Aug 2026· International Journal of Plant & Soil Science· 0 citations
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2025-26 at the Agriculture Research and Development Centre, Sakatpura, School of Agriculture Science, Vikrant University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate the yield and economic responses of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) to biochar-based nutrient management. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised an absolute control, 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF: 80:40:40:40 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O:S ha⁻¹), and 100% or 75% RDF combined with mustard stover, Lantana camara, or wood/forest residue biochar @ 5.0 t ha⁻¹. The highest yield attributes were obtained with 100% RDF + Lantana camara biochar @ 5.0 t ha⁻¹ (T₄), which recorded 340.00 siliquae plant⁻¹, 14.60 seeds siliqua⁻¹, and a 1,000-seed weight of 5.21 g. The same treatment produced the maximum seed yield (21.72 q ha⁻¹), stover yield (44.00 q ha⁻¹), biological yield (65.72 q ha⁻¹), gross returns (₹1,52,320 ha⁻¹), and net returns (₹1,03,720 ha⁻¹). However, 75% RDF + Lantana camara biochar @ 5.0 t ha⁻¹ (T₇) recorded the highest benefit:cost ratio (3.14), with a comparable seed yield of 20.67 q ha⁻¹. The results indicated that integrating lantana biochar with fertilizer improved mustard productivity and profitability, while 75% RDF + lantana biochar may serve as a fertilizer-saving option where local biochar material is available.
A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2020–21 at the Research Farm of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management practices on the growth, yield attributes, productivity, and economic returns of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with three replications and nine nutrient management treatments, namely T₁: RDF, T₂: 50% RDF, T₃: 75% RDF + vermicompost (VC), T₄: RDF + B, T₅: RDF + Zn, T₆: RDF + Fe, T₇: RDF + Zn + B + Fe + Mn, T₈: RDF + bioregulator (BR), and T₉: RDF + Mn + BR. The recommended fertiliser dose (RDF) comprised 80 kg N, 40 kg P₂O₅, 40 kg K₂O, and 20 kg S ha⁻¹. The results showed that the nutrient management treatments significantly influenced the growth, yield attributes, and yield of Indian mustard. Treatment T₃ (75% RDF + VC at 5 t ha⁻¹) recorded the greatest plant height (201.0 cm), numbers of primary branches (7.0 plant⁻¹) and secondary branches (16.0 plant⁻¹), number of siliquae (213 plant⁻¹), and number of seeds per siliqua (18.43). The same treatment also produced the maximum seed yield (1877 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (5130 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (7007 kg ha⁻¹), which were significantly higher than those of most other treatments. The harvest index did not differ significantly among the treatments. The economic analysis indicated that T₃ generated the highest gross return (₹102,670.5 ha⁻¹), net return (₹72,988.5 ha⁻¹), and benefit–cost ratio (2.46). By contrast, the lowest seed yield and economic returns were recorded under T₈ (RDF + BR) and T₉ (RDF + Mn + BR). The improved performance of T₃ may be associated with the combined effects of vermicompost and inorganic fertilisers on nutrient availability, soil biological activity, and nutrient-use efficiency. Under the conditions of this experiment, the integrated application of 75% RDF with vermicompost at 5 t ha⁻¹ was the most effective nutrient management treatment for improving the growth, yield attributes, seed yield, and profitability of Indian mustard in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region.
Artika Singh, Shivank Prajapati, R. Choudhary et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an important oilseed crop, and improving its productivity through balanced nutrient management is relevant to edible-oil production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022-23 Rabi season at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, to evaluate the effects of organic manures and micronutrients on growth and yield. The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations arranged in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. Organic-manure treatments included a control, farmyard manure at 10 t/ha and vermicompost at 5 t/ha; micronutrient treatments comprised ZnSO₄ at 25 kg/ha, FeSO₄ at 20 kg/ha and borax at 2 kg/ha. Growth parameters, including plant height, primary and secondary branches and dry matter accumulation, were recorded at successive crop stages. Seed, stover and biological yields and harvest index were assessed at harvest. Vermicompost at 5 t/ha generally produced the highest growth and yield values and was statistically at par with farmyard manure at 10 t/ha for most measured parameters. Among the micronutrients, ZnSO₄ at 25 kg/ha generally recorded the highest values and was statistically at par with borax at 2 kg/ha, whereas FeSO₄ at 20 kg/ha produced comparatively lower values. Interaction effects were non-significant for most parameters. The findings indicate that vermicompost and zinc sulphate individually supported improved growth and yield performance under the study conditions.
Loveleen Gill, Santosh Kumar· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
A field experiment was conducted during the spring season of 2024–25 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, to evaluate the optimisation of sugarcane straw biochar rate and nutrient management on spring maize (Zea mays L.). The trial was laid out in a split-plot design (SPD) with 3 replications. The main plot received three different treatment levels of sugarcane biochar rate which included 5 t ha-1 (M1) and 10 t ha-1 (M2) and 15 t ha-1 (M3). Similarly, 4 treatments were selected for the subplot section, consisting of S1 for absolute control, S2 for 100 % recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus (RDNP), S3 for 50 % RDNP with nano di-ammonium phosphate (nano DAP) and S4 for 50 % RDNP with liquid nutrient foliar sprays. Results revealed that, M3 achieved the significantly highest plant height of 221.46 cm during harvest while also reaching the highest dry matter accumulation (DMA) of 230.06 g plant-1 and soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index of 45.53 which resulted in a 31.8 % grain yield increase compared to M1. The evaluation of different nutrient conditions showed that S2 and S3 performed equally well for all measured characteristics when compared to S1. Under the S2 treatment, both plant height and grain yield increased by 28.1 %, while yield attributes also showed improvement. The interaction showed distinct patterns because M3S2 achieved significantly highest growth and yield of spring maize. The maximum chlorophyll index (46.80), grain yield (57.03 q ha-1) and straw yield (75.03 q ha-1) were found in M3S2 which are statistically at par with M3S3 and M3S4. The combination of reduced fertiliser application with foliar treatment produced better crop results when biochar usage reached its peak level. Therefore, integrating sugarcane biochar with optimised nutrient level offers a pragmatic pathway for improving growth and productivity of spring maize in Punjab.
