- Deptt. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Science, P.O. BHU,
Varanasi - 221 005 (U.P.), India - +91-9450346890
- noneedit
- Dr Amitava Rakshit , an IIT, Kharagpur alumnus is the faculty member in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultur... moreDr Amitava Rakshit , an IIT, Kharagpur alumnus is the faculty member in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India. His research areas include: Nutrient use efficiency, Simulations modeling, organic farming, Integrated Nutrient Management and bioremediation. His consulting capabilities are: Composting Techniques, Soil Health Management, Input quality Control. He was involved in "Participatory Research" and "Lab to Land" Programmes of ICARedit
Red cabbage is known as the millennium’s functional food, which has a lot of importance in our diet because of the health-promoting ingredients present in it. The current study investigated the synergistic relationship of... more
Red cabbage is known as the millennium’s functional food, which has a lot of importance in our diet because of the health-promoting ingredients present in it. The current study investigated the synergistic relationship of rhizospheric-competent microbial agents (Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis) in modulating the performance of red cabbage under the field conditions of Middle Gangetic Plains, India. Growth parameters were studied at three developmental stages, viz., pre-cupping, early head formation, and maturity. Our results suggested that the dual application of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens along with the 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) increased the number of leaves (24.6), leaf area (537.2 cm2), root length (19.8 cm), and micronutrient uptake (Fe, Mn, and Cu) by head of the crop, whereas the co-inoculation of P. fluorescens and B. subtilis along with 75% RDF enhanced plant spread (39.0 cm), earliness (95.2 days), and Zn uptake. Max...
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In the last few years, the photo-redox process via single-electron transfer (SET) has received substantial attention for the synthesis of targeted organic compounds due to its environmental friendliness and sustainability. Of late... more
In the last few years, the photo-redox process via single-electron transfer (SET) has received substantial attention for the synthesis of targeted organic compounds due to its environmental friendliness and sustainability. Of late visible-light-mediated difunctionalization of alkenes has gained much attention because of its step economy, which allows the consecutive installation of two functional groups across the C=C bond in a single operation. The construction of N-containing compounds has always been important in organic synthesis. Molecules containing C-N bonds are found in many building blocks and are important precursors to other functional groups. Meanwhile, C-N bond formation via the addition of the C=C double bond is gaining prominence. Therefore, considering the influence and synthetic potential of the C-N bond, here we provide a summary of the state of the art on visible-light-driven difunctionalizations of alkene. We hope that the construction of the C-N bond via visible...
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Managing agrochemicals for crop production always remains a classic challenge for us to maintain the doctrine of sustainability. Intensively cultivated rice–wheat production system without using the organics (organic amendments, manures,... more
Managing agrochemicals for crop production always remains a classic challenge for us to maintain the doctrine of sustainability. Intensively cultivated rice–wheat production system without using the organics (organic amendments, manures, biofertilizers) has a tremendous impact on soil characteristics (physical, chemical, and biological), environmental quality (water, air), input use efficiency, ecosystem biodiversity, and nutritional security. Consequently, crop productivity is found to be either decreasing or stagnating. Rice–wheat cropping system is the major agroecosystem in India feeding millions of people, which is widely practiced in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Microorganisms as key players in the soil system can restore the degraded ecosystems using a variety of mechanisms. Here, we propose how delivery systems (i.e., the introduction of microbes in seed, soil, and crop through bio-priming and/or bioaugmentation) can help us in eradicating food scarcity and maintaining su...
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Priming techniques are gaining importance in agriculture with the increase in environmental stresses. Resource-poor farmers are in urgent need of such techniques as they are simple, economical, and value-added intervention associated with... more
Priming techniques are gaining importance in agriculture with the increase in environmental stresses. Resource-poor farmers are in urgent need of such techniques as they are simple, economical, and value-added intervention associated with low-risk bearing factors. Seed enhancement methods are key to improve seed performance and achieve a good stand establishment. Worldwide beneficial effects of priming are recorded. But these technologies have still not reached most farmers. This review highlights the importance of on-farm priming strategies in modern crop production system to yield better productivity and obtain higher economic returns. Stimulation of the pre-germination metabolic changes by priming is necessary to overcome the environmental challenges that a plant can encounter. Thus, the study also focuses on mechanisms associated with priming-induced stress tolerance of crops. Various safe practical methods of seed priming can be easily adopted by the farming community to allevi...
