• Energy Research

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a pivotal role in physiomorphological attributes and yield formation of field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), but little is known of its interaction with irrigation levels. Therefore, this study was conducted with an objective of evaluating the impact of irrigation and nitrogen levels on growth attributes and nitrogen use efficiency ofBtcotton (Gossypiumspp.) in the hot arid region. The experiment consisted of a factorial arrangement of three irrigation levels (200, 400, and 600 mm) and four nitrogen rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg ha–1) in a split-plot design with three replications. Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation levels influenced cotton growth attributes and yield. The highest leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate were achieved at 225 kg N ha–1and irrigation level 600 mm as compared to other experimental treatments. Similarly, nitrogen uptake and content by seed, lint, and stalk and total nitrogen uptake recorded maximum at 225 kg N ha–1and irrigation level 600 mm. Interestingly, the treatment of 600 mm of irrigation and 150 kg N ha–1displayed significant increase in nitrogen use efficiency indices such as agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) and recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN), while partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) and internal nitrogen use efficiency (iNUE) were significantly higher with application of 600 mm of irrigation and nitrogen application rate of 75 kg ha–1. Application of 600 mm of irrigation along with 225 kg N ha–1resulted in significant increase in gross return, net return, and B:C ratio than any other treatment combinations. So, application of 600 mm of irrigation along with 225 kg N ha–1could be recommended for achieving higher growth and yield, as well as profitability ofBtcotton under hot arid region and similar agroecologies.

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a pivotal role in physiomorphological attributes and yield formation of field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), but little is known of its interaction with irrigation levels. Therefore, this study was conducted with an objective of evaluating the impact of irrigation and nitrogen levels on growth attributes and nitrogen use efficiency ofBtcotton (Gossypiumspp.) in the hot arid region. The experiment consisted of a factorial arrangement of three irrigation levels (200, 400, and 600 mm) and four nitrogen rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg ha–1) in a split-plot design with three replications. Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation levels influenced cotton growth attributes and yield. The highest leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate were achieved at 225 kg N ha–1and irrigation level 600 mm as compared to other experimental treatments. Similarly, nitrogen uptake and content by seed, lint, and stalk and total nitrogen uptake recorded maximum at 225 kg N ha–1and irrigation level 600 mm. Interestingly, the treatment of 600 mm of irrigation and 150 kg N ha–1displayed significant increase in nitrogen use efficiency indices such as agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) and recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN), while partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) and internal nitrogen use efficiency (iNUE) were significantly higher with application of 600 mm of irrigation and nitrogen application rate of 75 kg ha–1. Application of 600 mm of irrigation along with 225 kg N ha–1resulted in significant increase in gross return, net return, and B:C ratio than any other treatment combinations. So, application of 600 mm of irrigation along with 225 kg N ha–1could be recommended for achieving higher growth and yield, as well as profitability ofBtcotton under hot arid region and similar agroecologies.

The study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of predominant land uses on physicochemical properties, nutrient status and their interactions in soils of south-western Punjab representing the semi-arid soils of India. From each site, soil samples of three predominant land use viz. croplands, horticultural lands and uncultivated lands were collected from 0–15, 15–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm depths. Soils of both croplands and horticultural lands were classified as sandy loam whereas uncultivated lands showed loamy sand texture with relatively higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and bulk density (Bd). Greater soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in horticulture might be due to the higher addition of OC and mineral nutrients through the decomposition of leaf litterfall and root deposits over their removal from soils while long-term use of potassic fertilizer raised the available K contents in croplands. Profile study up to 90 cm depicted the largest sequestration of 74.89 Mg C ha−1 under orchards which was 40 and 70% higher than croplands and uncultivated lands respectively. Significant variability in water-stable aggregates (WSA) (R2 = 0.5843, p < 0.05) and mean weighted diameter (MWD) (R2 = 0.6497, p < 0.01) with SOC indicated better soil stability in horticulture due to the presence of higher SOC. Positive relations of soil available micronutrients with SOC and finer soil particles were supported by the results of correlation, Principal component analysis and dendrogram indicating horticulture as a potent source of available micronutrients. An overall superiority of horticultural land use over the other two land uses in terms of nutrient status and soil stability suggests its inclusion as a positive strategy that could be taken into account in policymaking for maintaining productivity along with the sustainability of the concerned land degradation prone area.

