Anil K. Choudhary

Influence of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Applied Phosphorus on Root Colonization in Wheat and Plant Nutrient Dynamics in a Phosphorus-Deficient Acid Alfisol of Western Himalayas

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi symbiosis confers benefits directly to the host plants growth and yield through acquisition of phosphorus and other macro- and micronutrients, especially from phosphorus (P)–deficient acidic soils. The inoculation of three VAM cultures [viz., local culture (Glomus mosseae), VAM culture from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi (Glomus mosseae), and a culture from the Centre for Mycorrhizal Research, Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi (Glomus intraradices)] along with P fertilization in wheat in a P-deficient acidic alfisol improved the root colonization by 16–24% while grain and straw yields increased by 12.6–15.7% and 13.4–15.4%, respectively, over the control. Uptake of nitrogen (N), P, potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) was also improved with VAM inoculation over control, but the magnitude of uptake was significantly greater only in the cases of P, Fe, Zn, and Cu. Inoculation of wheat with three VAM cultures in combination with increasing inorganic P application from 50% to 75% of the recommended P2O5 dose to wheat through the targeted yield concept following the soil-test crop response (STCR) precision model resulted in consistent and significant improvement in grain and straw yield, macronutrient (NPK) uptake, and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) uptake in wheat though root colonization did not improve at P2O5 doses beyond 50% of the recommended dose. The VAM cultures alone or in combination with increasing P levels from 50% to 75% P2O5 dose resulted in reduction of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) contents in P-deficient acidic soil over the control and initial fertility status, although micronutrient contents were relatively greater in VAM-supplied plots alone or in combination with 50% to 75% P2O5 dose over sole application of 100% P2O5 dose, thereby indicating the positive role of VAM in nutrient mobilization and nutrient dynamics in the soil–plant system. There was significant improvement in available N and P status in soil with VAM inoculation coupled with increasing P levels upto 75% P2O5 dose, although the greatest P buildup was obtained with sole application of 100% P2O5 dose. The TERI VAM culture (Glomus intraradices) showed its superiority over the other two cultures (Glomus mosseae) in terms of crop yield and nutrient uptake in wheat though the differences were nonsignificant among the VAM cultures alone or at each P level. Overall, it was inferred that use of VA-mycorrhizal fungi is beneficial under low soil P or in low input (nutrient)–intensive agroecosystems.

Improving Phosphorus Use through Co-inoculation of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Maize in an Acidic Alfisol

Performance of three vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi cultures and a phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) culture alone or in combination with or without 75% of the recommended P2O5 dose based on soil-test crop response model was examined in maize in a phosphorus (P)-deficient acidic Alfisol in a glasshouse pot experiment. Sole application of VAM besides co-inoculation with PSB (Pseudomonas striata) and inorganic P stimulated mycorrhizal root colonization. Sole application of PSB, VAMT (Glomus intraradices), and VAMI (Glomus mosseae) as well as co-inoculation of VAM with PSB significantly improved crop productivity besides grain protein content, thus indicating a synergistic interaction between VAM and PSB. Application of VAMT or VAMI + PSB + 75% P2O5 remained at par with sole application of 100% P2O5 dose with regard to productivity, nutrient uptake, and soil fertility status (particularly P), thus indicating economization of fertilizer P to the tune of about 25% without compromising crop productivity and soil fertility in an acidic Alfisol.

On-Farm Participatory Technology Development Effects on Resource Conservation Technologies in Rainfed Upland Paddy in Himachal Pradesh, India

