<div>Consistent agricultural production needs a package of methods starting from the improved crop varieties to agronomic practices to fulfil the food demand worldwide. Agricultural productivity is mainly restricted due to poor seed quality coupled with several biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, enhancement of agricultural production through improved quality of seed needs additional practice to achieve sustainable growth of farm income. In this context, biopriming could serve as a viable approach to enhance crop productivity as it improves the performance of plants under sub-optimal conditions. In biopriming, the bacterial inoculum is used during the imbibition process that bypasses the need for hazardous agrochemicals linked with crop management practices. The use of microbial solution on the planting material is an economically and environmentally safe method for uniform crop establishment. Alongside biotic stress amelioration, biopriming also serves as a viable solution to enhance the nutrient use efficiency in crop plants. Overall, the introduction of biopriming in agricultural practices allows farmers to achieve better production with a minimum investment of costly inputs.</div>

Seed Quality Enhancement Through Seed Biopriming to Increase Productivity: A Review

<div>Pulses are an important protein source for vegetarian people across the world and they have a great potential to improve the human health, contribute to global food and nutritional security. Variety of pulses were grown in India with 25% of global production and 27% of global consumption. Though India is the largest pulses producer in the world, it imports around 3.5 million tons annually to meet the ever-increasing requirement. Less adoption of improved Agro techniques, low fertile soils and unpredictable environment conditions are major factor for low production of pulses. As a results of increasing population, the projected pulses requirement will be 32 million tons by 2030 which necessitate annual growth rate of 4.2%. With adoption of suitable agronomic strategies, the productivity has to be enhanced to meet the demand. This review work was done at Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Collected review and research papers were screened from various data base like TNAU e library, ARCC journals, google scholar, research gate and scopus used to write this paper. This review article documented information gathered on importance of pulses, area, production and productivity of pulses. Nipping is important agronomic practices that removes the apical bud dominance and promotes the lateral growth which turn better maintenance of source and sink relationship and enhance the pulses yield. Influence of nipping on growth and yield of various pluses crops has been discussed here.</div>

Nipping-Agronomic Approach for Enhancing the Pulses Production: A Review

<div>Background: Chickpea is the largest produced food legume in South Asia. It is mainly grown in dry or rainfed area, where patchy plant stand often results due to delayed and non-uniform emergence. Moreover, genotypes vary for seed germination and seedling vigour. Therefore, the study was undertaken to find most appropriate seed treatment for enhancement of planting value of desi and kabuli type chickpeas.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;Study was conducted at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi with fresh, 2 and 4 years stored seed lots of desi (Pusa 2028) and kabuli (Pusa 1108) varieties. The lots were compared with untreated (control) for quality and vigour parameters after giving seed enhancement treatments (SET); osmopriming, halopriming, solid matrix priming (SMP), thiram and neem khali. 
 
Result:&nbsp;Investigations revealed that SMP and thiram seed treatments significantly enhanced germination and field performance of fresh as well as aged seeds in these varieties. Effectiveness of treatments was found more pronounced in kabuli than desi type and thus confirmed the usefulness of SETs for poor vigour seeds. Results also showed that seed quality and vigour of both the types were significantly affected with time in storage. However, desi variety maintained satisfactory germination and field performance up to 2 years under ambient conditions of storage.</div>

Seed Quality Enhancement for Improving Planting Value of Fresh and Aged Seed Lots of Chickpea

Background: The study entitled &ldquo;Potential of Enhanced Probiotic as Dietary Supplement for Growing-finishing Pigs&rdquo; was conducted at Agriculture Instructional, Research and Production Units, Apayao State College, conner campus. This study aimed to evaluate its potential as dietary supplement for growing-finishing pigs in terms of body weight, gain in weight, average daily gain (ADG), Feed Consumption and Feed Conversion Ratio and the Return on Investment (ROI). Probiotic are live microorganisms that when it is used in right amount, it improved health, digestibility and fast nutrient absorption towards significant growth performance and feed efficiency. Commercial probiotics which are evidently available in the market and easily procured by raisers. However, its price is so high and revealed its increasing expenditures that cause low net income. With that, a cheapest probiotic; safe both human and the animals, decreasing production expenses. and environmental-friendly was formulated. Hence, the study was conducted to see the potential of enhanced probiotic (Provet) as dietary supplement for growing-finishing pigs 
 
