh-1), potassium (884.3 kgh-1) and organic carbon (0.567%) was found. In terms of yield parameters, the grain yield (4223 kgh-1), straw yield (6266 kgh-1), harvest index (41.53%) and 1000- seed weight (366.86gms) was found highest in T6 ((50% RDF +10 ton farm yard manure + vermicompost@2 ton ha-1 + azotobacter ha-1). There are significant difference in all the treatements with respect to the physio-chemical properties of soil and yield paramters of maize.</div>

Influence of Integrated Use of Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers on Physio-chemical Properties of Soil and Yield of Kharif Maize in Coarse Loamy Typic Haplustept Soil

<div style="text-align: justify;">An experiment was conducted to study the influence of soil application of organic manures and foliar spray of organic nutrients on resultant seed quality in Kabuli chickpea varieties. The experiment was carried at Seed Quality and Research Laboratory, Seed Unit (National Seed Project), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during rabi of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Seed quality parameters were significantly influenced among varieties and organic amendment treatments. BG1105 (V1) recorded significantly higher seed quality parameters as compared to MNK-1 (V2), While among the treatments, application of 100 % organics equivalent to RDP [50 % Farm yard manure (FYM) and 50 % Vermicompost] + Foliar application of Panchagavya @ 3 % at flowering and 15 Days after flowering (T2) recorded significantly higher seed quality parameters as compared to all other treatments and control. This treatment can be used to improve seed quality attributes in kabuli chickpea varieties.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Influence of soil application of organic manures and foliar spray of organic nutrients on resultant seed quality in Kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties</div>

<div>Background: Using organic manure derived from animal or vegetable matter is often associated with balanced crop production. The influence of organics and fertilizers on soil sustainability during cultivation of potatoes in field was studied.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Vegetable experiment comprising 10 years (2011-2021), having a control variant (no fertilization), independent mineral, organics (compost) and their combination (50:50%). Changes in the amount and distribution of microbial groups in experimental variants and associated untreated controls were evaluated. Total bacterial number, spore-forming bacteria, fungi, nitrogen-utilizing bacteria and actinomycetes were assessed. 
 
Result: Applied organics and fertilizers had statistically proven a positive effect on growth parameters of potatoes. Organics and fertilizers supplied with mineral and foliar feeding registered taller plants with increased number of branches, number and mass of leaves and stem and root masses, compared to potatoes with organic and organic-mineral combination. Application of compost led to a significant increase in populations of all physiological groups of microorganisms excluding spore-forming bacteria and bacteria utilizing mineral nitrogen, which is a good indicator of increased soil microbial activity in respective treatments. Mineral fertilization had a positive effect on total number of bacteria and on absorption of mineral nitrogen. The treatment in variant (50:50 %) at rhizosphere soil was associated with organic manure application and at non-rhizosphere soil with mineral fertilizer.</div>

Distribution of Soil Microorganisms in Field under Potatoes due to Fertilizer and Organics

<div>Background: Fertilizers are important source of nutrients required by plants at different growth stages. These fertilizers can be organic and inorganic. Organic and inorganic fertilizers are different from each other in their action and contain different types of nutrients. Each fertilizer has its own effect on soil and plants. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers reducees the soil fertility by affecting the soil physical, chemical and biological properties, so it is essential to balance the negative effect of inorganic fertilizers with the use of organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers contain nutrients required for optimum plant growth. With the increase in soil organic matter, the percentage of nitrogen and phosphorus in soil also increases.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties. Experiment consisted of six treatments, comprising of organic and inorganic treatments and absolute control. Inorganic treatment received recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). Organic treatments received different dose of organic manures like vermicompost and farm yard manure.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Application of organic manure viz vermicompost remarkably improved in soil fertility. Soil pH was not significantly influenced by organic and inorganic treatments. However, relatively higher EC was recorded with the application of 100 per cent RDF. Application of organic manure viz vermicompost resulted in the buildup of soil organic carbon and markedly enhanced the nutrient availability of nitrogen, phosphrous and potassium in soil. Soil microbial population viz., bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were increased due to the application of organic manure through vermicompost.&nbsp;</div>