T. Zeeshan, K. Santosh, A. Meraj· Plant Science Today· 0 citations
A field experiment was carried out during the boro seasons of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 at the Agricultural Experimental Farm of the University of Calcutta, located at Baruipur, West Bengal, India, to study the economics of different integrated nutrient management practices in the Chandra rice variety (MTU-1153). The soil was moderately fertile, with a pH of around 6.0 and a clayey loam texture. The experiment consisted of ten treatments arranged in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, viz., 50% of the recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) N-P2O5-K2O + farmyard manure (FYM) @ 5 t ha-1, 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + FYM @ 5 t ha-1, 50% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + FYM @ 7 t ha-1, 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + FYM @ 7 t ha-1, 50% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1, 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1, 50% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, 100% RDF N-P2O5-K2O and Control. The highest grain and straw yields were recorded with the treatment 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, at (60.40 and 60.97) q ha-1 and (76.20 and 76.70) q ha-1, respectively. The results revealed that the highest gross return was obtained with the application of 75% RDF N-P2O5-K2O + Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, at Rs. (146990.00 and 157021.00) ha-1, whereas the highest net profit was recorded with the treatment (100% RDF N-P2O5-K2O), at Rs. (69256.00 and 72234.00) ha-1 during both years and in the pooled analysis. The same treatment, i.e., (100% RDF N-P2O5-K2O), recorded the highest benefit-cost (B:C) ratio (2.02) compared with the other treated plots.
Subham Chakraborty, A. Dolai, S. K. Patra et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Background: Biochar application in combination with fertiliser may improve crop productivity and nutrient use while providing an avenue for utilising invasive biomass.
Aims: This study evaluated the effects of Lantana camara-derived biochar on cauliflower yield, nutrient uptake, quality and economic returns.
Study Design: The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design with nine treatments and three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Soil Science and Water Management, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, from October 2023 to March 2024.
Results: The results of the present investigation revealed that the application of 100% RDF + 20.0 t ha⁻¹ biochar (T9) was the most effective treatment among those evaluated, consistently outperforming the remaining treatments across the major parameters studied. This treatment recorded the highest head and stalk yields, along with superior quality attributes of cauliflower, including maximum crude protein (14.26 %), total soluble solids (6.55 ˚Brix) and ascorbic acid content (54.02 mg 100 g-1). These results indicate that the sustained and gradual release of nutrients from biochar at this higher application rate created a favourable rhizosphere environment conducive to vigorous crop growth and development. In addition to yield and quality, treatment T9 recorded the maximum uptake of essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and manganese) by the crop, reflecting the combined benefits of enhanced nutrient availability, improved soil physico-chemical properties and greater microbial activity associated with higher rates of biochar application. From an economic perspective, biochar application resulted in a higher benefit:cost ratio than the treatment receiving farmyard manure (FYM), indicating that the additional input costs associated with biochar preparation and application were compensated for by gains in yield and quality, thereby providing greater economic returns. Among all treatments, T9 (100% RDF + 20.0 t ha⁻¹ biochar) registered the highest increase in the benefit:cost ratio, amounting to 15.88 per cent over the FYM-treated control (T1).
Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of biochar derived from invasive species such as Lantana camara as an eco-friendly soil amendment capable of reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers while simultaneously enhancing nutrient uptake and crop productivity.
Swapana Sepehya, Dikshant Chauhan, Anil Kumar et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
Sowing date is a crucial factor influencing the productivity of Indian mustard in the Gwalior region. Delayed sowing frequently exposes the crop to unfavourable temperature regimes and terminal heat stress during the reproductive phase, which adversely affects crop growth and consequently reduces yield. Therefore, determining an optimum sowing window is essential for attaining improved growth and higher productivity. In this regard, a field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025-26 at the Crop Research Centre, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, on sandy loam soil to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on the productivity and profitability of Indian mustard under different sowing dates. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design comprising three sowing dates as main-plot treatments (D1 - 01/10/2025, D2 - 15/10/2025 and D3 - 30/10/2025) and four nutrient-management practices as sub-plot treatments (N0 - control, N1 - 100% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, N2 - 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 and N3 - 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1), with three replications. The findings revealed that mustard sown on 01 October significantly outperformed the delayed sowing treatments by recording higher nutrient content and uptake, along with superior seed yield (23.4 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.4 q ha-1). Among the nutrient-management treatments, the application of 100% RDF along with vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 proved to be the most effective, enhancing nutrient content and uptake and achieving the maximum seed yield (24.3 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.4 q ha-1) compared with the remaining treatments.
K. Anilkumar, P. Rajput, P. Kanaujiya et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
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