Methods: The study was laid out using the completely randomized designed (CRD). The least significance difference (LSD) was used for the comparison of means, if the result is significant. The treatments as basis of comparison were Treatment 1- Control (No Probiotic), Treatment 2. Commercial Probiotic, Treatment 3. 20 ml of Enhanced Formulated Probiotic (EFP), Treatment 4. 30ml of Enhanced Formulated Probiotic (EFP). 
 
Result: Highly significant (P&lt;0.01) result were observed on the growth parameters of growing-finishing pigs such as body weight, gain in weight and the average daily gain (ADG) wherein, pigs treated with 20 ml EFP took advantaged compared with the pigs in control treatment and of the pigs treated with commercial probiotic. With the body weight advantage of animals treated with 20 ml EFP, the return on investment (ROI) revealed significant advantage compare with the pigs in the other treatments. It is therefore concluded, that the 20 ml EFP showed potential as dietary supplement on the growth parameters of growing-finishing pigs, its utilization significantly affecting the return on investment and safe to use for animal consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to use the 20 ml enhanced formulated probiotic and best to mixed with feeds and be utilized by pigs in the morning. Further recommended to conduct a verification trial on the efficacy of 20 ml enhanced formulated probiotic in same age of pig to finally confirm its significant impact to the growth and income of raising growing-finishing pigs. Furthermore, study on the use of enhanced formulated probiotic be also conducted for early and post weaning piglets and gestating sow. 
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Potential of Enhanced Formulated Probiotic (Provet) as Dietary Supplement for Growing-finishing Pigs

Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple crop widely cultivated around the world, playing a crucial role in global food security. However, the sustained productivity of maize is threatened by declining soil health and quality due to intensive farming practices and improper nutrient management. Integrated nutrient&nbsp;management (INM) is a judicious use of organic and inorganic&nbsp;sources of nutrient to crop fields for sustaining and maintaining&nbsp;soil productivity. However, the use of appropriate and conjunctive&nbsp;use of application of suitable nutrients through organic and&nbsp;inorganic solely or in combination can provide the solutions to the&nbsp;problems such as increase in the price of inorganic fertilizers and&nbsp;deterioration effect of soil fertility and productivity. Hence, judicious&nbsp;application of these combinations can sustain the soil fertility and productivity. 
 
Methods: A field experiment comprising of 12 treatments was carried out in the kharif season of 2022 at the research farm of the Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, LPU, Phagwara. Aim of this research was to optimize nutrient availability and enhance soil fertility. Addressing these challenges, the present investigation entitled, enhancing physio chemical properties and nutrient content of maize through integrated nutrient management. 
 
Result: Application of 100% RDN+ mixed biofertilizers + FYM+ 1% spray of ZnSO4&nbsp;+ resulted in showed the highest protein content (10.15%), starch content (60.4%) and ash content (1.19%) in maize grains, followed by 75% RDN + Mixed Biofertilizers + FYM + 1% spray ZnSO4&nbsp;and T11. Additionally, T12&nbsp;showed the highest available zinc status in the soil with 1.5 kg/ha and the highest available zinc content in grains and straw after harvest with 325.6 mg/kg and 27.3 mg/kg, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of combining various nutrient sources to optimize maize growth and enhance its productivity. 
&nbsp;

Enhancing Physiochemical Properties and Quality of Maize Through Integrated Nutrient Management

<div>Background: Effective in-situ decomposition of rice straw is urgent need for enhancing soil health, supporting nutrient cycling and mitigating the widespread practice of residue burning. This study aim to screen and characterizes potential lignocellulolytic producing microbial isolates and evaluate their efficiency in accelerating rice straw decomposition under pot condition and their subsequent impact on soil biochemical properties and microbial activity under field condition. 
 
