Indian Journal of Plant and Soil

A green manure crop is used primarily as a soil amendment and a nutrient source for subsequent crops. The positive role of green manuring in crop production has been known since ancient time. Organic matter is the life of the soil because it  contains all the essential elements required for plant growth. Well-stored farmyard manure is most important of all organic manures, but it is not available in sufficient quantity. Moreover, soil degradation is the principal cause of a continuous decrease in crop production at present. Importance of this soil ameliorating practice is increasing in recent years because of high cost of chemical fertilizers, increased risk of environmental pollution, and need of sustainable cropping systems. Green manuring can improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties and consequently crop yields. It also serves as food for soil micobiota. The objective of this article is to review recent advances in green manuring practice, in the context of potential benefits and drawbacks in use of this practice for annual crop production and sustain soil health.
Keywords: Green manuring; Organic matter; Crop production; Soil health

The financial management principles on cost reduction and cost control measures lend a hand in times of crisis to take decisions on managing agricultural operations and inputs with least damages on cost of production per unit end product and profitability considering not only of pressing concerns of the day but also of to-morrow. How financial management concepts helped in taking correct decisions in times of financial crunch are deliberated here. 

Keywords: Nutrient; Crisis Management; Financial Management Concepts.

Cardamom, the Queen of Spices and the native of evergreen forests of Western Ghats, of South India, is a high value crop grown for its dried seeds which contains the aromatic oil (mainly 1,8 cineole,  terpinyl acetate, linalyl acetate and linalool )used to flavor foods. Important soil and climatic conditions and eco- systems which are necessary for economically sustainable productivity are reread to align the cultivation practices to realize the purposes for which it is grown. Some focal features about Cardamom and for its productivity are précised below. Cardamom is a perennial underground rhizome with leaf sheaths forming aerial pseudo stems above the soil, growing to 2 to 4 m height. he inflorescence or the panicle arises from pseudo stem elow the soil and come out above the soil as racemic clusters carrying bisexual flowers and fertilized by entomophily cross pollination. Flower initiation starts in March /April after the drought is broken, expending 30 days to full bloom and 5to 6 months to reach harvestable stage. Harvesting or picking of capsules starts around end August and extends up to Dec/January in 6 to 8 pickings. The fruits are about 2 to 3 cm long ovoid and triangular turning brown to pinkish on ripening and carry 40 to 50 seeds. New tillers are also initiated during the same period; and after a year.

Keywords:Theoretical Maximum; Threshold; Limits of Productivity.