@Research Paper
<#LINE#>The comparative study of Heavy Metal contamination in Seasonal Agricultural crop soils<#LINE#>Smriti @Kamal,Madhuri @Yadav <#LINE#>1-5<#LINE#>1.ISCA-RJAFS-2025-014.pdf<#LINE#>Department of Zoology, D.B.S. College, CSJM University, Kanpur, UP, India@Department of Zoology, D.B.S. College, CSJM University, Kanpur, UP, India<#LINE#>3/10/2025<#LINE#>9/11/2025<#LINE#>Heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils has emerged as critical ecosystem concern affecting soil fertility and crop productivity. The results revealed significant disruptions in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, microbial biomass reduction, and a decline in crop yield. These findings highlight the need for sustainable land-use remediation and management strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution and preserve long-term soil fertility. The discharge of untreated industrial effluents into agricultural lands has led to an alarming rise in heavy metal contamination. This study investigates the effects of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) accumulation on soil nutrient dynamics, pH, microbial activity, and overall crop yield. Soil samples were collected from farmlands located near industrial zones, and physico-chemical properties were analyzed alongside plant tissue metal concentrations. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing proper wastewater treatment and monitoring strategies to protect agricultural productivity and soil health. The level of heavy metal pollution and its effects on soil properties across Rabi and Kharif cropping seasons. Seasonal sampling of soils from agricultural fields near industrial zones was conducted, and concentrations of Ni, Pb, and Cu were measured. The study found seasonal variation in metal accumulation, with higher concentrations during the Kharif season due to increased water runoff and leaching. Enzymatic activity and microbial biomass were also found to be seasonally affected. These findings are vital for designing crop rotation and soil management strategies in polluted regions.<#LINE#>Alloway, B. J. (2013).@Heavy metals in soils: Trace metals and metalloids in soils and their bioavailability (3rd ed.). Springer.@@Yes$Nagajyoti, P. C., Lee, K. D., & Sreekanth, T. V. M. (2010).@Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants: A review.@Environmental Chemistry Letters, 8(3), 199–216.@Yes$Ali, H., Khan, E. and Ilahi, I. (2019).@Environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology of hazardous heavy metals: Environmental persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation.@Journal of Chemistry, 6730305.@Yes$Allengebawy, A., Abdelkhalek, S. T., Khedr, M. E. and Saad, M. A. (2021).@The environmental impacts of pesticides and heavy metals on health, safety, and the environment: A review.@Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 15, 100408.@Yes$Gupta, N., Khan, D. N., and Sharma, V. (2020).@Seasonal variation in heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil and groundwater.@Environmental Earth Sciences, 79(20), 465.@Yes$Sharma, R., and Raju, N. J. (2022).@Spatial-temporal variability of heavy metals in agricultural soils under different cropping seasons.@Environmental Pollution, 293, 118586.@Yes$Kumar, A., Maiti, S. K., and Bera, T. (2016).@Seasonal dynamics of heavy metals in agricultural soil and plants irrigated with treated sewage water.@Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188(11), 622.@Yes$Liu, H., Yang, X., Liu, G., Liang, C., Hu, y., Christie, P. and Zhang, J. (2020).@Long-term heavy metal contamination reshapes soil microbial communities and functional potential.@Science of the Total Environment, 724, 153829.@Yes$Isobeme, A. (2021).@Effect of heavy metals on activities of soil microorganisms.@In Microbial rejuvenation of polluted environment (pp. 23–38). Springer, Singapore.@Yes$Khan, Z. I., Ahmad, K., and Hussain, A. (2021).@Accumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in food crops from wastewater-irrigated soil.@Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 12345–12356.@Yes$Srivastava, A., Yadav, S., and Singh, R. K. (2023).@Impact of industrial pollution on soil and crop contamination in peri-urban agricultural zones: A Kanpur case study.@Journal of Environmental Management, 331, 117284.@Yes$Kang, C. H., Kwon, Y. J., and So, J. S. (2021).@Soil acidity enhances bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals in contaminated agricultural soils.@Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 11567–11576.@Yes$Tate, R.L. (2004).@Soil Microbiology.@2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J and Wiley.@Yes
