Background: Nutrients are important factors that plants need, which also affect the plant&rsquo;s sensitivity to plant diseases. These nutrients may increase the plant&rsquo;s sensitivity to disease or may increase the plant&rsquo;s resistance to these diseases. 
 
Methods: This research was designed to determine the effect of the nutrient&rsquo;s nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the incidence of root diseases affecting tomato seedling caused by Pythium ultimum. Pythium ultimum were isolated and identified through a combination of morphological characteristics and DNA sequencing. 
 
Result: The results of this research showed that nutrient elements (N, P and K) play a major role in increasing the tomato plants ability to resist root diseases caused by Pythium ultimum. Different concentrations of N, P and K showed low root disease incident on tomato seedlings caused by Pythium ultimum. The best concentrations of N, P and K were 20% each and with a lower percentage 10%. Nutrient elements are very important in the plant&rsquo;s ability to resist diseases, but within specific quantities for each element.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
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Root Rot Disease on Tomato Seedlings Caused by Pythium ultimum and the Effect of Nutrient Elements N, P and K on Disease Incidence

<div>Background: The research is based on the fertility status of the soil being affected year by year so here is a strategy to save the soil fertility level or soil health by the use of a leguminous cropping system. 
 
Methods:&nbsp; A study was conducted during 2018-2021 in the Meerut district of western Uttar Pradesh to evaluate the soil characterization of the rice - pea- sugarcane cropping system. The soil samples were analyzed for various parameters in the laboratory. The status of available NPK in soils and other soil properties like pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and organic carbon (OC) content were assessed.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Results reveal that the soils of the study area were neutral to strongly alkaline in reaction and non-saline in nature. Nutrient status regarding to the available nutrient in the surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) depth of soil indicate that soils are low in available N and medium in available P and K in surface and subsurface. A positive and significant correlation of NPK with organic matter content was found while significant and negative correlations exist between the soil pH.</div>

Depth Wise Variability of Available N, P and K at Different Locations under Rice - Pea- Sugarcane Cropping System in Meerut District (U.P)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Green gram is the important pulse crop of India and grown under extensive agroclimatic condition in India for its versatile uses. Moreover, extreme and inappropriate use of inorganic nutrients deteriorated the soil quality by reducing the soil microbial population and also declined the quality of crops. Now a days, majority of population living in urban and rural area had demand for safe and healthy food for which inclusive food production technology needs to be developed with priority on quality enhancement and yield stability. In fact, it is not possible for farmers to directly shift from inorganic source of nutrients to organics in their crop production as it may lead to decrease in crop yields in the initial years. This may be possible due to substitution of organic sources of nutrients in place of inorganics to fulfil the crop nutrient requirement for accomplishing higher and stable crop yield of better quality with upgradation in soil health. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of differential substitution of nutrients through organics on growth, yield and nutrient content of green gram (Vigna radiata) in irrigated sub-tropical region of J and K. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted for two consecutive years in field during summer 2016 and 2017 at research farm of division of Agronomy located at latitude and longitude of 32&deg;40&#39; N and 73&deg;64&#39; E at Skuast-Jammu. Experiment was laid out with 16 treatments and three replications. Green gram variety &ldquo;SML-668&rdquo; was grown as per their respective recommended packages of cultivation except for the nutrient-N and its organic sources which were applied as per the treatments. Nutrient content of green gram was worked out in the laboratory following standard procedures. 
 
Result: The pooled result of the two-year study of green gram concluded that significantly highest growth parameters and yield of green gram were recorded with treatment 100% recommended dose of fertilizer whereas significantly lowest value of all these parameters were recorded with treatment 100% NPK through FYM. Numerically highest value of NPK content in seed and stover of green gram after two-year experiment was recorded with treatment 100% NPK through FYM whereas highest gross returns, net returns and b:c ratio were recorded with treatment 100% recommended dose of fertilizer when compared with other treatments.</div>

Influence of Differential Substitution of Nutrients through Organics on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Green Gram (Vigna radiata) in Irrigated Sub-tropical Region of J and K

<div>Background:&nbsp;Weeds are the major biological constraint in okra due to its slow initial growth and wider row spacing. Due to severe crop weed competition, weeds removed considerable amount of nutrients from the soil. Competition exists between the crop and weed for nutrients results in nutrient deficiencies in crop. Hence the present experiment is formulated to assess the effect of stale seedbed, mulching and mechanical weeding on nutrient availability, nutrient uptake by crop and weed in okra. 
 