Methods: A wide range of bacterial and fungal isolates were screened for lignocellulolytic enzyme production. Eighteen promising crop residue decomposers (CRDs) were applied on rice straw with three replications under complete randomized design (CRD). Their effects on key enzymes (&beta;-glucosidase, protease, xylanase and chitinase), microbial populations, biomass carbon and nitrogen, basal respiration and overall soil properties were evaluated under controlled conditions. 
 
Result: The inoculation CRDs on rice straw recorded significantly greater microbial counts, microbial biomass C and N, basal soil respiration, soil enzymes and soil properties over the control. Microbial counts (bacterial, actinomycetes and fungal), microbial biomass C, N and basal respiration were recorded highest in the T4-CRDB48, closely followed by T12-CRDB24, T5-CRDB52, T17-CRDF32 and T15-CRDF8. CRD inoculation also enhanced enzymatic activities (&beta;-glucosidase: 7.77-32.0 &mu;g PNP/ g soil/h, xylanase: 32.3-132.8 &mu;g GE/g soil/h), microbial counts and soil quality parameters significantly over the control. Inoculation of T15-CRDB48 recorded the highest SOC (0.54%), followed by T5-CRDB52 (0.52%) and T17-CRDF32 (0.50%) over control (0.38%) after decomposition of rice straw, respectively. The CRDB24, CRDB48 and CRDB52 bacteria isolates were identified by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Bacillus haynesii, Bacillus altitudinis and Bacillus stratosphericus, while CRDF8 and CRDF32 fungal isolates were identified by ITS region sequencing as Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus fumigates, respectively. The selected microbial inoculants effectively accelerated rice straw decomposition and improved soil biological and chemical properties. These findings exhibited their potential that can be used in sustainable residue management strategies liable to enhance soil health and reduce the environmental impact of straw burning.</div>

Microbial Inoculation Enhances Rice Straw Decomposition and Improves Soil Health

Background: Cultivating legumes, a significant facet of sustainable agriculture, consistently faces challenges in managing water resources. The present study aimed to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance water use efficiency in legume farming with the potential to reduce the water shortage problem. In this work, Peas as a specific legume is chosen. In Uttar Pradesh, India, precision irrigation was combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to maximize crop productivity, support sustainable farming methods and solve the problem of water constraints. AI-enabled precision irrigation offers significant advantages like precise allocation of water resources, enhanced crop yield, optimal water consumption, cost-effectiveness and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: By employing a systematic methodology, including data collection, AI modeling and thorough data analysis, this work reveals useful findings. The comparison between traditional and AI-driven precision irrigation shows that artificial intelligence delivers enhanced real-time decision-making capabilities. It optimally tailors&rsquo; irrigation schedules and water distribution, considering weather, soil conditions and crop requirements. The achieved water savings, combined with improved legume yields, have significant implications for agricultural techniques with limited resources. 
 
Result: Because of a changing climate and decreasing water supplies, farmers, legislators and other stakeholders can greatly benefit from the suggestions that were obtained from the findings, which provide practical direction. This research serves as a milestone in the integration of AI for precision agriculture, creating a way for a more sustainable and productive future in legume farming.

AI-Enhanced Precision Irrigation in Legume Farming: Optimizing Water Use Efficiency

<div>Growing rice under aerobic soil conditions is a promising water-wise technology under the context of ever-mounting water scarcity, but it is subject to poor stand establishment and high weed pressure. This invites severe competition between weeds and rice, thus reducing the crop yields on an average of 50-60 per cent. Early weed control is essential in aerobic rice. Therefore, any effort to mitigate the ill effect of crop-weed competition in the early stages of crop growth will ultimately enhance yield of aerobic rice. So, &lsquo;seed priming&rsquo; is one of the best options to manage crop-weed competition in the early stages of crop growth. Seed priming is an approach to add moisture to seeds allowing seeds to be hydrated partially without radicle emergence Beneficial effects of seed priming such as higher germination uniformity, better allometric attributes, rapid stand establishment and vigorous early plant growth were important components for weed competitiveness in aerobic rice. Higher and synchronized emergence of primed seeds can ensure vigorous crop stand with rapid canopy development giving rice plants a preliminary advantage over weeds. Different seed priming methods/ priming agents Viz. hydro, osmo, halo, bio, solid matrix priming have been found effective in increasing the vigour and yield of aerobic rice. Therefore, seed priming is supposed to play a significant role in weed suppression. Seed priming also enhances the grain yield of rice mainly due to more vigorous seedlings resulting in earlier and enhanced resource capture, higher numbers of panicle-bearing tillers due to low mortality of seedlings, improved nutrient and moisture supply.</div>

