Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from five contrasting rice production systems in the tropics

Carbon footprint (CF) quantification of major rice production systems (RPSs) is a prerequisite for developing strategies for climate change mitigation in agriculture. Total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (LC-GHGs) from rice production to consumption might provide precise CFs for RPSs. Therefore, we assessed three segments (pre-farm, on-farm, and post-farm) of LC-GHGs under five major contrasting RPSs, i.e., aerobic rice (AR), shallow lowland rice(SLR), system of rice intensification (SRI), deep water rice (DWR), and zero-tilled direct-seeded rice (ZTR), in India to determine the corresponding CFs.Carbon footprint was the lowest for ZTR, while LC-GHGs were the lowest for AR. Therefore, AR is an adequate option for short-term reduction of GHG emissions. However, ZTR might be promoted by incentives as a long-term strategy. Among segmental LC-GHGs, on-farm GHG emissions contributed less than the other two segmental GHG emissions. The post-farm (i.e., farm gate to consumption) segment contributed the largest proportion (54%–69%) of total LC-GHGs, followed by pre-farm (i.e., cradle to farm) segment (21%–27%) and on-farm operation (11%–23%). These findings suggest that post-farm components that contribute to maximum GHG emissions must be scientifically tackled with proactive policy initiatives. However, the data of this segment are limited and scattered. Therefore, real-time assessment of GHG emissions during post-farm operation and input transportation from cradle to farm requires more precise quantification. Although CF in SRI was higher, this system had the potential to achieve higher yields and better soil carbon storage. Therefore,SRI may be encouraged from the perspectives of food security and long-term sustainability by reducing GHG emissions by three to four times.

Actinobacteria-enhanced plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and crop protection:Advances in soil, plant, and microbial multifactorial interactions

Agricultural areas of land are deteriorating every day owing to population increase, rapid urbanization, and industrialization. To feed today’s huge populations, increased crop production is required from smaller areas, which warrants the continuous application of high doses of inorganic fertilizers to agricultural land. These cause damage to soil health and, therefore, nutrient imbalance conditions in arable soils. Under these conditions, the benefits of microbial inoculants (such as Actinobacteria) as replacements for harmful chemicals and promoting ecofriendly sustainable farming practices have been made clear through recent technological advances. There are multifunctional traits involved in the production of different types of bioactive compounds responsible for plant growth promotion, and the biocontrol of phytopathogens has reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. There are some well-known groups of nitrogen-fixing Actinobacteria, such as Frankia, which undergo mutualism with plants and offer enhanced symbiotic trade-offs.In addition to nitrogen fixation, increasing availability of major plant nutrients in soil due to the solubilization of immobilized forms of phosphorus and potassium compounds, production of phytohormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-pyruvic acid, gibberellins, and cytokinins, improving organic matter decomposition by releasing cellulases, xylanase, glucanases, lipases, and proteases, and suppression of soil-borne pathogens by the production of siderophores, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and chitinase are important features of Actinobacteria useful for combating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants.The positive influence of Actinobacteria on soil fertility and plant health has motivated us to compile this review of important findings associated with sustaining plant productivity in the long run.

Articulating beneficial rhizobacteria-mediated plant defenses through induced systemic resistance:A review

Induced systemic resistance(ISR)is a mechanism by which certain plant beneficial rhizobacteria and fungi produce immunity,which can stimulate crop growth and resilience against various phytopathogens,insects,and parasites.These beneficial rhizobacteria and fungi improve plant performance by regulating hormone signaling,including salicylic acid(SA),jasmonic acid(JA),prosystemin,pathogenesis-related gene 1,and ethylene(ET)pathways,which activate the gene expression of ISR,the synthesis of secondary metabolites,various enzymes,and volatile compounds that ultimately induce defense mechanisms in plant.To protect themselves from disease,plants have various advanced defense mechanisms in which local acquired resistance,systemic gene silencing,systemic wound response,systemic acquired resistance(SAR),and ISR are involved.Several rhizobacteria activate the SA-dependent SAR pathway by producing SA at the root’s surface.In contrast,other rhizobacteria can activate different signaling pathways independent of SA(SA-independent ISR pathways)such as those dependent on JA and ET signaling.The main objective of this review is to provide insight into the types of induced resistance utilized for plant defense.Further to this,the genetic approaches used to suppress disease-causing genes,i.e.,RNA interference and antisense RNA,which are still underutilized in sustainable agriculture,along with the current vision for virus-induced gene silencing are also discussed.

Rice straw recycling: A sustainable approach for ensuring environmental quality and economic security

One of the major challenges in Asian countries is the effective management of rice straw.To ensure food security for their ever-growing population,Asian countries grow more rice,leading to increasing rice straw generation.Burning of rice straw,a common practice,is detrimental to both environmental and human health.However,if managed effectively,rice straw has the potential to safeguard the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems and to uplift the economic security of the population depending on rice farming.Judicious management of rice straw involving minimum soil disturbance along with retention of residues alters the soil carbon cycle through reduced carbon emissions and increased levels of total soil organic carbon.Several alternative uses of rice straw,such as production of livestock feed,bioethanol,biochar,biogas,electricity,mushroom,and paper,can add prosperity to rice farmers’life by fetching extra income.It is evident that efficient management of rice straw is of enormous economic value.Therefore,it is essential to create awareness among the different rice stakeholders of these alternative economic avenues associated with rice straw.This review is an attempt to provide effective options for sustainable rice straw management and rice straw value chains for harnessing its economic potential.It further identifies gaps in our understanding of the effects of rice straw on ecological sustainability,particularly concerning the multifaceted connections between the diverse mechanisms of rice agro-ecosystems,which may greatly influence food security in the 21st century.

Rice(Oryza sativa L.)plant protection using dual biological control and plant growth-promoting agents:Current scenarios and future prospects

Various microorganisms live in association with different parts of plants and can be harmful,neutral,or beneficial to plant health.Some microbial inhabitants of plants can control plant diseases by contesting with,predating on,or antagonizing plant pathogens and by inducing systems for plant defense.A range of methods,including plant growth-promoting microorganisms(PGPMs)as biological control agents(BCAs)(BCA-PGPMs)are used for the biological management and control of plant pathogens.Some BCAs interact with plants by inducing resistance or priming plants without direct interaction with the pathogen.Other BCAs operate via nutrient competition or other mechanisms to modulate the growth conditions for the pathogen.Generally,PGPMs can be applied alone or together with other chemicals or carriers to control various crop diseases.This review highlights the effective types of BCA-PGPMs and their applications,roles,carrier based-formulations,and responses to rice(Oryza sativa L.)pathogens.Future plant disease management prospects are promising,and growers’increasing demand for BCA-PGPM products can be exploited as an effective approach to the management of plant diseases,as well as to improve yield,environmental protection,biological resources,and agricultural system sustainability.