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India is one of the leading countries in agricultural production and generate large volume of crop residue. Increasing demand for food grains due to growing population leads to generation of crop residues. Due to lack of proper disposal... more
India is one of the leading countries in agricultural production and generate large volume of crop residue. Increasing demand for food grains due to growing population leads to generation of crop residues. Due to lack of proper disposal mechanism of crop residue, farmers burn the residue which release greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, and poses great threat to environment as well as human health. The residue burning causes greater carbon emission and nutrient losses which otherwise incorporated into the soil system may substantially improve the soil biodiversity. Besides several practices of crop residue management, the most feasible method for farmers is incorporation of residue into the soil with the inoculation of microbes. In soil system the ability of microbial community in degrading organic substances is well known. In the early stages of residue decomposition simple substrates like carbohydrates are degraded by bacteria, but in later stages degradation of complex c...
tert-Butyl nitrite serves the dual role of an oxidant as well as a N1 synthon in a multicomponent reaction involving quinolines, isoquinolines, and styrenes. Herein, two spC-H functionalizations of styrenes and one spC-H functionalization... more
tert-Butyl nitrite serves the dual role of an oxidant as well as a N1 synthon in a multicomponent reaction involving quinolines, isoquinolines, and styrenes. Herein, two spC-H functionalizations of styrenes and one spC-H functionalization of quinolines and isoquinolines lead to the formation of fused quinolines and isoquinolines via three sequential C-N bond formations.
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Abstract The use of urban wastewater in agriculture, which is a centuries old practice, is becoming more important under the increasing scarcity of freshwater resources faced by many arid and semi-arid countries. There are many advantages... more
Abstract The use of urban wastewater in agriculture, which is a centuries old practice, is becoming more important under the increasing scarcity of freshwater resources faced by many arid and semi-arid countries. There are many advantages in using urban wastewater in agriculture ...
Research Interests: Management, Mathematics, Statistics, Irrigation, Toxicology, and 22 moreBiotechnology, Recycling, Biology, Wastewater Treatment, Agriculture, FORENSIC, Medicine, Veterinary, Computers, Water Supply, Wastewater, Sewage sludge, Medicines, Nutrients, Water Conservation, Agricultural, Applied Science, EDS, Mask, Social Science, Environment, and Rdi
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Present day agriculture needs sophistication that can improve production efficiency, product quality, post harvest operations, and reduce their environmental impact. New agricultural practices have been focused on an economical and... more
Present day agriculture needs sophistication that can improve production efficiency, product quality, post harvest operations, and reduce their environmental impact. New agricultural practices have been focused on an economical and environmental point of view. Current agriculture demands continuous in-situ information of soil physical and chemical parameters which include use of ground based sensor for rapid assessment. In this way effects have been geared up for fulfilling the objective of sustainable agriculture optimizing economical cot and minimizing environmental impact. Gravity of the problem In recent years, worldwide natural and population event share dramatically increasing the pressures on arable farming. The projected growth in world population is likely to be 9.3 billion by 2050. Such figures are exacerbated by population demographics in the increasingly prosperous developing nations, like ours. The wealth generation in the urban regions causing an economic migration awa...
In India, among the nutrients, NPK remain the major ones for increased and sustained productivity. However, the development of high yielding systems will likely exacerbate the problem of secondary and micronutrient deficiencies, not only... more
In India, among the nutrients, NPK remain the major ones for increased and sustained productivity. However, the development of high yielding systems will likely exacerbate the problem of secondary and micronutrient deficiencies, not only because larger amounts are removed, but also because the application of large amounts of N, P and K to achieve higher yield targets. As a result in the intensive systems there is every possibility to build up of negative balance and deficiency of secondary and micronutrients. To attain high future targets, balanced fertilization, site-specific nutrient management and customized fertilizers will play a very important role. The development of site and crop specific readymade customized fertilizers based on scientific principles may prove to be more effective to meet the plant requirement and enhance nutrient use efficiency. Such an approach is also likely to boost crop yields and arrest soil fertility decline in a long-run. Thus, the present article f...
