Fourteen Trichoderma isolates were evaluated for their tolerance to two heavy metals, nickel and cadmium. Three isolates, MT-4, UBT-18, and IBT-I, showed high levels of nickel tolerance, whereas MT-4, UBT-18, and IBT-II showed better tolerance of cadmium than the other isolates. Under nickel stress, biomass production increased up to a Ni concentration of 60 ppm in all strains but then decreased as the concentrations of nickel were further increased. Among the nickel-tolerant isolates, UBT-18 produced significantly higher biomass upon exposure to nickel (up to 150 ppm); however, the minimum concentration of nickel required to inhibit 50% of growth (MIC50) was highest in IBT-I. Among the cadmium-tolerant isolates, IBT-II showed both maximum biomass production and a maximum MIC50 value in cadmium stress. As the biomass of the Trichoderma isolates increased, a higher percentage of nickel removal was observed up to a concentration of 40 ppm, followed by an increase in residual nickel and a decrease in biomass production at higher nickel concentrations in the medium. The increase in cadmium concentrations resulted in a decrease in biomass production and positively correlated with an increase in residual cadmium in the culture broth. Nickel and cadmium stress also influenced the sensitivity of the Trichoderma isolates to soil fungistasis. Isolates IBT-I and UBT-18 were most tolerant to fungistasis under nickel and cadmium stress, respectively.

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There is a great possibility to increase production of legume plants by exploiting better colonization of their root and rhizosphere through rhizobial inoculation, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen and protect nature from pollution. Of the several legumes, cowpea is also known for their high

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Background: Intercropping maize with legumes can enhance diversity, stability, complementary sharing of resources, maintain soil fertility, productivity and livelihood of the farmers. The current study was aimed to develop the scientific knowledge of maize and pulse intercropping and their combinations in different planting structures. Methods: The field experiment consisted of seven treatments viz. sole maize, sole soybean, sole green gram and two intercropping ratios of soybean and green gram with maize at 1:1 and 1:2 row ratios and laid out in randomized block design in four replications during 2018-19 at Imphal. The intercropping, economic and competitive efficiency indices were calculated accordingly. Result: Intercropping of maize either with soybean or green gram in 1:2 ratio gave the best combination based on intercropping and economic efficiencies. Maize + soybean at 1:2 row produced the highest maize equivalent yield (82.65 q ha-1), system productivity (22.60 kg ha-1 day-1) and production efficiency (55.84 kg ha-1 day-1). Maize + green gram at 1:2 ratio had significantly higher land equivalent ratio (1.7) and land equivalent co-efficient (0.54) whereas maize + soybean at 1:2 ratio produced the highest area time equivalent ratio (1.27). Competition between the crops was higher under maize + green gram at 1:1 ratio.