Indian Journal of Plant and Soil

The escalating environmental and anthropogenic challenges have propelled the biological approach to the forefront of integrated and sustainable weed control strategies. With a historical background spanning century, the success of using biological agents for weed control takes center stage in this chapter. Our exploration begins with a classical perspective on the biological approach, shining a spotlight on arthropods, particularly insects. A unique angle introduced involves the redistribution of local arthropods as a nuanced method for effective weed control. Transitioning to the bioherbicide section, we delve into the realm of formulated natural products and their diverse formulations, recognizing their pivotal role in biological weed control.However, the landscape of biological weed control is not without its challenges. Financial constraints, side effects, and divergent opinions pose hurdles that warrant attention. Yet, despite these challenges, the narrative maintains an optimistic outlook. The underlying belief is that, in the future, biological methods will evolve to offer not only effective but also sustainable solutions for weed control practices. In essence, this abstract navigates through the historical successes of biological weed control, explores specific facets such as arthropods and bioherbicides, confronts existing challenges, and ultimately anticipates a future where biological methods emerge as more promising and sustainable players in the field of weed control.

The geo-environmental assessment is a prerequisite for adopting agro-ecological principles and achieving sustainable crop yields. We present three case studies from three agro-ecological regions. Pedological data sets were made and used to evaluate bio-physical parameters in Pulivendula tehsil in Kadapa, cotton producing Yavatmal district, and rice farming Majuli, Assam. According to the suitability assessment in pulivendula tehsil, 56091 ha are suitable for bananas under drip irrigation and 16364 ha are at high erosion risk. Cotton can be grown on 25 percent of total arable land in Yavatmal district, but 28.43 percent cannot be irrigated. Rice can be grown on 32% of Majuli island. However, there are limitations such as subsoil acidity, shallow ground water tables, poor organic carbon status, and low cation exchange capacity. Through land evaluation exercises, land resources can be harnessed using sustainable soil land management techniques. With the use of soil quality assessment and erosional status using USLE, the case studies shed light on region level biophysical constraints that affect productivity.

The daily rainfall data of Pune (plain zone) were analyzed for determination of D-days (D=2, 4, 5, and 6 days) rainfall total. Plotting positions were compared using Weibull’s and Gringorten’s formulae. The relationship between one day and D-days rainfall totals in Plain Zone was developed. Weibull’s formula was found better than Gringorten’s formula for plotting positions for the observed data of Pune station. The relationships between one day and D-day annual maximum values of rainfall were found to be exponential in nature for Pune.