The intensification of specific land management operations (tillage, herbicide, etc.) is increasing land degradation and contributing to ecosystem pollution. Mulches can be a sustainable tool to counter these processes. This is particularly relevant for rural areas in low-income countries where agriculture is a vital sector. In this research, the environmental impact of different rates of wheat residues (no residues, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) in corn silage cultivation was evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems in a semi-arid region in Karaj, Iran. Results showed that in both tillage systems, marine aquatic ecotoxicity (ME) and global warming potential (GWP) had the highest levels of pollution among the environmental impact indicators. In CT systems, the minimum (17,730.70 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DB) eq.) and maximum (33,683.97 kg 1,4-DB eq.) amounts of ME were related to 0 and 100% wheat residue rates, respectively. Also, in the CT system, 0 and 100% wheat residue rates resulted in minimum (176.72 kg CO2 eq.) and maximum (324.95 kg CO2 eq.) amounts of GWP, respectively. However, in the NT system, the 100% wheat residue rate showed the minimum amounts of ME (11,442.39 kg 1,4-DB eq.) and GWP (120.21 kg CO2 eq.). Also, in the NT system, maximum amounts of ME (17,174 kg 1,4-DB eq.) and GWP (175.60 kg CO2 eq.) were observed with a zero wheat residue rate. On-farm emissions and nitrogen fertilizers were the two factors with the highest contribution to the degradation related to environmental parameters at all rates of wheat residues. Moreover, in the CT system, the number of environmental pollutants increased with the addition of a higher wheat residue rate, while in the NT system, increasing residue rates decreased the amount of environmental pollutants. In conclusion, this LCA demonstrates that the NT system with the full retention of wheat residues (100%) is a more environmentally sustainable practice for corn silage production. Therefore, it may be considered one of the most adequate management strategies in this region and similar semi-arid conditions. Further long-term research and considering more environmental impact categories are required to assess the real potential of crop residues and tillage management for sustainable corn silage production.

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The most crucial factor in crop production is soil fertility; thus, it directly influences food security. Therefore, to ensure food security, soil fertility level needs improvement. Though, poor cultivation practices led to soil infertility across the Gangatic region, making even more need to identify and implement sustainable farming practices. In this light, this experiment was undertaken to study the dynamics of soil nutrients in different agroforestry systems (AFS) as a sustainable farming practice concerning seasonal and depth-wise variations. The experiment was conducted in the Samastipur district of India, which comes under the Gangatic plain. Three AFS, including Kadamb (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.), Simarauba (Simarouba glauca DC), and Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) based AFS along with one fallow land were taken under investigation. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0-15cm, 15-30cm and 30-45cm) during four seasons (Summer, Autuam, Rainy and Winter). Data revealed that agroforestry development had significantly increased soil nutrients (11-19%) in all seasons and depths. The month of June reported higher availability of nutrients over December. Soil depth had significant influence on soil nutrient availability, irrespective of treatments. The variation of available nutrients among the soil layer was more in agroforestry systems over fallow land. This study will help the researchers to understand the influence of seasons and depths on the movements and transformation of soil nutrients.

A four year rice-wheat cropping (2012-15) was developed on Nursery Jhilli area of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, where zinc applied in four different doses (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg ha-1) and 3 modes of application under rice – wheat cropping system, to investigate the effect of different doses of Zn and modes of application on rice growth parameters, yield and Zn use efficiency. Results reveled that among the different growth and yield attributing characteristics of rice the highest of number of tillers m-2, number of productive tillers m-2 and number of filled grain panicle-1 were observed in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 at alternate year applied plot. Root weight were highest in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 every year applied plot. The grain and straw yield data clearly indicated that application of zinc significantly increased both yields. The highest grain yield was found in 5 kg Zn ha-1 applied every year (40.20 q ha-1) and 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 in initial year application was the lowest dose for optimum rice grain yield in the fourth year. Highest Agronomic Efficiency was found in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 (101.33 kg grain/ kg Zn) and the order of apparent Zn recovery efficiency was in the order of, 2.5 kg Zn, alternate year (3.72%) > 2.5 kg Zn, initial year (3.70%) > 7.5 kg Zn, every year (3.61%) > 2.5 kg Zn, every year (3.58%). A suitable dose (5 kg Zn ha-1) of Zn found more efficient in term of yield and recovery efficiency than high or low doses, this can be helpful to farming communities for better earning and reduce excessive application.