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The effect of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) infection on growth and P nutrition in Maize (Zea mays, cv.DDH hybrid) were assessed in Oxisol pot experiment. Maize was grown inoculated with spores of VAM fungi Glomus mosseae or... more
The effect of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) infection on growth and P nutrition in Maize (Zea mays, cv.DDH hybrid) were assessed in Oxisol pot experiment. Maize was grown inoculated with spores of VAM fungi Glomus mosseae or non-inoculated. Low soluble ferrous phosphate (FePO e 4. 4H 2 O) was added to the mycorrhized and non-micrrohized maized. The dry weight of mycorrhized plants with added phosphate (P) were higher than in mycorrhized plants without added P or non-mycorrhized plants with added P. The amount of P in the soil samples from pots with mycorrhizal plants fertilized with P was evidently smaller than those in samples also fertilized non-mycorrhizal plants. The percentage of P was higher in tissues of fertilized mycorrhial plants than in those mycorrihzed plants without or non-mycorrhized plants with added low-soluble P. These results indicated that plants in VAM symbiosis mobilize P better from low-soluble P than non-mycorrhized plants.
Research Interests: Phosphorus and Oxisol
Historically, agriculture has been subjected to various types of risks and uncertainties, which cause a major concern for producers and ultimately consumers. Farmers face a variety of risks such as production risk or yield risk, market... more
Historically, agriculture has been subjected to various types of risks and uncertainties, which cause a major concern for producers and ultimately consumers. Farmers face a variety of risks such as production risk or yield risk, market risk or price risk, institutional risk, financial and credit risk and personal risk, to name a few. Being the mainstay of most of the developing economies around the world, agricultural risk possesses considerable threat to the income and general price stability of those countries. Insurance is the mechanism to manage agricultural risk particularly to safeguard farm income losses under adverse weather conditions and similar events beyond the control of primary producers. Continuous efforts are in progress around the developing countries to manage the agricultural risks through implementation of various types of insurance products. However, global experiences on promotion and implementation of agricultural insurance indicates mixed results (success and...
Field experiments were carried out to evaluate relative efficacy of organic manures in improving productivity, pest tolerance of rice in lateritic soil. Three commercial manures viz., Processed Municipality Waste (PMW), Vermicompost (VC)... more
Field experiments were carried out to evaluate relative efficacy of organic manures in improving productivity, pest tolerance of rice in lateritic soil. Three commercial manures viz., Processed Municipality Waste (PMW), Vermicompost (VC) and Oil Cake Pellets (OCP) were assessed in relation to Farmyard Manure (FYM) and with Chemical Fertilizer (CF). Among the organic manures tested, FYM produced maximum grain yield. Maximum tolerance to pests and pathogens in terms of per cent affected hills/panicles was observed when manured with VC followed by FYM. Chemical fertilizer showed significantly higher per cent affected hills and plants compared to all other organic manures. Among the commercial manures, PMW emerged as a potential alternative to FYM and VC.
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ABSTRACT Trichoderma harzianum is a naturally occurring filamentous fungus which solubilizes mineral nutrients and inorganic fertilizers, increasing availability and uptake of nutrients to the plant. Rhizoctonia solani is a major problem... more
ABSTRACT Trichoderma harzianum is a naturally occurring filamentous fungus which solubilizes mineral nutrients and inorganic fertilizers, increasing availability and uptake of nutrients to the plant. Rhizoctonia solani is a major problem for seedlings, causing damping-off and in mature plants causing foot and root rot in the tomato crop, reducing nutrient uptake. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma harzianum (BHU-51), Trichoderma harzianum (BHU-105) and their consortium Trichoderma harzianum (BHU-51+BHU-105) on management of R. solani and nutrient levels in the plants.The application of Trichoderma as a seed treatment significantly decreased the incidence of damping-off and increased the vigour index of the plants. The maximum reduction in disease incidence was recorded for the consortium (BHU-51+BHU-105) treatments. The mineral content in treated plants was also higher than untreated pathogen-inoculated controls. Field trials also showed that the consortium produced better results in terms of shoot length, chlorophyll content and yield than the control.The application of Trichoderma in consortium form increased mineral nutrient uptake, reduced disease incidence and obtained a greater yield with reduced chemical pesticide loads, benefitting farmers and consumers.