eChapters

Water budgeting and its importance, methods of soil moisture estimation, evapo-transpiration and crop water requirement and effective rainfall Water budgeting and its importance, irrigation scheduling approaches
Water budgeting
Allocation of the water receipt including anticipated within the crop period and its detailed account of expenditure for efficient and profitable farm management is called as water budgeting.
Water budgeting may be for an irrigation system planned by irrigation engineers; may be for a canal or for an area (block) or may be for a farm according to the need and plan by responsible persons who plan the irrigation efficiency.
Importance of water budgeting
Efficient utilization of available recourse (water) for bringing more area under irrigation:
1. To increase the productivity of a region / farm.
2. To increase cropping intensity of a region / farm
3. To tide over some dry-spells
4. To reduce excess irrigation and losses caused thereby
5. To avoid run off losses
Irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling is defined as frequency with which water is to be applied based on needs of the crop and nature of the soil.
Irrigation scheduling is nothing but number of irrigations & their frequency required to meet the crop water requirement.

Introduction
India is the seventh largest having 329.73 million ha of geographical area and second most populous country having more than a billion population in the world. There is no other substitute other than to use every square inch of land and every drop of water effectively and efficiently. Though there was markedly increase in annual food grain production from 51 (1950-51) million tones t0 206 million tones (2000-01), still the death on hunger is visualized.
The demand for food is increasing with ever-increasing population growth rate. So there is no option other than to increase food production. There is very little or no scope of horizontal expansion due to land limitation, the question of vertical expansion is the only way to fit with the situation. Genetically improved crop variety, hybrids, mechanized agriculture, higher rate of fertilizers and chemicals application may give one or two more green revolution, but the question lies how far it can sustain greenness?
Adoption of improved crop cultivars, cropping system, increasing cropping intensities, precision farming can hold good to get out of this situation where whole system is to be considered.
The cropping intensities in the states like Assam, Bihar, MP, Orissa, UP and West Bengal are 137.7, 137.8, 125.6, 154.6, 148.6 and 159.6 percent, respectively (FAI,1994-95). This indicated that a vast majority of lands remain fallow during dry season due to lack of proper technologies, which are under rainfed conditions, neglected. Except West Bengal, more than half of the arable land remains fallow during rainless period. Increasing cropping intensities in rainfed uplands is not easily achievable but there is great potential of intensification of cropping in rainfed lowland by utilizing natural resources and conserved residual moisture. Pulses like black gram, green gram, lentil, lathyrus, chick pea and oilseeds like linseed, groundnut, rapeseed could not only increase the cropping intensities but also come forward to increase national productivity.

Rice farming under different subsystems of lowland ecology
1. Rainfed lowland with limited water at seeding and excess water at later growth stages: In rainfed lowland areas, the rice is direct seeded in dry soil in April-May before onset of monsoon (June) and seeds germinate with the showers received after sowing. Drought at the seedling stage kills seedlings and results in poor stand establishment. Furthermore, heavy rains in catchment areas of river basins result in water logging and flooding at late growth stages. The water hinders tillering and results in poor panicle number less than 200/m2 as against 350 /m2 of high yielding rice cultivars.
2. Rainfed lowlands with limited/excess water at transplanting and excess water at later stages: When on-set of the monsoon is delayed, transplanting delayed because the farmer has to wait for adequate rains for land preparation. Monsoon rain submerges the transplanted crop, resulting in poor stand. In some areas, the land gets inundated before transplanting and farmers generally transplant aged and tall seedlings to keep the plant parts above the water. Plant survival in deeper water depends on rise in water level and on the elongation ability and submergence tolerance of the plant. Varieties that elongate fast develop weak culms and may lodge when the water level recedes. In this situation tillering is poor and panicle per unit area are less.
3. Assured irrigated areas with excess water during crop growth due to poorly drained condition: Rice grown in the river deltaic areas of Krishna, Godavari and Indo-Gangetic rivers suffer from water stagnation even though some areas are having irrigation facilities. Heavy rains in the catchment cause flooding and stagnation in rice fields because of congested drainage or lack of drainage caused by topographically saucer-shaped land. These conditions develop during peak monsoon (July-September). The late planted crops, being at an early stage of growth, suffersfro water stagnation. In these areas, transplanting early in the season is necessary for plants to grow enough to escape submergence.

Irrigation Scheduling: Approaches and Advantages
Efficient irrigation scheduling aims to optimize crop yields while maximizing water use efficiency and minimizing soil damage. This involves determining the correct timing and amount of water to apply for each irrigation event. Several criteria can be used for scheduling irrigations, broadly classified into climatological, soil water regime, and plant-based approaches. The most suitable criterion depends on specific soil, plant, climate, and management factors.
Climatological Approach
Under conditions where soil water is readily available, the potential rate of water loss from a crop primarily depends on the atmosphere’s evaporative demand. This approach uses potential evapotranspiration (PET) or cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) over short periods as an index for irrigation scheduling.
Penman (1948) defined PET as the water transpired by a short, uniformly green crop completely covering the ground and never lacking water. He also noted that PET is generally a fraction of pan evaporation under the same conditions. PET can be estimated using various techniques, including lysimeters, energy balance calculations, aerodynamic approaches, and empirical formulas. Based on PET or crop water use rates over short periods, irrigation can be conveniently scheduled. Lysimeters isolate the crop root zone, allowing accurate determination of water balance components by controlling and measuring difficult-to-assess processes.
Soil Water Regime Approach
This approach uses the available soil water held between field capacity and the permanent wilting point in the effective crop root zone as a guide for irrigation scheduling. Soil moisture tension, which reflects how tightly water is held by soil particles, can also serve as an indicator.

Surface: border strip, furrow, basin and check basin
Sub-surface
Micro-irrigation: drip, sprinkler; Pichter and bottle
Definition of Irrigation Method
Application of irrigation water to cropped field by different types of layouts is called as irrigation methods. The methods of irrigation initially might have been started to check the over flow of water from one field to another. But today, it has become necessary to save the water by proper methods to arrest run-off loss, percolation loss, evaporation loss etc., and to optimize the crop water need. Hence, irrigation method can be defined as the way in which the water is applied to the cropped field without much application and other losses, with an objective of applying water effectively to facilitate better environment for crop growth.
Factors Influencing Irrigation Methods
Soil type: The soil physical properties such as texture, structure, porosity, infiltration rate, etc. influence the selection of irrigation methods. Heavy texture soil restricts water movement than light texture soil wherein water move freely to deeper sections due to high porosity. Single grain structure soil allows water freely to move downward compared to other structures
Soil depth: If soil is shallow which holds less water, leveling and forming bunds etc. to hold? Maximum water is to increase the irrigation interval. Similarly if the soil is deep, it holds more water and needs longer irrigation interval. Accordingly, the irrigation methods can be selected.
Topography of land: In undulating topography, it is very difficult to adopt normal methods of irrigation. The slope of the land also decides the methods to be adopted. If the land is more sloppy, basin method cannot be used. In this condition strip method can be used. For undulating topography instead of strip or basin method, sprinkler or drip methods can be used.

Irrigation Efficiency
Irrigation water is an expansive input and has to be used very efficiently. The main losses that occur during irrigation of fields as conveyance, run off, seepage and deep percolation; Irrigation efficiency can be increased by reducing these losses. Uneven spreading and inadequate filling of root zone are the other causes for low irrigation efficiency. Irrigation efficiency at the field level can be increased by selecting suitable method of irrigation, adequate land preparation and engaging an efficient irrigator. At the project level, it can be increased by proper conveyance and distribution system. Irrigation efficiency is the ratio usually expressed as percent of the volume of irrigation water transpired by plants, plus that evaporate from the soil, plus that necessary to regulate the salt concentration in the soil solution and that used by plants in building plant tissue to total volume of water diverted, stored or pumped for irrigation.
Wt+Ws-RsEi=×100Wi
Where,
Ei = Irrigation efficiency (percent)
Wt = the volume of irrigation water / unit area of land transpired by plants, evaporation from the soil during the crop period.
Ws = the volume of irrigation water per unit area of land to regulate the salt Content of soil solution.