Methods: Experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Rabi 2020-21. Design adopted for the study was RBD with two factors. The first factor was seedbed preparation (S) and the second factor was weed management (W). Stale seedbed (S1) and normal seedbed (S2) were the two different seedbed preparation methods and dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb wheel hoe weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb hand weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W3), wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4), hand weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W5) and weedy check (W6) were the six different weed management options tried. Soil samples were collected after the harvest of the crop to determine the nutrient availability. Weed samples at 30 and 60 DAS and plant samples at harvest were analyzed to determine the NPK content and respective uptake of nutrients were calculated by multiplying the nutrient content with DMP. 
 
Result: Stale seedbed significantly enhanced the dry matter production and nutrient uptake by okra at harvest and lowered the nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS. Compared to non-stale, stale seedbed recorded significantly higher fruit yield. Among the weed management, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, recorded the lowest total weed dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS and resulted in the highest NPK uptake by crop and fruit yield. Uncontrolled weed growth resulted in a loss of 81.33, 18.16 and 50.84 kg N:P:K ha-1&nbsp;at 30 DAS and 102.09, 57.90 and 55.31 kg N:P:K ha-1 at 60 DAS, respectively. Nutrient removal by weeds was the lowest in wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and the highest in weedy check. It could be concluded that, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS was the best option for the management of weeds, higher nutrient availability and uptake and yield in okra.</div>

Nutrient Availability and Nutrient Uptake by Crop and Weed as Influenced by Stale Seedbed, Mulching and Mechanical Weeding in Okra

<div>Background: The excessive usage of chemical fertilizers and the negligence on soil health regarding the conservation and use of organic sources of nutrients have not only caused the exhaustion of soil nutrient reserves but also resulted in soil health problems which is not conducive to achieving consistent increase in agricultural production. The beneficial influence of organic matter on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil is well known, the full appreciation of the same remains which is unfortunately ignored in modern agriculture. The regular recycling of organic wastes in the soil is the most efficient method of maintaining optimum nutrient reserves of soil and nutrient uptake by the plant. The Present Study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient status of soil under integrated usage of organic and inorganic sources. 
 
Methods: A field experiment entitled &ldquo;Nutrient Management Interventions in Rice-Ragi Sequence&rdquo; was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 on sandy loam soil of the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. The seven treatments consisted of T1: 100% RDF (100-60-40 kg N-P-K ha-1); T2: 100% RDF + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T3: 125% RDF+Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T4: 75% RDF + Poultrymanure&nbsp; @ 0.82 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 50 kg ha-1; T5: 75% RDF + FYM @ 5.0 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T6:50% RDF + Poultrymanure @ 1.6 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 and T7: 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1. The experiment was laidout in randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated thrice during kharif rice and in rabi each kharif treatment was subdivided into four sub treatments (S1: Nofertilizer, S2: 100% RDF, S3:75% RDF and S4:50% RDF) and hence, The split plot design was adopted in rabi. Total No.of plots per each replication in the rabi was 28 (7x4=28).&nbsp; 
 
Result: Nutrient content and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc have increased significantly with the fertility levels and organics. 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc contents and uptakes in grain and straw of rice. In no till rabi ragi, N, P, K, Zn and calcium content and uptake in grain and straw were found to be significantly superior with 100% RDF (S2) to the rest of the treatments in both the years and in pooled data.</div>

Effect of Nutrient Management Interventions on Nutrient Uptake of Rice-zero Till Ragi under Coastal Lands

