<div>Background: Indian economy is largely based on agriculture. Major share of agricultural investments goes into chemical fertilizers. Nitrogen (N) fertilizers are used in fields to enhance the crop yield. Most of the reports are based on growth related data, morphological and yield related data but very few reports reveal the facts about genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of these fertilizers. Therefore, the present communication is an attempt in the aforesaid direction. 
 
Methods: In a pot experiment, mineral N content of soil in the form of ammonium-N (NH4+-N) and nitrate-N (NO3--N) were analysed at regular interval of 5 days till 30 days after treatment (DAT). On the corresponding days root tip assay was done for cytotoxic analyses and also the temporal changes in NH4+-N and NO3--N contents were observed. 
 
Result: In the Ammonium nitrate treatments, higher mitotic index (MI%) percentages were obtained. While for the Urea, NH4+-N content and MI were found to have a positive correlation. Also, it was found that there is an optimum ratio of NH4+-N and NO3--N in each treatment at which the MI% was the maximum. The study gives an interesting insight for the possible cytotoxic effects of the N fertilizers.</div>

Temporal Monitoring and Assessment of Inorganic Nitrogen Content of Soil due to Nitrogen Fertilizers and their Related Cytotoxic Effects

<div style="text-align: justify;">The aim of this work was to study the effect of nitrogen fixing cover crops on soil organic carbon fractions and nutrient status in apple orchard soils in a chronosequence in north-west Himalaya of Kashmir, India. The experiment include six phases of chronosequence (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) years under three landscapes. Soil of lower altitudes with no cover crop grown in the orchard floor, the mid altitude soils with berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) as a cover crop and in the higher altitudes with the alfalfa (Medicago sativa) grown as nitrogen fixing cover crop. There is a perceptible temperature difference across these landscapes. In addition to the apple yield and nutrients content, physical properties and soil organic fractions were investigated. Compared to the sites where no nitrogen fixing cover crops were grown there was 51% and 92% increase in the apple yield over other sites with inclusion of berseem and alfalfa. &nbsp;There was significant increase in yield up to 40 years and declined with advancement of stand age. Higher contents of all soil organic carbon pools were found in the higher altitudes with alfalfa grown as a cover crop in the orchard floor. Lower bulk densities were observed in the sites with cover crops grown in the apple orchard which might have synergistic role on nutrient cycling. There was significant increase of N, K, S, Mg, Fe and Mn and no discernible difference were observed for B, Cu, P and Zn. There was significant increase of the nutrients up to 40 years and afterwards significant drop was observed. Our result suggests that there was significant decrease of the nutrients from vertical soil depth of 0-90 cm. &nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of nitrogen fixing cover crops on fertility of apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchard soils assessed in a chronosequence in North-West Himalaya of Kashmir valley, india</div>

Background: The integration of green manuring and nitrogen fertilization is a sustainable approach to enhance soil fertility and improve crop quality. Specifically, in crops like Basmati rice, these practices are known to influence critical parameters such as protein content and the availability of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This study aims to evaluate the effects of various green manuring crops and nitrogen application levels on both soil nutrient status and grain quality of Basmati rice. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during the 2023 kharif season at the Agricultural Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, using a split-plot design. Four main plots were used: M0&nbsp;(Control, no green manuring), M1&nbsp;(Sesbania aculeata), M2&nbsp;(Crotalaria juncea) and M3&nbsp;(Vigna unguiculata), along with four nitrogen levels as sub-plots: N1&nbsp;(0 kg ha-1), N2&nbsp;(15 kg ha-1), N3&nbsp;(30 kg ha-1) and N4&nbsp;(45 kg ha-1). Key parameters such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability in the soil, alongside protein, nitrogen content in the rice grains, were assessed to figure out the impact of these treatments. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The application of green manures, particularly in Sesbania aculeata (M1), resulted in significant improvements in both the protein content of Basmati rice grains and the availability of essential nutrients in the soil. The treatments involving Vigna unguiculata (M3) and Crotalaria juncea (M2) also had positive effects, through to a lesser degree. Among the nitrogen levels, the highest protein content and nutrient availability were observed at 45 kg ha-1&nbsp;nitrogen application followed by 30 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N3), 15 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N2), whereas the control treatment with 0 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N1), with no nutrient input, exhibited the lowest values. These findings underline the critical role of integrating green manuring and nitrogen fertilization to enhance both soil fertility and basmati rice quality. 
&nbsp;