<div>Seed Priming: An Approach to Enhance Weed Competitiveness and Productivity in Aerobic Rice: A Review</div>

Background: The Liver is a well vascularized organ. Any pathology can impede its blood flow and this makes liver the most suitable organ for studying the Doppler indices and contrast enhanced perfusion parameters.

Methods: This clinical study enrolled 9 healthy dogs including 2 breeds each of beagle, German shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and one breed each of Crossbred, Pug and Pit bull. Spectral Doppler sonography and contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of liver vasculature using a second generation contrast agent (Sonovue) was performed to standardize their normal pulsed-wave Doppler indices and contrast enhanced perfusion parameters.

Result: The mean &plusmn; SE values of Doppler indices of portal vein were PSV (27.68 &plusmn; 2.08 cm/s), EDV (15.32 &plusmn; 1.74 cm/s), MV (14.05 &plusmn; 1.94 cm/s), RI (0.44 &plusmn; 0.05) and PI (0.93 &plusmn; 0.11). Mean &plusmn; SE value of Doppler indices of hepatic artery were&nbsp; 53.78 &plusmn; 3.45 cm/s (PSV), 13.90 &plusmn; 1.82 cm/s (EDV), 21.63 &plusmn; 1.21 cm/s (MV), 0.73 &plusmn; 0.04 (RI), 1.93 &plusmn; 0.28 (PI) and for hepatic vein were 38.62 &plusmn; 4.62 cm/s (PSV), 11.92 &plusmn; 2.79 cm/s (EDV), 17.72 &plusmn; 2.95 cm/s (MV), 0.69 &plusmn; 0.06 (RI), 1.69 &plusmn; 0.23 (PI). CEUS of hepatic parenchyma showed three phases viz arterial, portal and late portal phase. Mean &plusmn; SE values of contrast enhanced hepatic perfusion parameters (in seconds) were 7.22 &plusmn;0.40 (Arrival time), 16.33 &plusmn;1.38 (Time to initial peak), 30.22 &plusmn;1.29 (Time to final peak), 54.55 &plusmn;2.93 (Decline time) and 160.78&plusmn;8.60 (Washout time).

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Quantification of Doppler Indices, Contrast Ultrasound Enhancement Phases and Perfusion Parameters of Hepatic Parenchyma in Healthy Dogs

A field experiment was conducted for three years under irrigated conditions for productivity enhancement of soybean through integrated nutrient and other agronomic interventions. Application of N, P, K and FYM significantly enhanced the yield of soybean over control. &nbsp;Maximum yield was observed in the treatment where FYM was applied with NPK and resulted in an increase of 15.1 per cent over NPK alone. Application of additional 30 kg N ha-1 at pre-flowering or at pod initiation did not significantly enhance the yield over the basal dose of NP applied at sowing. &nbsp;Application of 4 tonnes wheat straw mulch + 30 kg N +60 kg P2O5 and 30 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 &nbsp;showed similar effect on seed yield of soybean. No statistical difference in soybean yield was obtained in the conventional flat and bed sowing treatments. Pre-emergence application of pendimethaline @ 1.5 l ha -1 along with one hand weeding at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS were equally effective for weed control and in influencing the soybean yield. The application of N, P, K, FYM, in different treatments, treatment with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and sowing on beds all significantly improved the N, P and K uptake by soybean over control. &nbsp;Application of FYM to soybean resulted in maximum enhancement of nutrient uptake by soybean. &nbsp;After three years a significant improvement in soil OC, available N, P and K was observed in all treatments over control.&nbsp;

Productivity enhancement of &nbsp;soybean as influenced by integerated nutrient and other agronomic interventions in sub - humid Punjab, India&nbsp;