The emergence, establishment and growth of tree seedlings face very heterogeneous situations in tropical dry forests (TDFs). The pronounced seasonality in soil moisture availability affects the patterns of seed production, germination, survival and seedling development in plants. Light conditions vary seasonally in understorey of these forests, thereby affecting the growth of species components growing there. The patchy distribution and pulsation of nutrient release in the nutrient poor soils of these forests further restricts the growth of plants spatially and temporally. The plants in TDFs,...

Pulses have remained of a great concern for the agricultural scientists and the farming communities as well. The productivity levels of pulses have rarely witnessed any appreciable change since independence of India. Poor fertilization particularly of phosphorus and sulphur and fertility management of Indian soils where pulses are grown extensively had been the main cause for lower productivity. The improved pulse production is very much relevant for improving the farming income thereby ensuring house hold food security, nutritional security and economic security. Nutrient application in soil...

Boron deficiency is a widespread problem for field crop production where large losses of yield occur annually both quantitatively and qualitatively. Boron deficiency in Vindhyan soils is being increased due to light textured soil, low organic matter content and continuous removal by pulses. The entire area of Vindhyan region is rainfed and about more than 50 percent land is suitable for oil seeds and pulses cultivation in upland topography. Generally, farmers do not apply fertilizers in pulses due to lack of knowledge and as a result productivity of the pulses in this region is quite low. At...