Water Quantity and Measurement: The amount of water to be applied and its measurement are crucial aspects of irrigation management. There are various methods and tools used to measure and control the flow of water, including:
1. Parshall flume
2. Orifice
3. Weirs
4. Water meter
5. Float method
6. V-Notch
Methods of Soil Moisture Measurement
The measurement of soil moisture is essential to determine when to irrigate, the amount of water needed, to evaluate evapotranspiration, and to monitor soil matric potential. Soil moisture is measured in two ways: direct and indirect methods.
Direct Methods
1. Gravimetric method: The gravimetric method is a standard method for measuring soil water content directly. It involves collecting soil samples from the field and determining their moist and dry weights. The mass water content is then calculated as the ratio of the weight loss in drying to the dry weight of the soil sample. This method is accurate but time-consuming and requires laboratory equipment.
2. Spirit burning method: The spirit burning method is a direct method for measuring soil moisture in the field. Soil moisture is evaporated by adding alcohol and igniting it. The time taken for the soil to dry is then used to calculate the soil moisture content. This method is quick and easy but can be affected by soil temperature and organic matter content.

Soil moisture stress in relation to crop and development of crop
Agronomic methods are supported with mechanical measures where land slope exceeds permissible limits and runoff gains erosive velocities. The following boxes explain the nature of agronomic measures which are essential in inter-bunded or terraced areas. These practices enhance the utility value of all kinds of mechanical structures.
1. Contour Tillage: All agricultural operations such as ridging, ploughing, harrowing, sowing, trenching, etc., are recommended to be done on the contour wherever possible or at least generally across the direction of the slope where holdings are very small. Even though the operation is very simple, it plays a major role in retarding the process of soil erosion through runoff. It also conserves soil, and due to increased time of concentration, more rainwater seeps through the soil profile to recharge ground water. Summer ploughing leaves the soil highly absorbent of initial rains.
2. Dead furrows: When all tillage operations are complete, it is advisable to leave a deep dead furrow at every 10 m interval. This should remain in position until the crop is harvested. Dead furrows aid in reducing the runoff velocity and they also conserve water.
3. Organic Matter: Indian soils are very poor in organic matter, especially in drought-prone areas: This can be improved by leaving the crop residue in situ (on the fields). Adding organic manures such as farmyard manure and compost every year as basal application to the soil improves the physical condition of the soil considerably.
Soil-Air, Soil-Temperature, and Soil-Moisture relationships are well balanced with the presence of organic matter. Organic matter improves the activities of soil microorganisms and also provides the much needed micro plant nutrients of all kinds, besides nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. Addition of large amounts of chemical fertilizers to dryland crops should be discouraged as it damages the soil due to:

Water Quality Parameters
Irrigation water contains impurities in varying concentration. The suitability of irrigation water mainly depends up on the amount and type of salts present in the water. The main soluble constituents are calcium, magnesium, sodium as cations and chloride, sulphate, bicarbonates as anions. The other ions present in minute quantities are boron, selenium, molybdenum and fluorine which are harmful to animals fed on plants grown with excess of these ions.
Quality of irrigation water is judged with three parameters
1. Total salt concentration
2. Sodium absorption
3. Bicarbonate and boron content.
Total Salt Concentration
Salt content of irrigation water is measured as electrical conductivity (EC). Conventionally, water containing total dissolved salts to the extent of more than 1.5m mhos /cm has been classified as saline. Saline waters are those which have sodium chloride as predominant salt. Brackish water is one that is contaminated with acid, bases, salts or organic matter, whereas saline water contains mainly dissolved salts, Based on EC irrigation water is classified as below.

Principle of field drainage and methods of drainage, Benefits of drainage
Biological drainage
Importance of bio-drainage in water logged conditions
Bio-drainage and soil salinity
Agricultural Drainage
Excess water in the crop root zone soil is injurious to plant growth. Artificial drainage is essential on poorly drained agricultural fields to provide optimum air and salt environments in the root zone. Crop yields are drastically reduced on poorly drained soils, and, in cases of prolonged waterlogging, plants eventually die due to a lack of oxygen in the root zone. Waterlogging in irrigated regions may result in excess soil salinity, i.e., the accumulation of salts in the plant root zone.
Sources of excess soil water that result in high water tables include: high precipitation in humid regions; surplus irrigation water and canal seepage in the irrigated lands; and artesian pressure. Agricultural drainage is the removal of excess water from the soil surface and/or soil profile of cropland, by either gravity or artificial means. In some soils, the natural drainage processes are sufficient for growth and production of agricultural crops, but in many other soils, artificial drainage is needed for efficient agricultural production.
Agricultural drainage improvement can help reduce the year-to-year variability in crop yield, which helps reduce the risks associated with the production of abundant, high quality, affordable food. Improved access of farm equipment to the field provides more time for field activities, can help extend the crop production season, and helps reduce crop damage at harvest.
Agricultural drainage conditions around the world can be grouped according to three agro-climatic zones: the temperate zone, the arid and semi-arid zone and the humid and sub-humid zone.
In the temperate agro-climatic zone the major role of drainage is to prevent waterlogging, i.e., excess water in the root zone of crops from surplus rainfall.

Introduction
Surface irrigation is the distribution of water using open canals in which water flows by gravity. This type of irrigation, which includes flood irrigation, requires relatively flat fields and deep soils.
A good irrigation will ensure a uniform and homogenous distribution of water in small and regular doses. The status of moisture in the soil also aims at maintaining the relative humidity in a plot at a stable level, to limit the development of weeds and pathogens. Irrigation is also used to avoid the transmission of phyto-sanitary problems or the leaching of pesticides.
The volumes of water to apply depend on the climatic conditions, the frequencies of the applications, the soil type and the irrigation method. The choice must take into account the efficiency of each method, the water availability, the installation and running costs, the maintenance needs, the spatial requirements and whether it’s possible to work while the field is irrigated.
Water Management Practices of Different Crops Rice
Total water requirement is 1100-1250
The daily consumptive use of rice varies from 6-10 mm and total water is ranges from 1100 to 1250 mm depending upon the agro climatic situation. Of

Participatory water management, principles of sustainable farming and crop water productivity and strategic water management practices
Participatory irrigation management
Farmers’ participation in management of water resources is one of the prime requirements to improve the irrigation efficiency and enhance food production to meet the future requirement. The objectives participatory irrigation management (PIM) are to achieve equity in water distribution, make best use of rain, surface and ground water conjunctively, develop community responsibility to collect water charges and create a sense of ownership of water resources and the irrigation system among the users so as to promote economy in water use and preservation of system, improve service deliveries through better operation and maintenance and achieve optimum utilization of available resources.
Participation of farmers in the realm or irrigation water management implies an active role of beneficiaries in all the facets of irrigation water management and its attendant linkages with the main system of management in agricultural/agronomic activities. This role is very different from the traditional passive role of farmers to look to the department for irrigation, for water supply and its distribution. The timing of farmers’ involvement is crucial. Farmers’ participation is most effective, when it takes place from initial stages of project planning, including the stage of project formulation. Such involvement forms part of ideal conditions for a partnership between farmers and government. The present theme “more crops per drop” is feasible provided the farmers are encouraged and supported to play an active role in the operation and management of the irrigation system. However, to operationalize this concept, there is a need to involve all the farmers within the command area, so that collective and collaborative action becomes possible.
Importance of Participatory Water Management
The per-capita availability of cultivable land as well as water is going to be stagnated, wherein irrigation is the only key factor leading to increased

Importance of virtual water in agriculture
Virtual water is with the meaning of the concept when water embedded in goods and services and is exchangeable from one country to a different. The country is under water-scarce; the water that’s ‘saved’ is often used towards other ends. Water-scarce countries (like Israel) discourage the export of relatively water-intensive crops (like orange, water melon) precisely to stop large quantities of water from being exported to different parts of the earth. In recent years, the concept of virtual water on trade has gained weight both within the scientific also as restricted by the political debate. The notion of the concept is ambiguous. It changes between an analytical, descriptive concept and a political induced strategy. As an analytical concept, virtual water trade represents an instrument that permits the identification and assessment of policy options not only within the scientific but also within the political discourse. As a politically induced strategy, the question of virtual water trade are often implemented during a sustainable way, whether the implementation are often managed during a social, economical, and ecological fashion, and that countries the concept offers a meaningful option. the info that underlie the concept of virtual water can readily be wont to construct water satellite accounts and brought into economic models of international trade like the Computable General Equilibrium of Global Trade Analysis Project such a model are frequently wont to study the economic implications of changes within the water system or water policy, also because the water resource implications of economic development and trade liberalization. The data pertaining to virtual water is product of GTAP.
Keywords: Virtual water; foodstuff and food; water content in different food materials; water deficit areas;

