Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Foliar-Applied Nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide and Manganese Oxide Under Drought Stress Perumal Kathirvelan, Sonam Vaishnavi, Venkatesan Manivannan, M. Djanaguiraman, S. Thiyageshwari, P. Parasuraman, M. K. Kalarani Plants, 2025 Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop grown for food, feed, and energy. In general, maize yield is decreased due to drought stress during the reproductive stages, and, hence, it is critical to improve the grain yield under drought. A field experiment was conducted with a split-plot design. The main factor was the irrigation regime viz. well-irrigated conditions and withholding irrigation from tasseling to grain filling for 21 days. The subplots include six treatments, namely, (i) the control (water spray), (ii) zinc oxide @ 100 ppm, (iii) manganese oxide @ 20 ppm, (iv) nZnO @ 100 ppm + nMnO @ 20 ppm, (v) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Nano Revive @ 1.0%, and (vi) zinc sulfate 0.25% + manganese sulfate 0.25%. During drought stress, the anthesis–silking interval (ASI), chlorophyll a and b content, proline, starch, and carbohydrate fractions were recorded. At harvest, the grain-filling rate and duration, per cent green leaf area, and yield traits were recorded. Drought stress increased the proline (38.1%) and anthesis–silking interval (0.45 d) over the irrigated condition. However, the foliar application of ZnO (100 ppm) and nMnO (20 ppm) lowered the ASI and increased the green leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index, and proline content over water spray. The seed-filling rate (17%), seed-filling duration (11%), and seed yield (19%) decreased under drought. Nevertheless, the seed-filling rate (90%), seed-filling duration (13%), and seed yield (52%) were increased by the foliar spraying of nZnO (100 ppm) and nMnO (20 ppm) over water spray. These findings suggest that nZnO and nMnO significantly improve the grain yield of maize under drought stress conditions.
SUITABLE CROP ESTABLISHMENT METHOD AND INTERCROPS FOR SEMI-SPREADING GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) IN DRYLAND RAINFED ECOSYSTEM OF NORTH EASTERN ZONE OF TAMIL NADU K. SATHIYA,, V. VIJAYA GEETHA, P. KANNAN, C. HARISUDAN, P. KATHIRVELAN, M. VIJAYAKUMAR, N. TAMILSELVAN, S. SUGANYA, R. BRINDAVATHY, C. VANITHA, M. VAITHIYALINGAN Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2025 . The prevalence of uneven rainfall distribution and intermittent droughts during the crop growth period frequently lead to crop failure. Semi-spreading groundnut demonstrates resilience to moisture stress under diverse land configurations, offering opportunities for intercropping. This adaptability not only helps the groundnut crop withstand challenging environmental conditions but also presents a potential strategy for mitigating risks during drought years. Under these circumstances, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of semi-spreading groundnut for the north eastern zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The experiment employed a strip plot layout with 12 treatment combinations viz ., Seed drill sowing with raised beds (90 cm) of Groundnut + Black gram (M 1 S 1 ); Groundnut + Cowpea (M 1 S 2 ) Groundnut + Red gram (M 1 S 3 ); Groundnut + Castor (M 1 S 4 ); Seed drill sowing with compartmental bunding of Groundnut + Black gram (M 2 S 1 ); Groundnut + Cowpea (M 2 S 2 ) Groundnut + Red gram (M 2 S 3 ); Groundnut + Castor (M 2 S 4 ) Seed drill sowing with no land configuration of Groundnut + Black gram (M 3 S 1 ); Groundnut + Cowpea (M 3 S 2 ) Groundnut + Red gram (M 3 S 3 ) Groundnut + Castor (M 3 S 4 ). The groundnut variety TMV 10 was utilized, and collected data were subjected to statistical analysis to determine the study’s outcomes. The adoption of the seed drill sowing with raised bed and compartmental bunding crop establishment technique resulted in a higher pod yield of 703 kg/ha, surpassing the flatbed method of sowing which yielded 605 kg/ha. Among the intercrops, cowpea and castor exhibited notably higher seed yields. An overall Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis revealed that opting for compartmental bunding, raised bed with a red gram/cowpea intercrop provided the maximum return of $ 1.43 per $ invested.
Role of nano fertilizers on improving drought tolerance of maize Sonam Vaishnavi, Kathirvelan Perumal, V Manivannan, M Djanaguiraman, S Thiyageshwari Plant Science Today, 2025 Maize is a versatile crop that is primarily used as human food and animal feed. It is also a fundamental raw material utilized in various industrial products owing to its nutritional value. One of the most harmful abiotic stresses in maize cultivation is drought. A water shortage caused by drought limits crop development and yield because there is less available moisture. Water shortage stress causes restricted stomatal opening, enhanced photorespiration and accelerated photoreduction of oxygen in the chloroplast. Eventually, this causes oxidative damage in maize owing to ROS accumulation. Plants respond to drought stress by producing the phytohormone abscisic acid, closing their stomata, changing gene expression and preserving their osmotic balance. Nano micro fertilizers are a phenomenal tool for drought tolerance when combined with deficit soil moisture in maize. When it is paired with deficit soil moisture, nano micro fertilizers are an incredible weapon for drought tolerance under changing climatic conditions. It aids in keeping maize's green characteristics. The greater advantages of using nano micro fertilizers in maize are retention of chlorophyll, regulation of stomatal openings, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the proliferation of roots and higher grain filling, which resulted in higher productivity. The development of stay-green character and drought resistance in maize is positively influenced by nano micro fertilizer with suitable form and dose. Under drought conditions, nanomicronutrients play a critical role in controlling physiological processes, reducing oxidative stress and preserving cellular homeostasis. Additionally, every micronutrient acts differently and produces a different physiological response related to drought tolerance.