Rice is a major cereal crop in Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state of India, where paddy acreage is about 78,000 ha with a low average yield of 19.62 q ha−1 due to rainfed upland farming. High seeding rates and poor resource-use efficiency of conventional fertilizer nitrogen (N) management practices in rainfed upland paddy have also been major production constraints in rainfed upland ecosystems. To validate and refine the production technology on seed rate and fertilizer N management, the Farm Science Centre, Sundernagar, India, conducted numerous on-farm trials (OFTs) during 2006–2010 under an on-farm participatory technology development approach to enhance resource use efficiency through these resource conservation technologies and boost the paddy productivity in the region. Results of two OFTs conducted during Kharif 2006 in the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh on different seed rates under different sowing methods on VL Dhan-221 and Sukaradhan-1 (HPR-1156) cultivars suitable for rainfed upland conditions revealed that the seed rate at 80 kg ha−1 sown in rows 20 cm apart resulted in the greatest average paddy productivity to the tune of 25.6 q ha−1 besides greater profitability, followed by a seed rate at 60 kg ha−1 sown in rows 20 cm apart (25.2 q ha−1), over the earlier State Agricultural University (SAU)–recommended practice, that is, seed rate at 100 kg ha−1 in rows 20 cm apart. This refinement in the seed rate was accepted by the participating farmers of the region. The greatest average benefit/cost (B/C) ratio was observed in plots with seed rate at 60 kg ha−1 sown in rows 20 cm apart. Based on these results and data compilation from other locations of the state, now the SAU has refined the seed rate from earlier recommendation of 100 kg ha−1 to 60 kg ha−1 in rows 20 cm apart as well as 80 kg ha−1 through broadcast method under rainfed upland paddy in Himachal Pradesh. Results of two OFTs conducted during Kharif 2009 on integrated nutrient management in rainfed upland paddy revealed that farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 t ha−1 + nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N, P, K) at 15:30:30 kg ha−1 at sowing followed by 15 kg N ha−1 15 days after sowing (DAS) and remaining the N [i.e., 30 kg N ha−1] at tillering (45–50 DAS) resulted in the greatest grain yield of 29.85 and 31.67 q ha−1 in VL Dhan-221 and HPR-1156, respectively, with respective greater yields of 35.99 and 36.51% over farmers’ practice, besides better profitability. To further standardize fertilizer N split doses and assess their effect on paddy productivity, another OFT was conducted during Kharif 2010 under rainfed upland paddy conditions in HPR-1156. The results revealed that NPK at 60:30:30 kg ha−1 (whole of P and K as basal, 50% N at 15 DAS, 25% N each at 45–50 DAS and 70–75 DAS splits) resulted in better grain yield (34.3 q ha−1) and net profitability (₹29,786 ha−1) over other treatments. Overall, it is concluded that these resource conservation technologies developed under the OFT participatory approach can enhance the rainfed upland paddy productivity and strongly show that there is dire need to split the N requirement of rainfed upland paddy in 2–3 splits to reduce the fertilizer N losses, enhance resource-use efficiency, and increase productivity and profitability in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Fertilizer Economy through Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi under Soil-Test Crop Response Targeted Yield Model in Maize–Wheat–Maize Crop Sequence in Himalayan Acid Alfisol

The effect of three vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) cultures with or without inorganic phosphorus (P) was studied in a maize–wheat–maize crop sequence in a P-deficient acidic Alfisol. Application of these three VAM cultures (Glomus mosseae, developed by CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur; Glomus intraradices, developed by the Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi; and Glomus mosseae, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi) alone or with 25% to 75% of recommended P2O5 dose based on soil-test crop response (STCR) precision model along with 100% of recommended nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) caused significantly greater grain and straw yield, NPK uptake, and soil nutrient buildup over the control and also increased crop yield and NPK uptake consistently and significantly with increases in applied P from 25% to 75% P2O5 dose. Results implied that application of either of the three VAM cultures with 75% P2O5 dose can economize the yield-targeted fertilizer P dose to the extent of about one fourth of the P requirement in maize–wheat–maize crop sequence without impairing yield targets and soil fertility in a P-deficient acidic alfisol.

Influence of Inorganic Phosphorus, VAM Fungi, and Irrigation Regimes on Crop Productivity and Phosphorus Transformations in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)–Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Cropping System in an Acid Alfisol

The present investigation was carried out at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India, during 2009–2011 to economize inorganic phosphorus (P) and water needs of an okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system through vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi (Glomus mosseae) in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. The field experiment was replicated three times in a randomized block design comprising 14 treatments consisting of 12 treatment combinations of two VAM levels [0 and 12 kg ha−1], three phosphorus levels [50, 75, and 100% of recommended soil-test-based nitrogen (N)–P–potassium (K)], and two irrigation regimes [40 and 80% of available water-holding capacity of field soil (AWC)], in addition to one treatment with “generalized recommended NPK dose with generalized recommended irrigations (GRD)” and one treatment based on “farmers’ practice of plant nutrition and irrigation management in the region.” This article presents crop productivity and P dynamics studies during the second crop cycle of okra–pea sequence (2010–2011) and statuses of different P fractions in the soil after the second pea crop harvest during 2010–2011. Crop productivity and P uptake data in okra–pea sequence indicated that application of VAM + 75% P dose at either of two irrigation regimes did not differ significantly than GRD treatment and VAM + 100% P dose. It suggests an economy of about 25% inorganic P dose through VAM fungi. The treatments imbedded with VAM inoculation enhanced the P uptake in okra–pea system, on an average by 21% over the GRD and non-VAM-inoculated counterparts. Further, integrated application of P, VAM, and irrigation regimes evaluated in okra–pea sequence for 2 years led to greater status of water-soluble P (21%), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)–inorganic phosphorus (Pi) (11%), sodium hydroxide (NaOH)–Pi (9%), hydrochloric acid (HCl)–extractable–P (20%) over non-VAM-inoculated counterparts and low status of organic P (NaHCO3-Po and NaOH-Po), all of which appreciably contributed to available P supply to plants in the present study in an acid Alfisol. The correlation coefficient reveals that contribution of inorganic P forms is highly correlated to crop productivity and total P uptake in okra and pea crops besides soil available P in the present study. Overall, it is concluded that VAM inoculation in okra–pea cropping system significantly enhanced the P availability to plants by way of enriching the labile-P pool such as water-soluble P and P loosely bound to aluminium (Al-P) and iron (Fe-P) on adsorption complexes and by P mineralization from organic matter in an Himalayan acid Alfisol.