Climate-based/smart (digital) irrigation practices and its management, irrigation automation, sensors based irrigation, robotic application in irrigation and artificial intelligence
Climate-smart (digital) irrigation: Aims and Objectives
Climate-smart irrigation (CSI) is a vital part of climate-smart agriculture,
aiming to
• Boost the productivity of irrigated farming and farmer incomes while minimizing negative social, political, and environmental consequences.
• Bridge the gap between potential and actual crop yields across different climates.
• Enhance the resilience of irrigated farming and related supply chains to current and future climate change impacts and other risks.
• Adapt irrigated farming to climate change by capitalizing on new opportunities and mitigating adverse effects.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of food, fiber, or fuel produced in irrigated systems, from farm to market.
• Identify and prioritize ways to cut GHG emissions from irrigated systems at various stages, from water sourcing to post-harvest processes.
• Improve the environmental sustainability of irrigated farming and supply chains while safeguarding water access for communities, protecting vulnerable groups’ livelihoods, and preserving aquatic ecosystems.
• Improve the sustainability and reducing the GHG emissions of existing crop production systems.
Irrigation is key to stable agricultural production, especially in dry conditions. CSI aims to improve existing and new irrigation systems by incorporating climate-smart principles. While good irrigation infrastructure is essential, it’s not enough. Effective CSI also requires supportive policies, strong institutions, good water governance, secure land and water tenure, farmer knowledge, market access, and credit availability.

1.1 Introduction
The concept of invention is the fundamental requirement for design thinking. Since the birth of mankind, people started inventing many concepts, which are mainly observations of facts and innovation of ideas for producing products that are useful to the society. The design thinking requires unconventional thinking to design processes for maximal operational efficiency of manufacturing the products, which give maximum satisfaction to customers with more value for money. Hence, the team that is involved in the design thinking projects may gain the required skills by knowing several inventions of the past. Hence, a review of inventions is presented in this chapter.
1.2 Tracing Inventions
The content at https://www.explainthatstuff.com/timeline.html gives a complete account of inventions starting from 4–5 billion years ago up to 2022. The article on solar cell energy gives an account of the sun started producing energy. About 1.2 million years ago, humans invented fire, which has been further innovated for biofuels, candles, IC engines, aviation engines, etc. In the 7th century B.C., ants were killed by burning in the heat produced by concentrated sun rays using magnifying lens. Greeks and Romans utilised burning mirrors to light candles during religious ceremonies in the third century B.C. About 3.5 million years ago, stone, wood, antlers, and bones were used by humans to make first kind of tools. These were further improved to make tools for machines. About 4000 BCE back, iron was used to make decorative ornaments. About 3500 BCE, people invented the concept of wheel, which brought quantum revolution in transportation.

2.1 Introduction
As time passes, the customers are used to the practice of having short life for the products, which they buy and use. This is because of the globalization of business and growing global competition all over the world. The companies engaged in manufacturing and selling the products which are used at large volume by households and partly by industries, introduce new models to attract customers and to have more market share. This in turn has impacts on customer buying and retention decisions of those products. Though the companies introduce new models, they are expected to keep the prices of the products at affordable ranges so that there is always a larger customer segment to buy those products. This is like egg or chicken situation, because companies introduce many new models to out beat competition and in turn customers expect improved versions of those models in shorter time intervals. This forces companies to continuously engage themselves to come out with new models or improved models which have convergence of technologies to give maximal customer satisfaction. So, creativity in product design becomes an essential requirement of the product development teams of the companies.
2.2 Product Design
Product design aims to include the following tasks to solve the problems of the users or address expected needs of customers in a given market. These tasks are human intensive.
i. Understanding end-users’ requirements
ii. Imagining alternate product ideas to address their needs

3.1 Introduction
Since the dawn of humanity, the expansion of invention and technological innovation has made it possible to make a variety of goods to meet its needs. To get a competitive edge in the market, the manufacture of a product has three main goals, viz. efficient product planning, efficient manufacturing, and effective cost control.
These can be achieved through a random thinking, if the designer is fortunate to have the best design of a product of interest, which satisfies the needs of its customers. But it will rarely happen. Design thinking maximizes the possibility of happening of the best design in the journey of design a product in shorter possible time.
Design thinking, an emerging field in this direction, tries to create a product by utilizing the following steps.
i. Empathize
ii. Define
iii. Ideate
iv. Prototype
v. Test
3.2 Definition of Design Thinking
A design methodology called “Design Thinking” offers a problem-based approach to problem solving. By understanding the human needs which changes quickly, re-framing the issue in human-centric ways, generating a lot of ideas during brainstorming sessions, and taking a hands-on approach during prototyping and testing, design thinking is incredibly helpful in handling complicated challenges that are ill-defined or unknown. Anyone can use the Design Thinking approach to tackle complex problems that arise in our society, such as those in our businesses, governments, and other spheres of influence, if they have an understanding of these five steps of the process.

4.1 Introduction
Companies that produce tangible items or offer services must drastically increase their productivity in order to maintain their operations in the face of intensifying global competition. A single quantum jump productivity enhancement technique or multiple concurrent incremental improvement productivity strategies can both be used to achieve this goal. If a business chooses the second choice, integrating various tactics for a significant increase in the total productivity would be quite difficult. The first alternative, a single productivity improvement plan, will make it possible for the business to increase productivity with the same or greater success. The only difficulty with this strategy is locating the probable problem area and then using process improvement techniques to achieve the anticipated dramatic increase in productivity. Business process reengineering refers to any significant adjustment of business processes that results in a dramatic increase in an organization’s productivity. Price, quality, after-sales support, adherence to delivery schedules, technological breakthroughs, etc. are some elements that influence market competition. Therefore, the business should focus its efforts on each of these areas in order to achieve notable improvements in terms of decreased operating costs and higher sales revenue from the sale of its goods and services to clients. Improved pricing for a company’s goods or services can provide it an advantage over competitions. Applying various cost-cutting strategies to lower variable costs and overhead costs will lower the price of the good or service. The other elements, viz. quality, after-sales support, delivery schedule adherence, and technological advancements are all directed in this direction

5.1 Introduction
One of the main methods for cost avoidance and prevention is value engineering/ value analysis. “Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE)” states that value Analysis is the systematic use of known procedures which determine the function of a product or service, define a monetary value for the function, and provide the essential function reliably at the lowest overall cost. If these are applied to a new product, it is called value engineering. By analysing the function of any product, material part, component, system, or service, it is possible to find extraneous expenditures connected with them and effectively remove them without compromising the product’s quality, functional dependability, or ability to provide services. The principles and steps of value analysis/ value engineering will supplement the effort of design thinking.
5.2 Symptoms for Introducing Value Analysis (VA)
If one or more of the following symptoms exist, starting a VA programme is expected to yield very positive effects.
i. Sales of the company’s products are declining.
ii. The prices of the products of the company are greater than those of the products of its rivals.

6.1 Introduction
The success of design thinking depends on its applicability in industries and service organization. The applications of design thinking applied to product development should focus on the needs of users. The design thinking can also be applied to design new processes as well as improve an existing process.
6.2 Case Studies
The section presents several case studies of applying design thinking in realities as listed below.
1. Design thinking in eye care
2. Design thinking in foundry
3. Design thinking in FMG company
4. Design thinking in auto industry
5. Design thinking at retail outlet
6. Design Thinking in Flight Reservation System
7. Design thinking in winding fabric on roller in textile mill
6.2.1 Case study: Design Thinking in Eye Care
Eye care is a crucial part of health care system. There are many factors that are responsible for poor eye vision. Normally in the early stages, viz. children and adults up to 40 or 45 years of age may have eye power issues, which are managed

