Long period of intensive crop cultivation deplete the available soil silicon (Si). Depletion of available Si in the soil could be one of the possible limiting factors amongst others contributing to declining yields. The lower values for Si in the soil can be justified due to (i) severe and frequent soil erosion and sediment transportation. (ii) Usually plants absorb Si almost equal to the concentration of most of macronutrients. (iii) Due to the desilication process, Si in the soil is continuously lost as the result of leaching process. Subtropical and tropical soils are generally low in available Si and would benefit from Si fertilization. The silicon content in some regions might be limited to sustainable crop production. Hence, improved Si management to increase yield and sustain crop productivity appears to be necessary in temperate as well in tropical countries. In order to address this problem of yield decline or stagnation, it seems necessary to survey the Si status of agriculturally important soils of different parts of the country and develop region-specific integrated nutrient management systems that include the Si element.

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The ever-increasing industrial activities over the decades have generated high toxic metal such as chromium (Cr) that hampers the crop productivity. This study evaluated the effect of Cr on two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties, Pusa 2085 and Pusa Green 112, in hydroponic and pot-grown conditions. First, growth parameters (seed germination, seedling growth, and biomass production) and physio-biochemical parameters (oxidative stress and the content of antioxidants and proline) were measured to evaluate the performance of both varieties grown hydroponically for 21 days at concentrations of 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 μM Cr in the form of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). In both varieties, significantly deleterious effects on germination and seedling growth parameters were observed at 90 and 120 μM, while growth was stimulated at 30 μM Cr. Significant increases in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content and electrolyte leakage demonstrated enhanced oxidative injury to seedlings caused by higher concentrations of Cr. Further, increasing concentrations of Cr positively correlated with increased proline content, superoxide dismutase activity, and peroxide content in leaves. There was also an increase in peroxisomal ascorbate peroxidase and catalase in the leaves of both varieties at lower Cr concentrations, whereas a steep decline was recorded at higher Cr concentrations. In the pot experiments conducted over two consecutive years, growth, yield, yield attributes, grain protein, and Cr uptake and accumulation were measured at different Cr concentrations. Pusa Green 112 showed a significant reduction in plant growth, chlorophyll content, grain protein, pod number, and grain yield per plant when compared with Pusa 2085. Overall, our results indicate that Pusa 2085 has a higher Cr tolerance than Pusa Green 112. Therefore, Pusa 2085 could be used to further elucidate the mechanisms of Cr tolerance in plants and in breeding programmes to produce Cr-resistant varieties.