Background: Different levels of nutrient management practice and soil amendments charred rice husk with Arbuscular mycorrhizae during the critical stages of the crop growth enhances the productivity of the groundnut crop.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiments were conducted summer, kharif and rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-2018 at AC and RI, TNAU, Madurai. The main plots consisted of three levels of irrigation scheduling viz., I1- 0.8 IW/CPE, I2- 0.6 IW/CPE and I3- 0.6 IW/CPE ratio and sub plot comprised of four level of nutrient management practices viz., N1-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N2- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N3-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza and N4- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment Arbuscular mycorrhiza. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the highest plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index, leaf single photon avalanche diode value, pod yield and haulm yield, nutrient uptake (N,P,K) of groundnut crop and soil enzyme activities in soil was registered with the application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza. The highest pod and haulm yield of 1783, 1935 and 1854 kg ha-1 and 4743, 4272 and 4338 kg ha-1 during summer, kharif and rabi&rsquo; 2017 seasons respectively of groundnut was registered with 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza.&nbsp;

Soil Application of Different Nutrient Levels with Soil Amendment Charred Rice Husk and Seed Treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhizae: Effects on Crop Productivity and Nutrient Uptake on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

<div>Background: This study aimed to determine the pattern of N mineralization of tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) leaves and assess the uptake of N nutrients in maize by giving T. diversifolia and S. officinarum leaves with different qualities on sandy loam soil. 
 
Methods: The research used a completely randomized design (CRD) with following treatment: T1 (100% T. diversifolia), T2 (100% S. officinarum), T3 (75% T. diversifolia: 25% S. officinarum), T4 (50% S. officinarum: 50% T. diversifolia), T5 (25% T. diversifolia leaves: 75% S. officinarum), T6 (without T. diversifolia and S. officinarum or control). 
 
Result: The results showed that the N mineralization pattern of the organic matter combination was significantly higher than the control for all observations. The amount of N mineral released in each treatment was T1 (54.58-529.7 mg/kg), T2 (41.80-381 mg/kg), T3 (47.69-473.6 mg/kg), T4 (46.70-424.0 mg/kg), T5 (70.69-378.9 mg/kg) and T6 (47.14-303.6 9 mg/kg). The sequence of cumulative N release during 12 weeks of incubation was T1 (529 mg/kg)&gt; T3 (573.6 mg/kg)&gt; T4 (424.0 mg/kg)&gt; T2 (381 mg/kg)&gt; T5 (378.9 mg/kg)&gt; T6 (303.6 mg/kg). These results suggested that T. diversifolia and S. officinarum leaves significantly increased N nutrient uptake in maize by 125% to 144.54%.</div>

Pattern of N Mineralization and Nutrient Uptake of Tithonia diversifolia and Saccharum officinarum Leaves in Sandy Loam Soil

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Potassium and zinc are important with respect to mineral nutrition of groundnut and play a significant role in physiological and biochemical processes and thus affect productivity. To make these important minerals available to the growing plants in calcareous soil having fixation problem, the current investigation was undertaken to identify both K- and Zn-solubilizing bacteria for improving growth, nutrient uptake and yield of groundnut. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: Soil samples were collected from groundnut rhizosphere during 2018 for the isolation of Zn- and K- solubilizing bacteria.&nbsp;Estimation for Zn- and K-solubilization was done using zinc phosphate and potassium aluminosilicate as insoluble form of Zn and K, respectively. Promising Zn and K solubilizing bacterial isolates were selected and evaluated in pots. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Inoculation of different isolates of KSB and ZSB improved K and Zn contents of shoot and seed during summer and kharif 2019. Evaluation of KSB and ZSB isolates, in potted condition, resulted in improved pod yield upto 39.6% (KSB) and upto 37.1% (ZSB) during summer and upto 24.1% and 25.1% during kharif 2019, respectively. Therefore, uptake of Zn- and K- and yield of groundnut can be enhanced significantly by application of both potential ZSB and KSB.&nbsp;</div>