Introduction
Managing the diverse array of stresses confronting cultivated lands stands as a pressing necessity within the agricultural domain, demanding swift adaptability to navigate shifts and satisfy evolving requisites along the production-consumption continuum. In India, approximately 7.0 million hectares of agricultural terrain grapple with salt-related predicaments, a figure poised for escalation owing to factors like secondary salinization in irrigation networks, amplified dependence on substandard water reservoirs in arid and semi-arid locales, and the complexities posed by phenomena such as sea water encroachment and brackish water aquaculture in coastal regions. Forecasts indicate a potential expansion of salt-affected soil regions in India to encompass roughly 13 million hectares by the year 2025. Within this landscape of challenges, agronomists shoulder a pivotal responsibility, entrusted with the mandate of bolstering productivity via pioneering research endeavors and the formulation of holistic strategies. This undertaking necessitates a nuanced comprehension of salt-affected soils, coupled with the crafting of contingency blueprints predicated upon resourceefficient, economically sound, and ecologically sustainable methodologies. Given the flux in climatic patterns, the adoption of proactive measures assumes heightened significance. Scholarly discourse, exemplified by Singh’s seminal work in 1998, furnishes a retrospective lens on the saga of salt-affected soils. Building upon this historical scaffold, the present exposition endeavors to trace the trajectory of agronomic inquiry spanning epochs ranging from the Vedic era through pre-independence and post-independence epochs. By spotlighting the seminal contributions of researchers in tackling salt-induced soil adversities, the paper endeavors to underscore the profound ramifications of such endeavors on societal wellbeing and environmental equilibrium.
Soil Salinity in Ancient India: Pre- and Post-Vedic Perspectives
Landforms and landscapes emerge from the weathering of rocks and minerals, incorporating salts as essential constituents. These salts have been present

Introduction
Soil quality is a critical concept in environmental science, agriculture, and land management. It refers to the ability of soil to perform its essential functions, which include supporting plant growth, regulating water flow, cycling nutrients, filtering pollutants, and providing habitat for microorganisms. Healthy, high-quality soil is fundamental for the productivity of ecosystems and the sustainability of agricultural practices. The quality of soil is influenced by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors. These include soil texture, structure, organic matter content, pH, nutrient availability, and the presence of beneficial organisms like bacteria and fungi. When these factors are balanced, soil can support healthy crops and ecosystems. However, soil degradation—caused by practices such as overuse of chemical fertilizers, deforestation, erosion, and pollution—can severely reduce its quality, leading to lower agricultural yields, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity. Assessing soil quality involves monitoring several key indicators, such as organic matter levels, soil texture, compaction, water infiltration rates, and the presence of key nutrients. Organic matter is especially important, as it helps to bind soil particles, retain moisture, and provide a food source for beneficial microorganisms. The chemical aspect of soil quality is equally vital, encompassing the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as the presence of any harmful contaminants like heavy metals. The biological dimension of soil quality relates to the diversity and activity of organisms within the soil. A rich microbial community enhances nutrient cycling, helps decompose organic matter, and promotes plant health. Earthworms, for instance, play a critical role in aerating the soil and facilitating water infiltration. Soil quality is not a static property; it can change over time depending on land management practices. Sustainable practices such as crop rotation, conservation tillage, the use of organic amendments, and maintaining ground cover can improve and maintain soil quality. Conversely, unsustainable practices like excessive tillage, monoculture, and the overuse of agrochemicals can degrade soil, making it less productive and more prone to erosion. In

Introduction
Salt-affected soils (SAS) can be found across different latitudes, exhibiting variations in morphology, biology, and chemical, physical, and physicochemical properties (Gupta and Gupta, 2017). Despite their diversity, SAS share a common characteristic: the dominant role of soil solution electrolytes in the soil formation process, leading to properties that create unfavorable conditions for the normal growth of most plants (Szabolcs, 1989). In cases where SAS develop due to natural geomorphological processes, certain plant species, known as halophytes, have evolved specialized physiological adaptations to survive in these environments. Halophytes are capable of thriving in highly saline habitats by effectively managing the stress caused by excessive salt. Plants growing in such conditions employ various adaptive mechanisms to tolerate and flourish despite the salinity challenge. Salt-affected soils (SAS) require specialized management strategies to mitigate the challenges posed by high salinity levels. Plants and organisms in these ecosystems have evolved various adaptations to manage salt levels, such as developing specialized root structures, eliminating or containing excess salt, and efficiently absorbing water and nutrients (Flowers and Colmer, 2015). Despite their typically low alpha-diversity, SAS ecosystems contribute significantly to beta-diversity due to the specialization of organisms that thrive in such challenging environments. However, many of these high-value ecological systems have been severely degraded worldwide as a result of various political and economic decisions. For example, mangroves in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, and Ecuador have been destroyed to make way for shrimp farming (FAO, 2007). Sabkhas around the Mediterranean coast have suffered from overexploitation of the aquifers that sustain them, and the reduction of water flow to closed drainage basins, such as in the case of the Aral Sea, has occurred due to water being diverted for irrigation, especially for cotton farming. Further degradation is seen in the transformation of SAS wetlands into agricultural fields through drainage, a practice observed in many regions (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2007). These ecosystems, once considered wastelands

Introduction
In India acid soils occur in the high rainfall areas covering about 25 million hectares of land with a pH below 5.5 and 23 million hectares of land with a pH between 5.6 and 6.5. In India, acid soils occur in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, NEFA, Manipur, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, MP, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the only states in India where acid soils do not occur. Soil acidity is a limiting factor affecting the growth and yield of many crops all over the world. The basic problems concerning chemical properties of more acid soils are, besides acidity itself, the presence of toxic compounds and elements, such as soluble forms of Al, Fe and Mn, nitrites and various toxic organic acids. Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the major constraints on crop productivity on acid soils, which occur on up to 40% of the arable lands of the world. Al is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust and is toxic to plants when solubilised into soil solution at acidic pH values. Very few plants can grow well in strong acid soils. Soil acidity below pH value 5.5 is generally injurious to plants. Plant roots are badly affected if the pH value exceeds limits of tolerance for particular crops. High degree of soil acidity (pH 5.0 to 6.5) decreases the availability of plant nutrients particularly phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, manganese, potassium sulphur nitrogen, boron, copper and zinc. It also affects adversely the important microbiological processes, such as nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter, Clostridium and nodule inhabiting bacteria (Rhizobia) of leguminous plants

Introduction
Acid sulphate soils are formed when pyrite within a soil layer is oxidised, generating sulphuric acid. The oxidation of pyrite often results in yellow mottles of jarosite. The pH levels in greatly affected areas are often less than 4.0, and the associated environmental impacts include fish kills, retarded growth of crops and changes in water chemistry. Acid soils are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, constituting approximately 30% of the ice-free land in the world, which is 50% of the world’s arable land. In China and India, 212 Mha or 12% of the agricultural land is classified as acidic. In India, about 28% of the total geographical area is affected by acidity of different degrees. Acid sulphate soils (ASSs) are a group of these soils having high soil acidity and other soil function limitations. These soils were termed as Kattecleigrondon or Kattakali by the Dutch farmers in the seventeenth century meaning ‘Cat Clays’ in English for soils of some reclaimed areas that became gradually highly acidic and developed prominent yellowish mottles and crusts composed of jarosite and related sulphates; in northern Germany, similar clays were called Maibolt.
Occurrence
They occur in many regions of the world, mostly along coastal areas where the land is inundated by sea water. Countries having extensive area of acid sulphate soils are:

Introduction
The word “calcareous” has been commonly used as the generic description of all materials containing calcium carbonates greater than 10%. In the context of agricultural problem soils, calcareous soils are soils in which a high amount of calcium carbonate dominates the problems related to agricultural land use. They are characterized by the presence of calcium carbonate in the parent material and by a calcic horizon, a layer of secondary accumulation of carbonates (usually Ca or Mg) in excess of 15% calcium carbonate equivalent and at least 5% more carbonate than an underlying layer. Calcareous soils are common in the arid areas of the earth (FAO, 2016) occupying >30% of the earth’s surface. In the world Reference Base (WRB) soil classification system calcareous soils may mainly occur in the Reference soil group of calcisols.
Formation / genesis of calcareous soils
The soil are formed largely by the weathering of calcareous rocks and fossil shell beds like varieties of chalk, marl , lime stone and frequently a large amount of phosphates. Soils also can become calcareous through long term irrigation with water contains small amounts of dissolved CaCO3 that can accumulate with time.
The secondary CaCO3 are formed under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions, when the carbonate concentration in the soil solution remains High Accumulation starts in the fine and medium sized pores at the surface of contact between the soil particles. This accumulation may be rather concentrated in a narrow zone of the solum or more dispersed depending upon the quantity and frequency of rainfall, topography, soil texture and vegetation. In high rainfall area i.e. in highly weathered soils, CaCO3 is dispersed from the surface horizons. While in arid and semi-arid regions due to low rainfall and limited leaching carbonates may be present in relatively high amounts. In medium deep and deep black clay soils carbonates are generally accumulated in subsurface horizons. However in some eroded shallow black soils they may be exposed right at the surface of soils. In some soils CaCO3 deposits are concentrated into layers that may be very hard and impermeable to water also