Comparing the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Amendments on Soil Health

<div>Background: Health of soil is important being an integral part of any production system. As agroforestry aims to maintain the sustainability in the system, therefore, soil status under any agroforestry system plays key role. This study was conducted at Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan HP (India) under Morus based agroforestry system. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was carried out during 2016 from month of July to October for quantifying the effect of application of organic manures on soil physico-chemical properties under Morus based agroforestry system. Five soil samples from each experimental plot were collected separately and a single representative composite sample was drawn for each plot replicated three times. The analysis of soil was carried out with standard adopted procedures. 
 
Result: Findings of the study revealed that different organic manure combinations were having significant influence on various soil physico-chemical properties. Maximum improvement in terms of soil physico-chemical parameters was found for the application of 100% poultry manure. Further, soil properties were found to be better under the influence of tree canopy as compared to open condition suggesting key role of trees in improving soil properties.</div>

Influence of Organic Manures on Soil Physico-chemical Properties under Morus based Agrisilviculture System

Background: The aim of our work is to assess the impact of copper-contaminated soil on tomato fruit and soil organisms. Excessive use of copper-based pesticides has many consequences for soil biology and food quality.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Our study was carried out in a section of a tomato plot in the Mostaganem region of northern Algeria. The plot was contaminated with copper, at different doses D1 (10 mg Cu Kg-1), D2 (100 mg Cu Kg-1), D3 (200 mg Cu Kg-1) and D4 (300 mg Cu Kg-1) in separate blocks. The concentrations of copper and carbohydrates and the homogeneity of the wells were assessed in order to determine the quality of the tomatoes in relation to the levels of soil contamination. Furthermore, the respiratory activity of the microorganisms and the feeding activity of the soil fauna were assessed.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The highest copper concentrations were 1.5&plusmn;0.17 mg Cu Kg-1 and 2.05&plusmn;0.3 mg Cu Kg-1&nbsp; in the sites contaminated by the highest doses D3 and D4 and the highest carbohydrate concentrations were 53.03&plusmn;1.38 g kg-1 and 61.15&plusmn;0.65 g kg-1 in these two sites. Microbial respiration values were lowest in D3, with 8.3.10-4 &plusmn; 3.6.10-4 mg CO2 g-1 h-1 and in D4, with 1.5.10-3 &plusmn;1.4.10-4 mg CO2 g-1 h-1. In addition, wildlife feeding activity was low at both sites, with values of&nbsp; 27.56&plusmn;17.77 % for the D3 site and 37.5&plusmn;17.48 % for the D4 site. Our study has shown that copper contamination of soils affects the biological activities of soil organisms.

Study of the Impact of Copper on Soil Organisms and Tomato Quality

<div>Background: Excessive use of agrochemicals and fertilizers in the post era of green revolution has led to a long term toxic effect on soil and threatened the fragile ecosystem. Application of inorganic inputs has increased the productivity of produce, but has severely impacted environment and soil health. In the light of this view, there is a need to conserve soil by adopting organic farming systems. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) factorial with three replications comprising of twelve treatment combinations of four levels of organic manure and three levels of liquid manure. Biofertilizers (Rhizobium + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria) were applied @ 200 g/10 kg as seed and 5 kg/ha as soil application uniformly to all the treatment combinations.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Results revealed that treatment combination of M3J2 (FYM @ 15 t/ha + jeevamrit @ 10 per cent drenching) + biofertilizers resulted in maximum organic carbon (1.37%), nitrogen (375.31 kg/ha), phosphorus (62.62 kg/ha), potassium (345.33 kg/ha), viable microbial count (195.25 cfu/g of soil) along with lowest pH and electrical conductivity.</div>

A Practice to Enhance Soil Physico-chemical Properties and Viable Microbial Count as Effected by Organic Nutrient Sources in Garden Pea under Mid Hill Zone of Himachal Pradesh