Synergistic Effects of Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Fertility and Grain Quality of Basmati Rice

<div>Background: Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of chemical fertilizers and N-rich-organic amendments using natural mineralization inhibitors, like neem extract, was recommended to minimize nitrogen (N) loss. This study hence aimed to evaluate the effects of combined uses of neem seed extract with cricket feces on soil N mineralization and plant NUE. 
 
Methods: The treatment combinations included i) amending materials involving unamended (Un), chemical fertilizer at a recommended rate of 312.5 kg N ha-1, 100 kg P ha-1 and 100 kg K ha-1 (CF) and three rates of cricket feces (CrF) [3.125 (CrFlow), 6.25 (CrFmedium) and 12.5 (CrFhigh) Mg ha-1], ii) in combination without (-Nm) and with (+Nm) neem seed extract. Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) was employed to assay the plant&rsquo;s NUE. 
 
Result: Neem seed extract inhibited the N mineralization under the Un (74%) and CF (84%) treatments, but not in any of the CrF treatments (-102%, -99% and -2% for CrFlow, CrFmedium and CrFhigh, respectively. In addition, the neem extract significantly decreased NUE parameters, including N recovery efficiency and agronomy NUE, only in CF treatment. Neem seed extract could only function as an N inhibitor in unamended and chemically fertilized soils.</div>

Inhibitory Effect of Neem Seed Extract on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization under Chemical and Organic Amendments

<div>Background: Soils in arid regions like Morocco are becoming increasingly degraded and polluted because of the high use of synthetic chemical fertilizers linked to population growth. Organic fertilizers such as compost remain a good alternative to improve soil quality and crop yields. Broccoli is a crop that is beginning to develop in Morocco. It is very nitrogen demanding crop; therefore, it is necessary to know nitrogen use efficiency in broccoli.</div>

<div> 
Methods: In this field experimental conducted during 2015 at the horticultural complex of Agadir - Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, different treatments were tested on broccoli as follows:TC8t/ha: compost, 8 t/ha (equivalent 200 kgN /ha), TC12t/ha: compost, 12 t/ha (equivalent 300 kg N /ha), TSYN: Synthetic chemical fertilizer (200 kg N/ha), TC+SYN: 50% compost, 4t/ha+50% Synthetic fertilizer (equivalent 200 kg N/ha) and T0: control, in order to optimize nitrogen use efficiency of compost and synthetic fertilizer.&nbsp;</div>

<div> 
Result: Our research showed that the combination of compost and synthetic fertilizer: TC+SYN improved the growth and yield parameters of broccoli; the best main head yield of broccoli was 13.5 t/ha for TC+SYN. Compost improved the chemical properties of soil. Total N content was 266 kg/ha for TC+SYN, 253 kg/ha for TSYN, 244 kg/ha for TC8 t/ha and 234 kg/ha for TC12 t/ha. For Nitrogen use efficiency, apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) was higher with TSYN: 0.91 followed by TC+SYN:&nbsp; 0.88 followed by TC8t/ha with 0.77 and T C12 t/ha: 0.48.</div>

Effect of Compost and Synthetic Fertilizer on Soil Fertility, Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Broccoli Crop in Arid Region of Morocco

Background: Rice is a staple crop grown globally, often requiring intensive nitrogen fertilization to achieve optimal yields. Excessive nitrogen use, however, can lead to environmental degradation and reduced soil health. Microbial inoculants, such as azospirillum, streptomyces and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), have shown potential in enhancing nutrient uptake and promoting sustainable agriculture. 
 