Effects of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae and Applied Phosphorus through Targeted Yield Precision Model on Root Morphology, Productivity, and Nutrient Dynamics in Soybean in an Acid Alfisol

A field experiment was conducted in a phosphorus (P)–deficient acidic Alfisol in northwestern Himalayas to study the effect of three vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) cultures [VAML, local VAM culture (Glomus mosseae) developed by CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India; VAMT, VAM culture (Glomus intraradices) developed by Centre for Mycorrhizal Research, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India; and VAMI, VAM culture (Glomus mosseae) developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India] on growth, productivity, and nutrient dynamics in rainfed soybean. Plant height, aboveground dry matter, root dry matter, total dry matter, root length, root weight density, Rhizobium root nodule count, root colonization, yield attributes, yield, and nutrient uptake of soybean increased consistently and significantly with increase in inorganic P levels from 25 to 75% of recommended P2O5 dose based on targeted yield precision model coupled with various VAM cultures. VAMT (Glomus intraradices) at each P level showed its superiority over VAMI and VAML. Sole application of any of the three VAM cultures produced similar growth and development parameters as well as grain yield (18.68 to 19.08 q ha−1) as produced through farmers’ practice (nitrogen at 20 kg ha−1), indicating that VAM has a vital role in root morphology and nutrient dynamics in a soil–plant system, though significantly greater productivity was obtained with 100% of the recommended P2O5 dose based on soil-test crop response (STCR) precision model without VAM inoculation. Targeted grain yield of soybean (25 q ha−1) was achievable with 75% of the recommended P2O5 dose applied with any of the three VAM fungi cultures without impairing soil fertility, thereby indicating that VAM fungi can save about 25% P fertilizer in soybean in P-deficient acidic Alfisols of northwestern Himalayas.

Bioresource Nutrient Recycling and Its Relationship with Biofertility Indicators of Soil Health and Nutrient Dynamics in Rice–Wheat Cropping System

A field experiment was conducted for 3 years during 2006–2009 in India to study the effects of plant nutrient recycling through crop residue management, green manuring, and fertility levels on yield attributes, crop productivity, nutrient uptake, and biofertility indicators of soil health in a rice–wheat cropping system. The study revealed that soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution were significantly greatest under crop residue incorporation (CRI) + Sesbania green manuring (SGM) treatment and were found at levels of 364 μg g−1 soil and 1.75 μg g−1 soil h−1, respectively; these were increased significantly by recycling of organic residues. Activities of dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzymes increased significantly after 3 years, with maximum activity under CRI + SGM treatment. The CRI with or without SGM significantly influenced the plant height, number of tillers m−2, number of grains panicle−1 or ear−1, and 1000-grain weight. Mean yield data of rice and wheat revealed that CRI or crop residue burning (CRB) resulted in slightly greater yield over crop residue removal (CRR) treatment. The CRI + SGM treatment again observed significantly greatest grain yields of 7.54 and 5.84 t ha−1 and straw yields of 8.42 and 6.36 t ha−1 in rice and wheat, respectively, over other crop residue management treatments. Total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake in rice–wheat system was greatest with amounts of 206.7, 37.2, and 205.6 kg ha−1, respectively, in CRI + SGM treatment. Fertility levels significantly influenced the rice and wheat yield with greatest grain yields of 6.66 and 5.68 t ha−1 and straw yields of 7.94 and 5.89 t ha−1 in rice and wheat, respectively, with the application of 150% of recommended NPK. Total NPK uptake in rice–wheat system also increased significantly with increase in fertility levels with greatest magnitude by supplying 150% of recommended NPK. Overall, nutrient recycling through incorporation of crop residues and Sesbania green manuring along with inorganics greatly improved the crop productivity, nutrient uptake, and biofertility indicators of soil health with substantial influence on SMBC, CO2 evolution, and dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzyme activities. This indicates that crop residue management along with Sesbania green manuring practice could be a better option for nutrient recycling to sustain the crop productivity and soil health in intensive rice–wheat cropping system in India as well as in similar global agroecological situations, especially in China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Integrated Nutrient-Management Technology for Direct-Seeded Upland Rice (Oryza sativa) in Northwestern Himalayas