Introduction
Waterlogging refers to the accumulation of excessive water in the root zone, leading to anaerobic conditions. This surplus water hampers the exchange of gases with the atmosphere, and biological processes deplete the oxygen supply in both soil and water, resulting in anaerobiosis, anoxia, or oxygen deficiency. In India, approximately 11.6 million hectares, constituting 8.3% of its net sown area, are affected by waterlogging (Planning Commission, 2011). According to Brundtland and Khalid (1987), available estimates indicate an annual global loss of 1.5 million hectares of irrigated land due to salinity and waterlogging. Regrettably, data regarding the occurrence and extent of these issues are inconsistent and incomplete. More recent estimates, provided by Datta and Joshi (1992), range from 5.5 million to 13 million hectares. After conducting a comprehensive global survey, it has been determined that submerged and waterlogged soils cover approximately 5 to 7% of the Earth’s land surface. The total area of waterlogged soil worldwide is estimated to be around 700 to 1000 million hectares. Tropical swamps, rice fields, and floodplains collectively represent nearly 14%, 12%, and 10% of the total waterlogged area, respectively. In India, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have the highest concentration of waterlogged soil, with an estimated total area of one million hectares. The eastern region bears a significant portion of this burden, with over 20% of the affected land suffering from surface waterlogging, which severely diminishes productivity. Waterlogging is characterized by the soil becoming unproductive and infertile due to excess moisture, creating anaerobic conditions known as waterlogged soils. Waterlogged soil presents a significant challenge to agricultural productivity and soil health, characterized by excessive water saturation that restricts oxygen availability to plant roots. In this chapter, we delve into the multifaceted aspects of waterlogged soil, exploring its causes, defining characteristics, and far-reaching consequences. The serves as a comprehensive overview, underscoring the detrimental impact of waterlogging on agriculture, ecosystems, and human well-being. It identifies key factors contributing to

Introduction
Soil crusts are surface alterations in the topsoil resulting from natural processes, such as the impact of raindrops followed by drying. These crusts manifest as thin, hardened layers on the soil surface, particularly common in arid and semi-arid regions. Their thickness typically varies from less than 1 mm to 5 cm (Evans and Boul, 1968). Once dry, these layers become denser, harder, and more brittle than the underlying soil, reducing both the number and size of pores and reorganizing the soil’s pore structure. In temperate regions, surface crusts primarily form on unstable loamy soils, particularly in areas under cultivation. In tropical regions, soil crusting affects a broader range of soils and poses a significant problem not only in arid zones but across various climatic conditions. In humid areas, intensive farming exposes the soil surface to high-energy rainfall for extended periods, accelerating the degradation of soil organic matter. As a result, bare soil areas expand, and biomass production declines. From an agronomic perspective, the most critical drawbacks of soil crusting are its negative effects on seedling emergence and water infiltration. Seedling emergence is particularly affected for crops with small seeds or when the timing of emergence is crucial due to climate or market demands. In some instances, costly replanting becomes necessary. The reduction in water infiltration caused by crusted soils creates significant challenges for irrigation, especially in areas where water scarcity limits large-scale use, forcing farmers to adopt more efficient water management strategies. Reduced water infiltration also leads to increased surface runoff, contributing to soil erosion and environmental risks, such as the pollution of surface waters due to nutrient loss. Additionally, restricted gas exchange between the soil and atmosphere further contributes to lower crop yields. Epstein and Grant (1973) observed that soil erodibility is closely linked to the rate and extent of crust formation, with soil loss peaking within the first 10 minutes of rainfall before stabilizing. It is well established that during crustforming rain events, water infiltration declines over time, leading to an increase in runoff volume. This increase in runoff, combined with the intensified energy

Introduction
Soil, the outermost layer of the Earth’s crust, plays a vital role in supporting plant life. It consists of a mixture of mineral and organic materials, with its depth varying from negligible to several meters across different regions. Subjected to continuous atmospheric influences, soil experiences erosion, primarily driven by the movement of wind and water. Erosion, originating from the Latin word “erodere,” meaning “to eat away” or “to excavate,” involves the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles. The erosion process encompasses two main phases: the detachment of individual soil particles from the soil mass and their subsequent transportation by various agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity, followed by eventual deposition. Finer soil particles are more susceptible to erosion compared to coarser ones, leading to the formation of sediment, the ultimate product of soil erosion. Sediment, which refers to fragmented material transported or deposited by natural agents, illustrates the sedimentation process, reflecting the sequence of the sediment cycle. Detachment involves the dislodgment of soil particles from the soil mass by erosive agents such as impacting raindrops and runoff water. Transportation entails the entrainment and movement of these detached soil particles (sediment) from their original location, often through stream systems, towards eventual deposition sites, which may include the base of slopes, reservoirs, or floodplains. Soil erosion presents a significant threat to human well-being by diminishing the productivity of agricultural land through the removal and washing away of essential plant nutrients and organic matter. The widespread distribution of sediment load globally underscores the pervasive impact of erosion on natural landscapes and ecosystems.

Introduction
Water is one of the most vital natural resources for sustaining life on Earth. However, its availability is not uniform across the planet, and the growing demand for freshwater in the face of climate change, population growth, and industrial development has raised serious concerns about the future of water resources. In 2024, the global water landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, shaped by shifting environmental patterns, technological advances, and policy responses to water scarcity. Water resources refer to the natural sources of water that can be utilized for various purposes, including water supply. Approximately 97% of the Earth’s water is saline, found primarily in oceans, while only about 2.5% is fresh water, but only a small portion of this is accessible. The majority of freshwater is locked in glaciers, ice caps, and deep underground aquifers. Less than 1% of Earth’s freshwater are readily available in rivers, lakes, and accessible groundwater for human use. Of this small fraction, nearly two-thirds is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps. The remaining unfrozen fresh water exists predominantly as groundwater, with only a small percentage available as surface water in rivers, lakes, and atmospheric moisture. The primary natural sources of freshwater include surface water, underflow in riverbeds, groundwater, and frozen water in glaciers. In addition to these, artificial sources such as treated wastewater (reclaimed water) and desalinated seawater are increasingly being used to supplement the global freshwater supply, particularly in regions facing water scarcity. As agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, the management and quality of irrigation water are vital for sustaining food production and maintaining the health of ecosystems. Water is essential not only for basic plant functions, such as photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, but also for controlling temperature and supporting soil structure. In regions where rainfall is insufficient or irregular, irrigation provides a reliable source of water to meet the needs of crops throughout their growth cycle.

Introduction
Soil is considered as a thin layered living entity over the earth’s surface, poses a profound implication on the solidity of ecosystems. It act as a transient nutrient sink for the plants and plays a crucial role in the crux of biogeochemical cycling of Earth’s elements which is being carried out by distinct microbial assemblages present in the soil profile. Soil is the most diverse niche for the microbial communities in which large proportion of taxa exists at a very low correlative abundance. Despite the extensive importance of this entity it has been snubbed lately with the various undesirable activities done by human kind. Therefore, the scientific understanding of soil origin is critical. Scientifically speaking, formation of one inch of soil almost took 15 years if the parent materials are soft whereas hard parent material might takes hundreds of year for its development. Soil horizon involves the arrangement of mature soil in a series of zones. Each horizon encompasses the distinct texture and composition that varies with different kinds of soils. Soil profile is the cross sectional view of the horizons in a soil. The O horizon is the topmost layer of soil, mainly consists of partially decomposed leaves, animal wastes, fungi and other organic materials. A horizon is looser than other deeper layers of soil, mainly dark in colour and considered as the uppermost layer of the soil consisting of partially decomposed organic matter known as humus. Generally, in the upper layers of soil the roots of most plants exist. As long as these layers are supported by vegetation, it acts as a storehouse of water which gets released in a trickle throughout the year. Plant roots grow in the soil and absorb nutrients and water which are required during the process of photosynthesis that helps in the growth and development of plants. Soil contains essential nutrients which are being adsorbs by the plants and is beneficial to all living organisms such as herbivores and omnivores depends on plants for their food, then these being eaten up by carnivores and omnivores in the food web, so nutrients that are absorbed from the soil is reached to all strata of living entity. Soil is a niche for different organisms as its top layers harbors a large population of bacteria, fungi, earthworms and many other small insects that