Methods: &nbsp;This study evaluated the impact of three nitrogen application levels (M1: 0 kg ha-1, M2: 40 kg ha-1, M3: 60 kg ha-1&nbsp;as the main plot and four microbial inoculation treatments (S1: Control, S2: Azospirillum (618 g ha-1) + Streptomyces (618 g ha-1), S3: Consortium (1235 g ha-1) and S4: AMF (1235 g ha-1) as the sub plot. A split-plot design (SPD) with three replications was employed to analyze their effects on soil and plant parameters in rice. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the nitrogen levels and microbial inoculants significantly influenced soil and plant parameters in rice. The highest microbial biomass carbon (270.48 mg kg-1), dehydrogenase activity (20.32 mg TPF g-1&nbsp;h-1) and soil respiration (199.63 mg CO&sbquo;&nbsp; kg-1 day-1) were observed with the consortium inoculant at 40 kg N ha-1. AMF recorded maximum AMF colonization (56.20%) and enhanced microbial diversity (3.51 Shannon Index). Nitrogen application at 40 kg ha-1&nbsp;improved root length density (2.46 cm cm-3), root biomass (18.23 g plant-1) and root-to-shoot ratio (0.35). Soil organic carbon peaked at 0.70% with the consortium, while available N, P and K reached 279, 29 and 232 kg ha-1, respectively, under 60 kg N ha-1&nbsp;and consortium. Interactions showed synergistic effects, optimizing soil and crop performance.

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization and Microbial Inoculants on Soil Microbial Biomass, Enzyme Activities and Carbon Respiration in DSR-rice Cultivation

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is most widely grown pulse-cum-vegetable crop. It plays an important role in maintaining soil fertility. Besides, nitrogen which is fixed in the soil from the atmosphere by the crop specific Rhizobium found in root nodules of this crop, phosphorus is another important element which inter-alia enhances the nitrogen fixation capability of the crop. In addition to biologically fixed nitrogen, crop also requires nitrogen through fertilization to meet its initial requirement (Mishra and Baboo, 1999). 
Methods: A field experiment was on conducted during kharif season of the year 2015 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar Gujarat. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications and 10 treatments comprising of integration of different organic sources. 
Result: Our investigation in the significant improvement in N content in seed and N uptake by cowpea were noted with the application of 50% N through FYM + 50% N through vermicompost + PSB (T8), whereas, higher N content in stover and P content in seed were recorded under treatment T9 (50% N through castor cake + 50% N through vermicompost + PSB) and T10: RDF (20+40+00 kg ha-1 NPK through Fertilizer), respectively. Treatment T10 contributed to raise potassium content in seed, uptake of P and K by cowpea and available NPK in soil after harvest of crop.</div>

<h4>Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea&nbsp;[Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]</h4>

<div>The occurrence of early and late leaf spots of groundnut under influence of variable soil fertility states with further interaction to different levels of nitrogen and potassium was measured and the same was correlated with the yield attributing parameters. Two different nitrogen and potassium combinations (20; 40 kg ha-1) applied on four different fertility gradient soil (low ,S1; medium ,S2 ; moderate ,S3 &nbsp;and high ,S4) showed minimum leaf spot disease severity and maximum diseases reduction in (S1) N40K20 (AUDPC 34.48 and 16.06% reduction); (S2) N40K40 (AUDPC- 32.88 and 13.68% reduction ); (S3) N20K40 (AUDPC 31.51 and &nbsp;11.44% reduction) and (S4) N20K20 (AUDPC-25.40 and 11.58% reduction). The yield attributes like kernel number and weight per plant and kernel yield were also high in above combinations and fertility gradient soil. The linear regression value between disease severity and yield parameters showed a high co-relation regression and negatively significant at all fertility gradient soil and more responsive at low, medium and high fertility gradient soil irrespective of different N and K levels.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Effect of different levels of nitrogen and potassium against leaf spots disease of groundnut in different fertility gradient soil in field</div>

Background: Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nitrogen (SN) are critical for maintaining soil health, fertility and sustainable cultivation practices. These indicators of soil quality are influenced by anthropogenic activities and global climate change (GCC). To effectively manage soil, it is essential to understand the dynamics of the soil properties, especially SOC and SN. 
 