Alarming climate change, rainfed upland farming, and low resource-use efficiency of conventional fertilizer management practices are major production constraints detrimental to rice productivity in the northwestern (NW) Himalayas. Recent agronomic intervention of direct-seeded rice (DSR) coupled with suitable rice germplasm well suited to rainfed upland ecosystems in combination with appropriate integrated nutrient-management (INM) technology can enhance the rice productivity in the region. Thus, a field experiment with seven treatments replicated three times in a randomized block design was conducted on INM technology in rainfed upland rice cv. HPR-1156 (Sukaradhan-1) to harness the potential of DSR technology in order to boost rice productivity in the NW Himalayas. Results on INM in direct-seeded upland rice revealed that nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) at 90:45:45 kg ha−1 + farm yard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha−1 (oven dry-weight basis) significantly resulted in the greatest magnitude of growth and development (plant height, tillers m−2) and yield-contributing characters (panicles m−2, panicle length, grains panicle−1 and 1000-grain weight), resulting in significantly greatest grain, straw, and biological yield followed by sole use of NPK at 90:45:45 kg ha−1 and NPK at 60:30:30 kg ha−1 + FYM at 5 t ha−1, respectively, in rainfed upland rice. Application of NPK at 90:45:45 kg ha−1 + FYM at 5 t ha−1 again resulted in significant improvement in soil organic carbon and available NPK status over other treatments and initial soil fertility status in an acidic Alfisol. Overall, it is inferred that INM technology with judicious use of NPK at 90:45:45 kg ha−1 + FYM at 5 t ha−1 in rainfed upland rice under DSR technology can enhance the rice productivity and resource-use efficiency in NW Himalayas.

VAM Fungi Spore Populations in Different Farming Situations and Their Effect on Productivity and Nutrient Dynamics in Maize and Soybean in Himalayan Acid Alfisol

To assess the effect of five vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) isolates of Glomus mosseae screened out from different farming situations, two pot experiments were conducted on maize and soybean in a phosphorus (P)–deficient Himalayan acid Alfisol. There was variation in VAM spore populations of Glomus mosseae isolates screened out from maize harvested fields, soybean fields, vegetable fields, tea orchard, and citrus orchard. Glomus mosseae isolate from vegetable-based cropping system exhibited maximum root colonization at flowering in maize (32%) and soybean (28%), followed by Glomus mosseae isolate from soybean fields, and exhibited the lowest in Glomus mosseae isolate from tea farm. Glomus mosseae isolate from vegetable-dominated fields was at par with Glomus mosseae isolate from soybean-based cropping system, again resulting in significantly high root biomass, nitrogen (N)–P–potassium (K) uptake, and grain and straw productivity both in maize and soybean crops besides the greatest Rhizobium root nodule biomass in soybean. There was a considerable reduction in soil fertility with respect to NPK status over initial status in pot soils inoculated with Glomus mosseae isolate from vegetable-dominated ecosystem, thereby indicating greater nutrient dynamics by this efficient VAM strain in the plant–soil system and greater productivity in a P-deficient acidic Alfisol. Overall, VAM isolates from different cropping systems and farming situations with variable size and composition of VAM mycoflora resulted in differential effects on growth, productivity, and nutrient dynamics in field crops. Overall, Glomus mosseae isolates from vegetable and soybean fields proved to be superiormost in terms of root colonization, growth, and crop productivity as well as nutrient dynamics in above study. Thus, isolation, identification, and selection of efficient VAM strains may prove as a boon in low-input intensive agriculture in P-deficient Himalayan acidic Alfisol.

Influence of AM fungi, inorganic phosphorus and irrigation regimes on plant water relations and soil physical properties in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) – pea (Pisum sativum L.) cropping system in Himalayan acid alfisol

ABSTRACT Present investigation studied plant water relations and soil physical properties through AM fungi (Glomus mosseae) to mitigate drought stress in Himalayan acid Alfisol having low water retentivity. Experimentation was carried out at Palampur, India during 2009–2011 in okra–pea cropping system in randomized block design (RBD) replicated thrice with 14 treatments comprising arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, varying phosphorus nutrition and irrigation regimes at 40 and 80% available water holding capacity. Integrated use of AM fungi at varying phosphorus (P) levels and irrigation regimes led to significantly higher relative leaf water content (3% each) in okra and pea besides significantly higher xylem water potential (27%) in pea over non-AM fungi counterparts. AM fungi enhanced water-use-efficiency in okra (5–17%) and pea (12–35%) over non–AM fungi counterparts. AM fungi also improved water holding capacity (5–6%) and mean weight diameter of soil particles (4–9%) over non–AM fungi counterparts; but, had nominal or no effect on bulk density. Mycorrhizal plants maintained higher tissue water content imparting greater drought resistance to plants over non–mycorrhizal plants at moisture stress. It is inferred that integrated application of AM fungi and P at varying irrigation regimes improved the plant water relations vis-à-vis drought resistance, crop productivity, WUE, soil aggregation and water holding capacity in okra–pea sequence in Himalayan acid Alfisol.