Introduction
Water is chemical substance which important for all living organism to survive on this planet. Water is necessary for all cell of the living organism’s body to performance any normal work. Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, most like in oceans and other more water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapors, clouds and precipitation. Some observation have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water-based vulnerability, a situation which has been called a ‘water crisis’ by the United Nations. A recent report suggests that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water desire will be exceed supply by 50%. The total volume of water 1,385 million Km3 on the planet earth, 96.5% is salt water (oceans and seas), the fresh water is mostly ice (24 million Km3). The fresh water available as annual stream flow is 46,768 Km3, that is 0.00034% of the total global water. If there is no intake of water into the body, death can ensue in 7-10 days. Water is also essential to man for maintaining personal hygienic and freedom from disease. Today there are many cities worldwide facing actual shortage of water and nearly 40 percent of the world’s food supply is grown under irrigation and a wide variety of industrial processes depends on water. Water is the most vital element among the natural resources, and is critical for the survival of all living any organisms including human, food production, and economic development. The environment, economic growth and developments are highly affected by water is regional and seasonal availability and the quality of surface and groundwater. The quality of water is affected by any human activities and is declining due to the rise of urbanization, population growth, industrial production, climate change and other factors. The resulting water pollution is a serious surrounding to the well-being of both the Earth and its population. The pressures is increasing population, growth of industries, urbanization, energy intensive life style, loss of forest cover, lack of environmental awareness, lack of implements of environmental rule, regulations and environment improvement plans, untreated effluent discharge from industries and municipalities, use of non

Any undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological properties of air is called air pollution. Air pollution interferes with wellbeing of living livelihood. Various human made and anthropogenic sources which deteriorate the air quality are called air pollutant. Some of the common air pollutant are dust, smoke, smog, fog, aerosol, SO2, CO2, O3 and NOx etc.
Sources of Air Pollution
The sources of air pollution are classified into two categories:
1. Natural source
2. Man-made source
1. Natural sources
• Ash from burning volcanoes, dust from storm, forest fires
• Pollen grains from flowers in air are natural sources of pollution
2. Anthropogenic (man-made) sources
They are population explosion, deforestation, urbanization and industrialization whose effect can be explained as fallow:
a) Power stations using coal or crude oil release CO2 in air
b) Also furnaces using coal, cattle dung cakes, firewood, kerosene, etc.
c) Steam engines used in railways, steamers, motor vehicles, etc. give out CO2.
d) So do Motors and internal combustion engines which run on petrol, diesel and kerosene. etc.
e) Vegetable oils, kerosene, and coal as household fuels
f) Sewers and domestic drains emanating foul gases
g) Pesticide residues in air
h) Carbon monoxide and Nicotine from smoking
i) Thermal power plants pollute air by emitted sulphur dioxide and fly ash
j) Fertilizers and pesticides

Introduction
Land is one of the most valuable natural resources on Earth. However, its significance varies across professions. Engineers view land as a foundation for constructing roads, buildings, and flyovers, whereas agriculturists consider it a medium for cultivating crops. For business professionals, land represents a space for establishing offices and industries. Although “land” and “soil” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are distinct. Land is typically regarded as a two-dimensional surface, while soil is three-dimensional, extending in depth. Another key difference is that land refers to any portion of the Earth’s surface, whereas soil consists of weathered rock materials enriched with essential nutrients, making it capable of supporting plant growth. The utilization of land should be aligned with its potential and limitations. Being a finite resource, land use is not solely determined by human needs but also by its capability. Over the past two decades, land degradation has become a growing concern globally, particularly in India. Land serves multiple purposes, primarily supporting agriculture, pastures, and forestry. A standard soil survey map illustrates the various types of soil that are important and their distribution in relation to other landscape features. These maps are designed to cater to users with diverse needs and, therefore, contain detailed information to highlight essential soil distinctions. For a soil map to be useful, the information it presents must be clearly explained to the user. These explanations are referred to as interpretations. Soil maps can be understood in two ways: (1) by examining the individual soil types showed on the map and (2) by grouping soils that exhibit similar responses to management and treatment. Since there are numerous types of soil, there are also many specific soil interpretations. These interpretations provide users with all the relevant information that a soil map can offer. However, many users require more generalized information than that of individual soil-mapping units. To address this, soils are classified in different ways based on the specific needs of the map users. The composition of these soil groups and the allowable variation

Introduction
Accurate and detailed information on the geographical location, aerial extent, and spatial distribution of wastelands is crucial for their efficient management and sustainable rehabilitation. Among modern resource assessment tools, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as powerful technologies for detecting, evaluating, mapping, and monitoring degraded lands. Space-borne multispectral imagery, with its ability to provide large-scale, repetitive coverage, has proven particularly effective in identifying salt-affected soils and waterlogged areas in a timely and cost-efficient manner. In visual interpretation of satellite data, regions with high soil moisture and surface waterlogging appear as dark grey to black, indicating areas prone to water stagnation. To analyze the spatial dynamics of wastelands and assess the effectiveness of high-resolution satellite imagery, IRS P6 satellite data (23.5 m resolution) alongside topographical maps (1:50,000 scale) are commonly used. Given the dynamic nature of wastelands, multi-temporal satellite data is essential for precise delineation. These images must be geo-referenced within a unified coordinate system for consistency. The Planning Commission of India has endorsed GIS as an indispensable tool for land-use planning and wasteland development, facilitating treatment area identification, landuse trade-off analysis, and impact assessment simulations. Recognizing the importance of wasteland management in national development, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) initiated a GIS-based wasteland mapping project in 1991, building upon earlier efforts by the Department of Science (1986) under the National Wasteland Identification Project, which mapped 147 districts at a 1:50,000 scale. A Task Force was established to develop a standardized classification system, later approved by the Planning Commission, categorizing wastelands into:

Introduction
Agroforestry, social forestry, community forestry, village forestry, and farm forestry are all practices that involve tree cultivation primarily outside designated forest reserves. Agroforestry, in particular, is a land-use approach that integrates trees with agricultural crops, shrubs, pastures, or livestock. This combination of trees and shrubs within land management systems can be structured in a spatial arrangement or occur in a sequential manner over time. The term ‘woody perennials’ is sometimes used to describe these trees and shrubs, referring to all long-lived plants that persist for more than a year, including bamboos and palms. In agroforestry systems, trees may not always be deliberately planted; natural regeneration may be encouraged by protecting emerging seedlings, or mature trees may be intentionally retained in fields and pastures. These woody perennials are often categorized as “multipurpose trees” (MPTs) or “multipurpose trees and shrubs” (MPTS) due to their diverse uses. While most trees can be considered multipurpose, this distinction highlights the varied benefits trees offer in agroforestry systems, as opposed to singlepurpose timber plantations focused solely on wood production.
Conversely, tree cultivation in designated forest areas is often directed toward industrial needs, commonly referred to as industrial forestry. The promotion of MPTs in agroforestry holds great promise for addressing land-use challenges and improving livelihoods by enhancing environmental sustainability and economic opportunities for local communities. Agroforestry research has now advanced to a stage where suitable tree-crop combinations, their management practices, and genetically improved planting materials can be recommended for specific conditions. Furthermore, continuous advancements in research by international and national agroforestry organizations are contributing to the benefit of farmers. The availability of information on multipurpose tree species (MPTs) for many species has facilitated the adoption of agroforestry as a viable land-use system. However, for certain MPTs, a lack of fundamental data on growth rates, breeding patterns, resilience to environmental stress,