<#LINE#>Biology of Callosobruchus chinensis in stored mung beans (Vigna radiata) in Muzaffarpur, Bihar<#LINE#>Pinki @Kumari,Archana @Gupta <#LINE#>6-9<#LINE#>2.ISCA-RJAFS-2025-017.pdf<#LINE#>University Department of Zoology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India@Department of Zoology, Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India<#LINE#>10/8/2025<#LINE#>16/11/2025<#LINE#>Among pulse crop, mung bean (Vigna radiata) is one of the most important pulse crops in Muzaffarpur, North Bihar which is affected by its conmon pest called pulse beetle common pest, (Callosobruchus chinensis) due to which, it faces qualitative and quantative losses both during its storage. Therefore, its control is utmost priority which ultimately requires the knowledge about its various life stages. The current work is conducted in the laboratory, to study the biology of pulse beetle on ten different parameters. The results obtained showed pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition perio as 6.50 ± 1.08 h, 6.30 ± 0.82 days and 2.60 ± 0.51days respectively,  incubation period  4.70 ± 0.82 days, total larval period and pupal period  15.30 ± 1.44 days and 6.20 ± 0.78 days, respectively , average lifespan of male and female adult  6.50 ± 1.08 days and 9.10 ± 1.19 days, respectively and fecundity 92.7 ± 9.21 eggs /female. Whole life cycle of male was 28.00 ±2.44 days and female was 30.60 ± 2.83 respectively. The study is important not only in understanding the life cycle but also for the control of pulse beetle.<#LINE#>Kannaiyan, S. (1999).@Bioresources technology for sustainable agriculture.@Associated Publishing company. New Delhi, pp:422@Yes$Patel, V.K., Chaudhuri, N., & Senapati, S. K. (2005).@Biology of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis Linn.) as influenced by feeding of different grain pulses.@Agricultural Science Digest, 25(4), 254-256.@Yes$Dongre, T. K., Pawar, S. E., Thakare, R. G., & Harwalkar, M. R. (1996).@Identification of resistant sources to cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)) in Vigna sp. and inheritance of their resistance in black gram (Vigna mungo var. mungo).@Journal of Stored Products Research, 32(3), 201-204.@Yes$Sharma, O. P., Bambawale, O. M., Gopali, J. B., Bhagat, S., Yelshetty, S., Singh, S. K., ... & Singh, O. P. (2011).@Field guide: mungbean & urad bean.@@Yes$Akinkurolere, R. O., Adedire, C. O., & Odeyemi, O. O. (2006).@Laboratory evaluation of the toxic properties of forest anchomanes, Anchomanes difformis against pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).@Insect Science, 13(1), 25-29.@Yes$Southgate, B. J. (1979).@Biology of the Bruchidae.@Annual review of entomology, 24(1), 449-473.@Yes$Booker, R. H. (1967).@Observations on three bruchids associated with cowpea in northern Nigeria.@Journal of Stored Products Research, 3(1), 1-15.@Yes$Pruthi, H. S., & Singh, M. (1950).@Pests of Stored Grain and their Control.@Indian Journal of Agriculture Science, 18, 1-52@Yes$Metcalf, C. L., & Flint, W. P. (1962).@Destructive and useful insects: their habits and control (4th ed).@McGraw-Hill Book company.@Yes$Raina, A. K. (1970).@Callosobruchus spp. infesting stored pulses (grain legumes) in India and comparative study of their biology.@Indian journal of Entomology, 32(4), 303-310.@Yes$Mishra, S. N., Jena, B. C., & Guru, B. C. (2015).@Biology of pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis in storage condition in green gram.@International Journal of Science and Research, 4(8), 1321-1323.@Yes$Chakraborty, S. and Mondal, P. (2015).@Studies on the biology of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) infesting cowpea.@International Journal of Current Research, 7(12), 23512-23515.@Yes$Varma, S., & Anandhi, P. (2010).@Biology of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis Linn., Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and their management through botanicals on stored mung grains in Allahabad region.@Legume Research-An International Journal, 33(1), 38-41.@Yes$Rana, K. (2014).@Biology of the Bruchid Callosobruchus chinensis Linn. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on Garden Pea, Pisum sativum.@Trends in Biosciences, 7(11), 1078-1081.@Yes$Thakur, A. K., & Pathania, M. (2013).@Biology of Pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) and its management through Plant products on Black Gram (Vigna mungo).@Science, technology and arts research journal, 2(1), 18-21.@Yes$Singh, S. C., & Rina Kumari, R. K. (2000).@A study of the biology of Callosobruchus chinensis (Linn.) infesting stored pulses (grain legumes) in India.@Indian Journal of Entomology, 62(4), 319-322@Yes$Hosamani, G. B., Jagginavar, S. B., & Karabhantanal, S. S. (2018).@Biology of pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis on different pulses.@Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(4), 1898-1900.@Yes$Ravindra, A. C. (1998).@A Study of field infestation of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) WALP] by the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.)(Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and its management (Doctoral dissertation, University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore).@@Yes$Augustine, N., & Balikai, R. A. (2019).@Biology of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus) on cowpea variety DC-15.@Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 7(1), 513-516.@Yes$Patel, S. K., & Vaishampayan, S. and Dwarka, (2021)@Studies on the life cycle of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) on chickpea and oviposition preference on different chickpea genotypes/varieties.@@Yes$Kumar, S. D., & Kumar, M. D. (2018).@Biology of pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis in storage condition in gram.@International Journal of Agriculture Sciences.@Yes$Augustine, N., & Balikai, R. A. (2019).@Biology of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus) on cowpea variety DC-15.@Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 7(1), 513-516.@Yes
@Review Paper
<#LINE#>Mulching in Natural Farming through Incorporating of Legumes crops<#LINE#>Amit Anil @Shahane <#LINE#>10-18<#LINE#>3.ISCA-RJAFS-2025-016.pdf<#LINE#>Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture (Central Agricultural University, Imphal), Kyrdemkulai– 793 105, Meghalaya, India <#LINE#>10/8/2025<#LINE#>18/11/2025<#LINE#>The natural farming is public initiated movement towards self-reliant and sustainable agricultural production system with weight age to crops, trees and animals. Hence, the crop/ plant which are in favour of these three components will be well adopted in NF. The mulching is one important component in NF with wider impact on soil health, plant/ crop productivity and water management. Incorporating crops which provide mulching effect beside other beneficial effect such as legumes is important in NF. The cultivation of legumes has wider potential options to be investigated for their potential in NF. This article overview the potential options for incorporating the legumes in NF with their consideration, pros and cons. The legumes crops such as cowpea, green gram, cluster bean, sunhemp, delonix, sesbania and gliricidia are well known for their multiple and significant positive have effects in crop production which more highlighted as green and brown manuring. These crops will serve as mulching in NF with different options such as inter-cropping, inter-planting, economic crops with residue used as mulch material, green manuring, brown manuring, and multipurpose legumes tree species as source of vegetation for mulching. These legume crops are also compatible with other component such as acting as animal feed, valuable economic crop and source of protein to animal and human being. Therefore, it will be essential to further improve and investigate legumes for mulching and other potential benefits in NF.<#LINE#>Bharucha, Z.P., Mitjans, S.B., & Pretty, J. (2020).@Towards redesign at scale through zero budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India.@Int. J. Agric. Sustain., 18(1), 1–20; DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2019.1694465.@Yes$Anonymous (2022).@National centre for organic and natural farming, An organization under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India), Hapur road, Sector-19, Kamala Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India – 201 002.@Available online from: http://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in; Accessed on 20th June 2025.@No$Anonymous. (2022a).@National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE), An organization under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India, Rajandranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India – 500 030.  Accessed on 20th June 2025.@Available online from:www.manage.gov.in.  Accessed on: 10th June, 2025.@No$Anonymous. (2022b).@National coalition of natural farming. Plot. No. 685, Road. No. 12 Narasimha Swamy Colony, Nagole Hyderabad Telangana, India – 500 068.@Available online from: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0O.2010; Accessed on 20th June 2025.@No$Bhattacharjee, U. & Uppaluri, R.V.S. (2023).@Production and optimization of Jeevamrutha bio-fertilizer formulations for soil fertility and its role in waste minimization.@Sustain. Chem. Climate Action, 2, 100025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scca.2023.100025.@Yes$Jordan, C.F. (2004).@Organic farming and agroforestry: Alleycropping for mulch production for organic farms of southeastern United States.@Agrofor. Syst., 61(1), 79–90.@Yes$Mridha, N., Ray, D.P., Saha, B., Ghosh, R.K., Das, A., Bhowmick, M., & Shakyawar, D.B. (2022).@Natural fibre based non-woven agrotextile mulch: a boon for natural farming.@Indian Farming, 72(12), 15–18.@Yes$Iqbal, R., Raza, M.A.S., Valipour, M., Saleem, M.F., Zaheer, M.S., Ahmad, S., Toleikiene, M., Haider, I., Aslam, M.U., & Nazar, M.A. (2020).