Methods: The study aims to evaluate how different land use practices (LUPs) impact SOC and SN contents in North-Central Vietnam. The study focuses on the effects of anthropogenic activities and GCC. A total of 48 soil samples were collected in the field surveys during 2021-2023 from three typical land use types (LUTs), including natural forest land (NFL), crop cultivation land (CCL) and bare hill land (BHL) at the 0-10 cm surface topsoil. The samples were analyzed for soil texture, pH, bulk density (BD), SOC and SN. The effects of LUPs on SOC and SN contents were assessed using ANOVA software. 
 
Result: The predominant soil textures observed in all samples were clay and sandy loam, with low silt percentages. The NFL and CCL areas exhibited lower bulk density compared to BHL. The results indicate that CCL had the highest SOC and SN stocks, followed by BHL and NFL. The C/N ratio in CCL and NFL was greater than 10, suggesting a high decomposition rate of organic matter in cultivated and bare land areas. The pH of all soil samples was uniformly acidic. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating the impact of LUPs, specifically on SOC and SN contents and other soil properties.

Land Use Practices Effects on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in North-central Vietnam

Background: The concept of combined use of both organic and inorganic fertilizer should be followed to prevent severe health hazards and to protect the environment. The combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is an effective way to maintain nutrient supply, gives organic carbon to soil microbes and mobilizes soil-bound nutrients on decomposition through the release of organic acid. Combined use refers to combining all available nutrient sources, such as organic and inorganic sources with components in a prudent manner to create an environment that is both environmentally sound and economically ideal for farming. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted at the research farm of the School of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab) during rabi season in the year 2021-2022. The objective of the study was to evaluate the &quot;Effect of organic and inorganic source of nitrogen on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)&quot;. Data recorded on different aspects of crop, viz., growth, yield attributes, yield, quality as well as soil chemical properties were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. 
 
Result: Among various treatments 25% RDN with vermicompost + 75% RDN from inorganic fertilizers showed a significant impact on the growth and yield parameters of wheat crop. Significantly higher growth parameters viz., plant height, number of tillers m-2, dry matter and relative growth rate were observed in T12 (25% RDN with vermicompost + 75% RDN from inorganic fertilizers) of crop. It was also showed higher significant impact on yield attributes i.e., number of effective tillers-2, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, quality parameters as well as soil parameter like available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in T12 (25% RDN with vermicompost + 75% RDN from inorganic fertilizers).

Temporal Monitoring and Assessment of Inorganic Nitrogen Content of Soil due to Nitrogen Fertilizers and their Related Cytotoxic Effects

Effect of nitrogen fixing cover crops on fertility of apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchard soils assessed in a chronosequence in North-West Himalaya of Kashmir valley, india

Synergistic Effects of Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Fertility and Grain Quality of Basmati Rice

Inhibitory Effect of Neem Seed Extract on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization under Chemical and Organic Amendments

Effect of Compost and Synthetic Fertilizer on Soil Fertility, Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Broccoli Crop in Arid Region of Morocco

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization and Microbial Inoculants on Soil Microbial Biomass, Enzyme Activities and Carbon Respiration in DSR-rice Cultivation

Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Effect of Organic Sources of Nitrogen on Soil Fertility of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

Effect of different levels of nitrogen and potassium against leaf spots disease of groundnut in different fertility gradient soil in field

Land Use Practices Effects on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in North-central Vietnam

Effect of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nitrogen on Growth, Yield, Quality and Soil Properties of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)