Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

Soil Fertility Assessment Based on Primary, Secondary and Micronutrient Status under Different Land Use Systems in Arid Western Rajasthan, India

Kishan Kumar — 2026-05-27

Assessment of soil fertility status under different land use systems is essential for sustainable nutrient management, particularly in arid regions where soils are inherently poor in organic matter and nutrient holding capacity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the status of primary, secondary and micronutrients in soils under irrigated cropland, rainfed cropland and pasture land of Balesar block of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India. A total of sixty surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected and analysed for available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, manganese, copper and zinc using standard analytical procedures. The results showed that available nitrogen ranged from 50 to 150 kg ha⁻¹ and all soils were low in nitrogen irrespective of land use system. Available phosphorus was mostly in the low to medium category, whereas potassium was generally medium in all soils. Secondary nutrients such as calcium and magnesium were found to be sufficient in all land use systems, while sulphur ranged from medium to high. Among micronutrients, iron and manganese were mostly in the medium category, copper was sufficient in most samples, whereas zinc deficiency was observed in many soils, especially under rainfed and pasture land. Irrigated cropland showed comparatively higher nutrient status due to regular fertiliser application and organic inputs, whereas rainfed soils showed lower nutrient availability. The study revealed that the land use system significantly influences soil nutrient status and can be effectively used for fertility evaluation in arid soils.

Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Sulphur on Yield, Quality and Economics of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Anjali Bhardwaj — 2026-05-28

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an essential oilseed crop, which is widely cultivated for edible oil, rich in essential fatty acids. A field experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Research Farm of S.D.J. Post Graduate College, Chandeshwar, Azamgarh, affiliated with Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur (U.P.), during the Rabi (winter) seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen and sulphur on yield, quality and economics of Indian mustard. The experiment covered four nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha^-1) and four sulphur levels (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha^-1) tested in a Randomised Block Design and replicated thrice. The result revealed that the seed yield (23.11and 23.15 q ha^-1), stover yield (78.79 and 79.2 q ha^-1), harvest index (22.66 and 23.57%) and quality attributes, viz., oil content (39.88 and 41.47%), Iodine value (106.8 and 111.07), were recorded at 120 kg N ha^-1. In case of sulphur application, the maximum seed yield (21.34 and 21.49 q ha^-1), stover yield (73.5and 73.47 kg ha^-1), harvest index (22.64 and 23.55%), and quality attributes like oil content (40.7 and 42.33%), Iodine value (105.85 and 110.08) were recorded at 45kg S ha^-1. The combination of 120 kg N with 45 kg S ha^-1proved to be the most effective, leading to increased net return and a higher B: C ratio (2.85 and 3) compared to other nitrogen and sulphur levels in both years (2020-21 and 2021-22). It concluded that 120 kg N with 45kg S ha^-1 is possible to produce more yield, better quality and cost-effective in mustard crops under the agro-climatic conditions of Eastern U.P.

Tillage, No-till, and Climate-smart Farming: A Critical Review of Long-term Sustainability Outcomes

Suraj Jadhav — 2026-05-25

Tillage management lies at the heart of debates about sustainable agriculture, soil health, and climate change mitigation. As global interest in conservation agriculture and climate-smart farming intensifies, a rigorous reassessment of the long-term sustainability outcomes of tillage and no-till systems has become essential. This article presents a critical narrative review of the peer-reviewed literature on the agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic dimensions of conventional tillage, no-till, and conservation agriculture, considered within the emerging framework of climate-smart agriculture. The evidence reveals a nuanced picture: no-till management offers meaningful benefits for soil physical properties, aggregate stability, water conservation, and reduced fuel emissions, but its role as a net greenhouse gas mitigation strategy is more limited and context-dependent than commonly assumed. While no-till often concentrates soil organic carbon in surface horizons, evidence for consistent deep-profile gains remains contested. Nitrous oxide emissions show mixed patterns that are strongly influenced by climate, soil drainage, and duration of practice. Crop yield responses to no-till vary considerably by crop type, aridity, and companion management practices; the integration of cover cropping and diverse crop rotations substantially enhances performance. Adoption barriers remain considerable among resource-poor smallholder farmers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where promised productivity gains have frequently fallen short of expectations. Climate-smart agriculture provides a useful policy lens for aligning tillage decisions with adaptation, mitigation, and food security objectives, but its implementation requires site-specific targeting rather than prescriptive adoption. This review calls for integrated, context-sensitive tillage strategies underpinned by long-term experimental evidence, robust life-cycle accounting, and participatory approaches that respect the constraints of diverse farming communities.

Emphasis on the Sustainable Approach to Nanotechnology in Agriculture Applications: A Review

Deen Dayal Bairwa — 2026-06-02

The continuously increase of the world's population and food demand has put tremendous pressure on agricultural systems to improve productivity while being environmentally sustainable. Conventional agricultural practices that depend mostly on chemical fertilizers and pesticides have resulted in soil deterioration, water pollution and decreased biodiversity. Nanotechnology has emerged as a game-changing way to address these issues through precision agriculture, enhanced nutrition delivery and reduced environmental impact. This review focuses on sustainable approaches to nanotechnology in agriculture, such as nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors and nano-enabled soil management. The nanomaterials are biocompatible, nontoxic, photostable and have high potential future prospective applications of nano-derived agricultural waste materials. Green sustainable approaches, nanotechnology techniques are concerned, namely green synthesis, controlled release systems and eco-friendly formulations. Due to positive expectations, there are still more hurdles to overcome such as toxicity, allowed structures, and feasibility. The potential of nanotechnology to improve endurable agriculture is huge and these research benefits from that, as long as it is used responsibly, with proper risk assessment and regulatory guidelines.