@Potential agricultural and environmental benefits of mulches—A review.@Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., 44(1), p.75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-020-00290-3.@Yes$Kader, M.A., Singha, A., Begum, M.A., Jewel, A., Khan, F.H., & Khan, N.I. (2019).@Mulching as water-saving technique in dryland agriculture.@Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., 43(1), 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-019-0186-7.@Yes$Khan, B.A., Nijabat, A., Khan, M.I., Khan, I., Hashim, S., Nadeem, M.A., &Ikram, M. (2022).@Implications of Mulching on Weed Management in Crops and Vegetable.@In: Akhtar, K., Arif, M., Riaz, M., & Wang, H. (eds.) Mulching in Agroecosystems. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6410-7_13.@Yes$Ravichandran, M., Samiappan, S.C., Pandiyan, R., &Velu, R.K. (2022).@Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: a review.@J. Expt. Biol. Agric. Sci., 10(4), 697–712.@Yes$Zhang, P., Zhang, Z., Xiao, M., Chao, J., Dai, Y., Liu, G., &Senge, M. (2023).@Effects of organic mulching on moisture and temperature of soil in greenhouse production of tomato under unheated greenhouse cultivation in the cold zone of China.@Food Sci.Nutri., 11(8), 4829–4842. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3460.@Yes$Liu, L., Zhu, Q., Wan, Y., Yang, R., Yang, L., Meng, L., Zheng, M., Xu, X., Zhu, T., Elrys, A.S. &Muller, C. (2025).@Towards a mechanistic understanding of legume functioning in natural restoration of degraded ecosystem: legume‐specific impacts on nitrogen transformation processes.@Plant, Cell  Environ., https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15550.@Yes$Diacono, M., Persiani, A., Castellini, M., Giglio, L., & Montemurro, F. (2021).@Intercropping and rotation with leguminous plants in organic vegetables: Crop performance, soil properties and sustainability assessment.@Biolo. Agric. Horti., 37(3),141–167.@Yes$Singh, A., Shivay, Y.S., Prasanna, R., & Kumar, A. (2021).@Basmati rice quality enhancement by zinc fertilization and green manuring on a sub-tropical inceptisol in indo-gangetic plains of India.@J. Agricul. Sci., 13(5), 125–143.@Yes$Farooq, M., Ullah, N., Nadeem, F., Nawaz, A., &Siddique, K.H. (2021).@Sesbania brown manuring improves soil health, productivity, and profitability of post-rice bread wheat and chickpea.@Expt. Agric., 57(3), 145–162.@Yes$Sandhya Rani, Y., Jamuna, P., Triveni, U., Patro, T.S.S.K., &Anuradha, N. (2022).@Effect of in situ incorporation of legume green manure crops on nutrient bioavailability, productivity and uptake of maize.@J. Plant Nutri., 45(7), 1004–1016.@Yes$Shahane, A.A. (2024).@Overview of natural faming-A new environmentally responsible production system.@Acta Sci. Agric., 8(4), 25–30.@No$Nene, Y.L. (2017).@A Critical discussion on the methods currently recommended to support organic crop farming in India.@Asian Agri-History, 21(3), 267–285.@Yes$Muhie, S.H. (2023).@Concepts, principles, and application of biodynamic farming: a review.@Circ. Econ. Sustain., 3(1), 291–304.@Yes$Wezel, A., Bellon, S., Doré, T., Francis, Charles A., Vallod, D., & David, C. (2009).@Agro-ecology as a Science, a Movement and a Practice: A Review.@Agron. Sustain. Develop., 29, 503–515. DOI: 10.1051/agro/2009004.@Yes$Lopez, F.G., Hernandez-Chontal, M.A., Cisneros-Sanguilan, P., & Linares-Gabriel, A. (2018).@Development of the concept of agro-ecology in Europe: A review.@Sustainability, 10, 1210, DOI: 10.3390/su10041210.@Yes$HPDE (2019).@Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome.@Available from: https://openknowledge.fao.org/ server/api/core/bitstreams/ff385e60-0693-40fe-9a6b-79bbef 05202c/content; Access on: 30thJune, 2025.@Yes$Reddy, T.Y. & Reddy, G.H.S. (2023).@Principles of Agronomy.@6th edition, Kalyani Publishers, India. (ISBN: 9789327269154).@Yes$Cataldo, E., Salvi, L., Paoli, F., Fucile, M., Masciandaro, G., Manzi, D., Masini, C.M., & Mattii, G.B. (2021).@Application of zeolites in agriculture and other potential uses: A review.@Agronomy, 11(8), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081547.@Yes$Sib, O., González-García, E., Assouma, M.H., Sanou, F., Douzet, J.M., Kouakou, P.K., Dabiré, D., Sanogo, S., &Vall, E. (2025).@Overall performances of Leucaenaleucocephala and Morus alba in high-density protein banks at maturity in western Burkina Faso.@Agrofor. Syst., 99(1), p.11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01111-6.@Yes$Manaye, A., Tesfamariam, B., Tesfaye, M., Worku, A., & Gufi, Y. (2021).@Tree diversity and carbon stocks in agroforestry systems in northern Ethiopia.@Carbon Balance Manag., 16(1), p.14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s130 21-021-00174-7.@Yes$Shahane, A. A. (2025).@In-situ live and dead mulching of legumes: A valid substitute for brown manuring in natural farming.@Indian Farmer, 12(7), 371–378.@Yes