Enhancing Uptake of K and Zn and Improving Yield of Groundnut by Application of K- and Zn- Solubilizing Bacteria

<div>An experiment was conducted to evaluate the varying organic and inorganic nutrient sources on fodder cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in the kharif of 2017 at ICAR- NDRI, Karnal. The result revealed that application of 100% RDF (N,P,K) along with biofertilizers (rhizobium, PSB, potassium and zinc solubilizer bacteria) (T6) gave significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in plant height (204.6 cm), primary branches (6.1), root length (24.47 cm), green matter yield (334.5 q ha-1), CGR (8.13 g m-2 day-1), RGR (4.68 g g-1 day-1), K content (1.45%) in plant, P uptake (23.01 kg ha-1) and K uptake (86.04 kg ha-1) and available Zn status (0.465 ppm) in soil, after harvesting of the crop. However, N content (2.93%) in plant, N uptake (172.51 kg ha-1) and Zn uptake (192.03 g ha-1) was maximum with the application of 66.67% RDF along with biofertilizers consortium (T7). Application of 100% RDF along with PSB (T3) recorded highest number of nodule (33), P content in plant (0.389%) and available P status (24.76 g ha-1) in soil, after harvest. Further studies that, available N status (208.03 kg h-1), K status (221.27 kg ha-1) in soil, after harvest and Zn content (33.31 ppm) in plant were significantly higher with these treatments like T8 -15 N, 60 P2O5, 40 K2O kg ha-1 along with rhizobium, T4 -100% RDF along with K solubilizer and T11 -FYM 5 t ha -1 with biofertilizers, respectively. In context of the economics of fodder cowpea production, highest gross return (Rs. 53525 ha-1) was obtained from T6 while maximum net return (Rs. 31351 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.45) were worked out maximum with the treatment T7.</div>

Effect of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Fodder Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

<div>Background: Legumes are one of the major sources of dietary proteins for the people of India and is an inevitable component of vegetarians&rsquo; diet. Among them cowpea pods and seeds are rich source of protein and accrue delicacy in cuisines. Adequate amounts of fertilizers applied through most effective and economic means can raise productivity and profitability of cowpea cultivation. Hence the present study was formulated with an objective to study the effect of water-soluble macro and micro nutrient fertilizers on nodulation, quality and nutrient uptake of vegetable cowpea.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram during the period from 12 November 2020 to 31 January 2021. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 13 treatments in 3 replications. The treatments comprised of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) as control and RDF + foliar application of NPK 19:19:19 (0.5%) or potassium nitrate (0.5%) alone or in combination with ZnSO4 (0.05 %) and solubor (0.025%).&nbsp; 
 
Result: Foliar nutrition of micro and macro nutrients had significant effect on nodulation, quality and nutrient uptake. Foliar nutrition of 19:19:19 resulted in the production of higher number of nodules than KNO3. Among the treatments, RDF (20:30: 10 kg NPK ha-1) +&nbsp; foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5% ) + solubor (0.025% ) at 45 DAS resulted in higher number of nodules and nodule fresh weight per plant, however higher number of effective nodules was recorded in RDF + foliar nutrition of 19:19:19 (0.5%) alone at 45 DAS.&nbsp; The highest uptake of N, P and K by the crop was also recorded in RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) + solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS. Zinc uptake was the highest in RDF + foliar application of KNO3 (0.5%) 45 and 60 DAS and B uptake was the highest in RDF + foliar application of KNO3 (0.5%) + solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS. The highest crude protein content was recorded in RDF + foliar nutrition of 19:19:19 (0.5%) + ZnSO4 (0.05%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS fb 19:19:19 (0.5%) at 60 DAS. The treatment, RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) + solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS resulted in the highest number of pods and green pod yield per plant in bush type vegetable cowpea.</div>

Nodule Parameters, Quality and Nutrient Uptake of Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) Verdcourt] as Influenced by Foliar Application of Macro and Micro-nutrients