The study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of predominant land uses on physicochemical properties, nutrient status and their interactions in soils of south-western Punjab representing the semi-arid soils of India. From each site, soil samples of three predominant land use viz. croplands, horticultural lands and uncultivated lands were collected from 0–15, 15–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm depths. Soils of both croplands and horticultural lands were classified as sandy loam whereas uncultivated lands showed loamy sand texture with relatively higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and bulk density (Bd). Greater soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in horticulture might be due to the higher addition of OC and mineral nutrients through the decomposition of leaf litterfall and root deposits over their removal from soils while long-term use of potassic fertilizer raised the available K contents in croplands. Profile study up to 90 cm depicted the largest sequestration of 74.89 Mg C ha−1 under orchards which was 40 and 70% higher than croplands and uncultivated lands respectively. Significant variability in water-stable aggregates (WSA) (R2 = 0.5843, p < 0.05) and mean weighted diameter (MWD) (R2 = 0.6497, p < 0.01) with SOC indicated better soil stability in horticulture due to the presence of higher SOC. Positive relations of soil available micronutrients with SOC and finer soil particles were supported by the results of correlation, Principal component analysis and dendrogram indicating horticulture as a potent source of available micronutrients. An overall superiority of horticultural land use over the other two land uses in terms of nutrient status and soil stability suggests its inclusion as a positive strategy that could be taken into account in policymaking for maintaining productivity along with the sustainability of the concerned land degradation prone area.

Although nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for agricultural production, its overuse is associated with environmental pollution, increased concentration of greenhouse gases, and several human and animal health implications. These implications are greatly affected by biochemical transformations and losses of N such as volatilization, leaching, runoff, and denitrification. Half of the globally produced N fertilizers are used to grow three major cereals—rice, wheat, and maize—and their current level of N recovery is approximately 30–50%. The continuously increasing application of N fertilizers, despite lower recovery of cereals, can further intensify the environmental and health implications of leftover N. To address these implications, the improvement in N use efficiency (NUE) by adopting efficient agronomic practices and modern breeding and biotechnological tools for developing N efficient cultivars requires immediate attention. Conventional and marker-assisted selection methods can be used to map quantitative trait loci, and their introgression in elite germplasm leads to the creation of cultivars with better NUE. Moreover, gene-editing technology gives the opportunity to develop high-yielding cultivars with improved N utilization capacity. The most reliable and cheap methods include agronomic practices such as site-specific N management, enhanced use efficiency fertilizers, resource conservation practices, precision farming, and nano-fertilizers that can help farmers to reduce the environmental losses of N from the soil–plant system, thus improving NUE. Our review illuminates insights into recent advances in local and scientific soil and crop management technologies, along with conventional and modern breeding technologies on how to increase NUE that can help reduce linked N pollution and health implications.

Although nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for agricultural production, its overuse is associated with environmental pollution, increased concentration of greenhouse gases, and several human and animal health implications. These implications are greatly affected by biochemical transformations and losses of N such as volatilization, leaching, runoff, and denitrification. Half of the globally produced N fertilizers are used to grow three major cereals—rice, wheat, and maize—and their current level of N recovery is approximately 30–50%. The continuously increasing application of N fertilizers, despite lower recovery of cereals, can further intensify the environmental and health implications of leftover N. To address these implications, the improvement in N use efficiency (NUE) by adopting efficient agronomic practices and modern breeding and biotechnological tools for developing N efficient cultivars requires immediate attention. Conventional and marker-assisted selection methods can be used to map quantitative trait loci, and their introgression in elite germplasm leads to the creation of cultivars with better NUE. Moreover, gene-editing technology gives the opportunity to develop high-yielding cultivars with improved N utilization capacity. The most reliable and cheap methods include agronomic practices such as site-specific N management, enhanced use efficiency fertilizers, resource conservation practices, precision farming, and nano-fertilizers that can help farmers to reduce the environmental losses of N from the soil–plant system, thus improving NUE. Our review illuminates insights into recent advances in local and scientific soil and crop management technologies, along with conventional and modern breeding technologies on how to increase NUE that can help reduce linked N pollution and health implications.