Introduction
Agroforestry systems have the potential to make use of marginal and degraded lands through the soil improving effects of trees. Underlying all aspects of the role of agro forestry in maintenance of soil fertility is the fundamental proposition that trees improve soils. It would be useful to have guidelines on which properties of a tree or shrub species make it desirable for the point of view of soil fertility. This would help in identifying naturally occurring species and selecting trees for systems which have soil improvement as a specific objective.
Agroforestry is a sustainable land management system which increases the overall yield of the land, combines the production of crops (including tree crops) and forest plants and/or animals simultaneously or sequentially, on the same unit of land and applies management practices that are compatible with the cultural practices of the local population. Nitrogen fixation and a high biomass production have been widely recognized as desirable. However, many properties are specific to particular objectives of systems in which the trees are used. Even species that are shunned for their competitive effects may have a role in certain designs. An example is the way in which Eucalyptus species with a high water uptake, which adversely affects yields in adjacent crops, have been employed to lower the water table and so reduce salinization The agroforestry systems comprises Agrisilivicultural systems (improved fallow species in shifting agriculture (jhum), hedgerow intercropping (alley cropping), multispecies tree gardens, multipurpose trees/shrubs on farmlands, plantation and other crops, shade trees for commercial plantation crops, soil conservation hedges etc.), Agrisilvipastoral systems (tree- livestock-crop mix ground, home garden, woody hedgerows for browse, green manure, soil conservation etc., integrated production of crops, animals ,fuelwood, poles, etc.), Silvipostoral systems (multipurpose fodder trees on or around farmlands,

In his classic book ‘The Ascent of Man’, Bronowski has written, “When I was a young man, we all thought that mastery came from man’s domination of his physical environment. Now we have learned that real mastery comes from understanding and moulding the living environment.” Our Biosphere, the living environment that supports us all, has problems and we humans are mainly responsible. We do not live ‘gently’ on the earth. The seven billion of us require air, water, food, energy, housing and amenities and we have developed the earth to provide them and have also created problems. That problems exist are serious is the bad news. That we are recognizing them and that man has shown ability to organize and grow in ascending order from time to time is the good news.
TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMISTS OR TECHNOLOGICAL CRITICS
A barrier often divides environmentalists and industry. This is the result of a kind of polarization in the 1970s that forced people to define themselves as other technological optimists or technological critics. The environmental debates have usually advocated environmentally benign, small-scale, relatively “low’ technologies. The “soft path” based on conservation and simple renewable energy technologies was pitted against the “hard-path” based on largely on nuclear, fossil fuels etc. In farming Eco agriculture and Organic farming challenged the intensive use of energy, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
WHAT REALLY IS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
For the optimistic proponents of advanced technology, the main danger was that retrealist, anti-technology “prophets of doom” would be causing a collective loss of nerve. To them, it would mean missing an opportunity to get an affluent, supercritical society that would overshoot the limits to growth.

harmony with nature is proving winner in the long run. If the past 60 years led to the Green Revolution in agriculture which often became Greed Revolution, the next 60 year should be the emergence of love for nature, diversity and Sustainable Green Revolution. The two goals – Sustainability and Productivity are inter-related. It is also said that the main difference between the past and today is that our problems are truly global. We are also aware that globally and nationally the rich-poor divide is growing and though world produces enough food, nearly 800 million people remain food insecure. Among 8 millennium goals, eradication of poverty and hunger and environmental sustainability are perhaps the most prominent and complimentary. In his book, “Remember your Humanity – Pathway to food Security”, M.S.Swaminathan has emphasized that a pro-nature, pro-woman and pro-livelihood orientation should be the bottom line of all technological development and delivery program for food security. Mainstreaming of environmental concern in agriculture to avoid exploitative agriculture and ecological consequence is therefore the call of the time.
COMPASSION
The great Tibetan scholar and close companion of HH Dalai Lama, Thupten Jinpa defines compassion as a mental state endowed with a sense of concern for the suffering of others and aspirations to see that suffering is relieved. One of the highest understanding underlined at the global level and in the preparation of sustainable development goals is for a hunger free world and for

The words “Economy” and “Ecology” have the same root. Both these words derived from Greek ‘Oikos’ mean house or house holds and both imply thrifty economical way of dealing with valuable resources. However, for some reason we seem to find these two words coming opposite each-other in many situations.
The destruction and degradation of the environment has become the greatest problem of our century. Our survival will depend on how well we are able to redefine our technologies and our relationship with nature. We therefore need a new sustainable eco-agri revolution and a country like India is in an ideal situation to give a model for that. In the new economy, good ecology will be fundamental to good business.
BEYOND GREEN REVOLUTION
We have often emphasized that perhaps the two greatest successes in India since independence have been maintaining a stable democracy and success in bringing the green revolution, which changed us from a food-begging country to a food self-sufficient nation. We should rightfully feel happy and proud about these achievements, but at the same time remember that the global problems, environmental issues, priorities and the technological scenario have vastly changed in the last two decades. Another feature of Indian agriculture is the vast varieties of agricultural and horticulture practices as shown in Fig. 1.

Agriculture is the most significant part of economies of all African countries and can therefore contribute towards major priority for eradication of hunger and poverty. It also forms the strong base for rapid industrialization, employment and environmental management.
N. KozanaDiaminiLuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission has emphasized that ‘the year 2014 – the year of Agriculture in Africa’ will be used as an opportunity to accelerate the drive for food security. The major thrust for that has to be on ensuring that the farmers make their profession on economic activity that generate well-being for all in a sustainable manner (1, 2). Africa will have a population of 2 billion people by 2050, the majority women and youth. This prediction and the climate change problem summarize the scale of agricultural challenge for them. Currently more than half of all people living in Africa depend on agriculture for all or part of their livelihood. *Based on Key Note address by the author at the First International Agri Business Conference at Mauritius, Africa : 25 – 28 September 2008
EVER GREEN REVOLUTION OR ECO AGRI REVOLUTION FOR AFRICA
Nearly all agree that Africa needs technology for farming comparable to the Green Revolution of Asia. In 2006, two major philanthropic foundations namely Gates Foundations & Rockefeller foundations joined in a joint venture called Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). They emphasized the importance of introducing African small fodder farmers to modern agricultural science.However, this was rejected strongly by some calling it “naivete” about the causes of hunger and warned that this approach

To many Bio Fertilizer is still an unclear term. Often they are identified as urban and rural organic wastes, plant extracts, organic components etc. However, Bio Fertilizer is mostly commonly referred to the use of soil micro organisms to increase the uptake and availability of plant nutrients. Bio Fertilizer have gained a good deal of momentum and the industry after a slow start is now gaining more and more importance globally. The major reasons for this are that they:
1. Improves the soil structure.
2. Add nutrients to the soil / make the nutrients available to the crop
3. Secret certain growth promoting substances
4. Under certain conditions exhibit antifungal activities and there by protect the plants from pathogenic fungus
5. Enhances seed germination
6. Increase the soil fertility
7. Increase the agricultural productivity
8. The nitrogen fixed or phosphate solubilized will be beneficial to the
subsequent crops also.
The major, popularly used and commercially produced Bio Fertilizers are Nitrogen fixing bacterial fertilizers (Azotobacter Culture, Azospirillum Culture, Rhizobium Culture) and Phosphate solubilizing bacterial fertilizers (Pseudomonas Culture). However, currently their applications for other useful elements like Potash, Sulphur, Zincetc are also increasing.

At an Agri Summit, I had an in-enviable task to chair a session on “Sustainable Future”, with two well-known but extremely opposite personalities. On my left was a globally well-known environment activist talking about all the evils of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides. On my right was the President of Pesticide Association with equally strong views about how the chemical pesticides have greatly helped in feeding the hungry world. My task was further made difficult by a large lobby of green activists in the audience and also a number of seasoned industrialists with opposite views. Such a scenario is becoming increasingly common.
In January 2009, the European Council Directive 91-414 was passed banning a total of more than 40% chemical pesticides (David Frabotta, FCI – March, 2009). Earlier in 1993, there were 740 active ingredients available in European markets. By August 2008, however, 394 of these were no longer allowed and 113 more were still under review. It was predicted that in next 5 – 10 years, 85% of these could disappear from European markets. The Swedish chemical agency shortlisted nearly 21 chemical under criteria of ‘Endocrine’ ( The Endocrine criteria are defined as any substances that trigger class – 3 carcinogenic effect and class - 3 reproductive effect). These are new herbicides like :loxynil, Gluctosinate, etc. The two major class of fungicides are described as Triazoles and Dithiocarbonate. Triazoles are major weapon against septoria – a major fungal diseases in cereals.
BEYOND GREEN REVOLUTION
In spite of increase in the use of agrochemicals, the agricultural production and productivity has remained stagnant beyond 1990 due to poor soil conditions

