Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), utilizing natural resources, multiple cropping systems, and cow-dung- and urine-based products to improve soil biology, has been practiced by thousands of farmers in India. However, without any scientific proof, this traditional and ancient technique is mocked as a bugged theory in the scientific community. In the current study, we have investigated the effect of Jeevamrit—cow-dung- and urine-based formulation—on soil chemical and microbial properties of the ZBNF field coupled with metagenomic analysis and the economics of ZBNF. The percentage increase in soil properties, such as organic carbon, available phosphorus, and available potassium, was recorded up to 46%, 439%, and 142%, respectively, while micronutrients, such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn, also increased up to 98%, 23%, 62%, and 55%, respectively, from 2017 to 2019. Whole genome metagenomic analysis revealed that Proteobacteria were dominantly present, and bacterial phyla including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Panibacillus. On the other hand, Ascomycota was the dominating fungal phyla present in the soil sample. Further, functional analysis showed a high representation of genes/enzymes involved in amino acids and carbohydrate metabolism contributing to soil fertility, plant growth, defense, and development. Additionally, the cost–benefit ratio of ZBNF was double the farmer’s practice when tested with the rice and wheat cropping system. The results from this study provide a new proof of concept and understanding of the potential of the ZBNF component, i.e., Jeevamrit, in improving soil properties.

The current study emphasizes fungi as an important tool against heavy metals and how isolated fungal species can be used to create a successful strategy for the bioremediation of chromium and arsenic-contaminated sites/soils. Globally, heavy metal pollution is a serious issue. In the current investigation, contaminated sites were chosen, and samples could be taken from various localities of Hisar (29.1492° N, 75.7217° E) and Panipat (29.3909° N, 76.9635° E), India. A total of 19 fungal isolates were obtained from the collected samples through the enrichment culture technique using PDA media supplemented with Cr as chromic chloride hexahydrate (50 mg/L) and As as sodium arsenate (10 mg/L) and the potential of fungal isolates to be used for the removal of heavy metals was examined. The isolates were screened for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) exhibiting tolerance capabilities, and the four best isolates C1, C3, A2, and A6 with the highest MICs (>5000 mg/L), were chosen for further investigations. To use the chosen isolates in the remediation of heavy metals (Cr and As), the culture conditions were optimized. The fungal isolates C1 and C3 estimated the highest removal of 58.60% and 57.00% at 50 ppm chromium concentration, while the isolates A6 and A2 recorded the highest removal efficiency of 80% and 56% at 10 ppm arsenic concentration under optimal conditions. Finally, the chosen fungal isolates C1 and A6 were molecularly identified as Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus ustus, respectively.

In the age of industrialization, numerous non-biodegradable pollutants like plastics, HMs, polychlorinated biphenyls, and various agrochemicals are a serious concern. These harmful toxic compounds pose a serious threat to food security because they enter the food chain through agricultural land and water. Physical and chemical techniques are used to remove HMs from contaminated soil. Microbial-metal interaction, a novel but underutilized strategy, might be used to lessen the stress caused by metals on plants. For reclaiming areas with high levels of heavy metal contamination, bioremediation is effective and environmentally friendly. In this study, the mechanism of action of endophytic bacteria that promote plant growth and survival in polluted soils—known as heavy metal-tolerant plant growth-promoting (HMT-PGP) microorganisms—and their function in the control of plant metal stress are examined. Numerous bacterial species, such as Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas, as well as a few fungi, such as Mucor, Talaromyces, Trichoderma, and Archaea, such as Natrialba and Haloferax, have also been identified as potent bioresources for biological clean-up. In this study, we additionally emphasize the role of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in supporting the economical and environmentally friendly bioremediation of heavy hazardous metals. This study also emphasizes future potential and constraints, integrated metabolomics approaches, and the use of nanoparticles in microbial bioremediation for HMs.

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Transplanting the paddy nursery in the rice field prepared after repeated puddling; is the conventional method of rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation in India which is not only intensive water user and nutrients uptake but awkward and laborious also. Some of the problems like lowering water table, scarcity of labour during peak periods, deteriorating soil health demands are arises to sustain productivity of rice as well as natural resources. There are some problems/constraints associated with adoption of DSR which can be solved by capacity building of farmers through conducting demonstrations, kisan goshthies, kisan melas exposure visits and farmers-scientists interaction for promotion of DSR for its successful adoption as well as extension personnel working in the extension system for transfer of technology. Keeping the above facts in consideration, a case study was conducted in the adopted nine districts of Haryana State. The district level training-cum workshop was organized (one in each district). The data revealed that a total of 2911 farmers/farmwomen (2268 male & 843 female) were participated which were also aware about DSR production technology and its importance in reduction of water use, diesel consumption and labour requirement in paddy cultivation. The village level awareness programmes on DSR were organized in the adopted villages by the KVKs and reported that a total of 3981 farmers/farmwomen (3705 male and 276 female) were participated in village level awareness programmes. The data also showed that a total of 443 demonstrations (one acre each) were conducted during kharif, 2022 (May, 2022 onwards for which the inputs like seeds and some critical inputs were provided to the farmers for successful adoption of DSR. The results so obtained revealed that there is significant increase of yield of paddy varies from 3.7 to 8.8 percent in yield under DSR over PTR at farmers’ field with benefit cost ratio 3.68 and 3.32, respectively. Nine paddy field days on DSR were organized by KVKs and a total of 321 farmer/farmwomen were participated. Thus, capacity building of farming community for successful adoption of DSR technology is must for its successful adoption, resource conservation technologies and resource use efficiency (land, water and nutrients) in paddy growing districts in the state.