Composting is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and soil conditioner. It is a natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into humus rich soil amendment. At the simplest level, the process of composting requires making a heap of organic material sprinkled with water which break down to humus after a period of weeks or months. However, modern bio composting is a multi-step, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air and carbon and nitrogen rich ( in proper C:N ratio ) materials.
The term composting is used and understand world wide with different
meanings. ( I remember a funny incidence in China when during my talk I mentioned that the process of bio composting does not appear to be understood by more than 80% people. Objecting to this, the President of the academy got up and said “80% is a wrong figure! More than 95% people do not understand it !!”). For many people, composting is used to refer to several types of biological process often calling it “anaerobic digestion”. The microbes used and the process involved are quite different between composting and anaerobic digestion.
Ingredients for Bio Composting
Bio Composting organisms require four important ingredient to function well:

Agriculture worldwide is undergoing a profound shift toward sustainability, driven by the need for increased productivity and environmental stewardship. Among the many innovations shaping this transition, biostimulants have gained prominence as a vital tool for enhancing crop performance, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable farming. Unlike conventional agrochemicals, biostimulants work by activating natural plant processes, enhancing nutrient uptake, and increasing resilience to environmental stress. The global agrichemical industry now distinctly categorizes biopesticides, biofertilizers and biostimulants.
WHAT ARE BIOSTIMULANTS?
Biostimulants are natural synthetic substances that enhance plant growth and development without being fertilizer or pesticides. They work by improving nutrient uptake, increasing stress resistance, and stimulating beneficial microbial activity in the soil. Unlike chemical fertilizers, which directly supply nutrients, biostimulants enhance the plant’s ability to utilize nutrients more efficiently.
TYPES OF BIOSTIMULANTS
Biostimulants are categorized based on their composition and mode of action:
Humic and Fulvic Acids – Improve soil structure, enhance nutrient availability and increase root growth.
Seaweed Extracts – Rich in phytohormones and trace elements that promote plant growth and stress resistance.
Amino Acids – Play a crucial role in protein synthesis and help plants recover from environmental stress.
Microbial Biostimulants – Beneficial bacteria and fungi that enhance nutrient uptake and improve soil health.
Brassinoloilds & Tricontanols – Help in vegetative growth and fruit development.
Alkaloids – Improve plant defense mechanism.

There is a great need to reduce the input costs and at the same time improve the farm productivity in a sustainable manner. A model has been worked out based on a number of field demonstration studies in different parts of India, Africa and Far Eastern countries. A model in which input cost can be reduced by nearly 20 percent and at the same time the crop production can be enhanced upto 20 percent is possible and can be a boon to farmers in most parts of the world. This is the model, which can be easily adopted in an evolutionary way. As suggested by Jonathan Foley (BOX – 1), use of high-tech, precision farming systems, as well as approaches borrows from organic farming, we can boost farm productivity substantially.
Among 8 millennium goals, eradication of poverty and hunger and environmental sustainability are perhaps the most prominent and complementary. The Green Revolution changed India from (and many other countries) from being food deficit to food sufficient / surplus state. Time is now for a new and Sustainable Revolution.
If we look at the challenge that agriculture sector has to face during the next few decades, it is clearly to double the food production by 2025 and triple it by 2050 on less per capita land, with less water and under environmentally challenging conditions.
Let us look at the current scenario and some major developments.
• Indian farmers spend nearly Rs.2 Lakh crores (1 Lakh = 100000& 1 Cr
= 10 Million) on inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides.
• Nearly Rs.50,000 crores goes as fertilizer (chemical) subsidy.
• Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in India hasreduced soil fertility and food production (Green Peace & Vishwa Bharti report – 2009). Fertilizer use efficiency is drastically declining. (It has already come down from 19 Kg food grains per kg fertilizer in mid 60s to 12 kg/kg in 2007).
• Our soils are hungrier for organic carbon. The carbon transfers and trans-formations at the soil or even the cell level can delineate the other nutrients such as N, P, S etc that become available to plants and microorganisms.

Large quantities of crop residues are produced and if properly used, they can provide cost effective means for supplying organic matter, plant nutrients and improved soil health. The highly lignocellulosic nature of crop residues indicate their potential role in maintaining soil organic matter and enriching the soils with N-rich microbial biomass resulting from decompositions. However, their indiscriminate handling often burning leads to decline in soil health, air pollution and overall loss. Since most crop residues find use as feed and fuel, efficient recycling of the remaining amount can have very significant
and positive effect.
The data regarding five major crops are shown. Even after use of some of them as animal feed they offer a great opportunity of using them back in to the soils which are hungry for organic carbon and other matters. Practice of Crop Residue Burning
The problem of collection and transport of crop residue and the short timebetween harvesting of one crop and making the farm free for the second crop has led to the harmful practices of crop residue burning. If instead of burning it, the residues can be incorporated into soils, a host of heterotrophic microorganisms bring about minor discharge of carbon and other elements contained in plant residues. A large increases in beneficial soil microbial populations and organic carbon can be achieved

Reducing the input costs in farming, especially agrochemicals and improving the yields of farm products in environmentally sustainable way, is one of the most important challenges. World over, the understanding of alternative eco-friendly inputs and intelligent integration of such products with the farming practices are the areas which need to be emphasized, understood and demonstrated. Our experience of working with farmers in different regions has convinced us that they all are looking for alternative, eco-friendly and cost effective inputs and the only way to convince them is practical demonstrations. Eco safe farming is a global challenge and needs combined efforts of NGOs and farmers bodies, private and public sector industries and scientists in the institutions and universities. There are many challenges and many success stories and some typical once are listed here.
1. POTATO IN BIHAR
Bihar Government planned a major program in 2011 – 12 for taking up large scale organic farming. A group of experts was invited to discuss and help this initiative. After a systematic planning and joint participation of the state Government, public and private sectors a package of bio inputs was prepared. The results with respect to productivity increase were extremely encouraging as reproduced from a case study paper in BOX – 1

Indian Government has several developmental programmes to promote agriculture and rural sector. It includes Drought Prone Area Program, Antodaya Programme, Integrated Rural Development Programme, Hill Area Development Programme, Desert Development Programme, Intensive Jawahar Rojgar Yojna and Employment Assurance Scheme, Indira Awaas Yojna, Integrated Waste Land Development Programme, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission, etc. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has the main focus to provide guaranteed employment for 100 days in a year to every rural household. Since 2014, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been a major initiative by the Government of India.
THE FOOD SECUR3ITY BILL
The Food Security Bill is here. Some of the salient features are
Nearly 82 crore (820 m) poor people to get food grains at highly subsidized rate, nearly 20 crore poor in urban areas and 62 crore in rural areas will be eligible to get 5 kg rice, wheat and coarse grains at Rs.3, 2 and 1 respectively. Additionally for pregnant women, there will be a provision for free food for 10 months and for children below 7 years, food will be free. There is one danger point feared in this scheme that in the long run, many farmers will stop farming and go for easier way for casual labour and take food security cover in stead of farming the low production lands. But on the other hand we should look at the solution to this keeping in mind that the Food Security Bill is here and how best we can build on our strength rather than weakness. The areas of strength to look for should be :

Normally we associate our agriculture and food supply with farms and villages. The new trends of greener cities and urban and peri urban horticulture (UPH) are emerging very fast. Towns and cities in the world’s developing countries are growing at great speed. Ten years ago, an estimated 40 percent of the developing world’s population or 2 billion people lived in urban areas. Since then, their numbers have expanded twice as fast as total population growth, to more than 2.5 billion. By 2025, more than half the developing world’s population of 3.5 billion will be urban. Again most of the world’s fastest growing cities are in Asia and Africa with young population. The concept of “Green Cities” is being discussed for environmental sustainability. However, the core principles of Greener Cities can guide urban development that ensures food security, clean environment and economic well being. Urban and peri-urban horticulture, together with eco-friendly home and public gardens and sports fields can offer a solution for a better future.
Greener Cities and Eco Agriculture
FAO’s program for UPH is major initiative and the following advantages and plans taken from FAO’s report make the reasons clear : Urban and peri-urban horticulture (or UPH) is the cultivation of a wide range of crops - including fruit, vegetables, roots, tubers and ornamental plants - within cities and towns and in their surrounding areas. It is estimated that 130 million urban residents in Africa and 230 million in Latin America engage in agriculture, mainly horticulture, to provide food for their families or to earn income from sales. The FAO program have demonstrated how horticulture helps empower the urban poor, and contributes to their food security and nutrition. But it can