Effect of foliar application of nano micro nutrients and deficit irrigation on stay green characteristics and drought resistance in maize P Kathirvelan, S Vaishnavi, V Manivannan, M Djanaguiraman, S Thiyageshwari Plant Science Today, 2025 The stay-green character is a crucial trait linked to delayed leaf senescence, which enables the plant to continue photosynthetic activity for an extended time under early and terminal drought. Reduced water availability causes early leaf senescence, lower chlorophyll content and eventually poor yield in maize. The objectives were to quantify the effects of irrigation regimes, nanocomposite levels physiological parameters, yield attributes and yield of maize. The main plot treatments comprised of well irrigated and withheld irrigation, while the sub plot treatments consisted of different nanoparticles viz., ZnO, MnO, (ZnO + MnO), TNAU nano revive and ZnSO4 + MnSO4. The results revealed that higher dry matter production (5282 and 9891 kg/ha), leaf nitrogen (44.28 and 39.97), grain filling rate, grain filling duration (34.44 days), green leaf area (92.50%) and proline content (0.59 and 1.28 mg g -1) were recorded at tasseling and grain filling stage, respectively under well-irrigated conditions. Foliar spraying of ZnO (100 ppm) and MnO (20 ppm) nanocomposite, registered higher root biomass (24.21 and 32.11 g/plant), leaf nitrogen (44.6 and 39.1), dry matter production, green leaf area, lowest proline content which ultimately resulted in a higher number of cobs/plant, number of grains row/cob, number of grains/grain row, test weight (1000 grains weight), shelling percentage, crop water use (18.79 kg/ha/mm), grain yield (8.20 t/ha), stover yield (12.2 t/ha) and benefit cost ratio of 2.4. Thus, it could be concluded that well-irrigated condition followed by foliar spray with ZnO (100 ppm) and MnO (20 ppm) registered higher growth, yield attributes, yield, and economics.
Nitrogen management and nitrous oxide emission from agriculture: Implication for climate change I Mohammed Wajid, K Sathiya Bama, S Meena, P Kathirvelan, P C Prabu Plant Science Today, 2025 Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential approximately 298 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Agriculture is a major contributor to global N₂O emissions, primarily using nitrogen (N) fertilizers and associated soil microbial processes such as nitrification and denitrification. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of N₂O production, the influence of soil physical, chemical and biological properties and the impact of nitrogen management practices on emission dynamics. It explores the effects of fertilizer types, application rates, timing and placement on N₂O fluxes, alongside emerging technologies such as enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors. The review also highlights mitigation strategies including conservation tillage, optimized irrigation, crop rotations and integrated nutrient management. Understanding the complex interplay between agronomic practices and N₂O emissions is essential for designing climate-smart agriculture that sustains productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Hence this paper focus on role of nitrogen mitigation on nitrous oxide emission and implication for climate change.
ACCELERATED VERMICOMPOST PRODUCTION THROUGH MECHANIZATION—WAYS TO HANDLE CROP RESIDUES AND ENHANCE SOIL HEALTH S K Natarajan, N. Maragatham, N. Sakthivel, R. Karthikeyan, N. Thavaprakash, et al. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2025 The application of mechanization in the vermicomposting process, focuses on enhancing composting efficiency, reducing production time and optimizing labor costs.Crop residues, such as rice straw, maize stalks and sugarcane trash, are abundant post-harvest by-products in India, causing environmental and social challenges due to their accumulation.Mechanical vermicomposting integrates conventional composting with machinery, including front-end loaders, shredders and irrigation systems, to streamline waste management and compost production.By maintaining optimal moisture, aeration and a targeted carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, mechanical methods significantly reduce processing time to 60-90 days compared to traditional methods.The results indicate that mechanized vermicomposting yields a high-quality product with reduced lignin content and a favorable B:C ratio, enhancing its efficacy as an organic fertilizer.The economic analysis highlights substantial labor cost savings with mechanical methods, though initial production costs are higher than that in traditional methods.Production efficiency is significantly increased, achieving 5100 kg of compost in a 30 m vermibed unit with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.03, compared to the conventional approach which yields 1800 kg with a BCR of 1.25.The results demonstrate that mechanized vermicomposting is an effective, eco-friendly approach to sustainable waste management, supporting soil health and creating economic opportunities for farmers and stakeholders.
Weed Management Practices in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.): A Review S. Manibharathi, C. Swaminathan, S. Somasundaram, P. Kathirvelan, P. Kannan Legume Research, 2024 Cowpea is an important pulse crop. Weeds posses a severe problem in cowpea production and, if it is not managed with best management practices, can act as a hibernating agent and reduce yield and quality. An attempt was made to collect published data on weed management practices aimed at maximizing yield of cowpea. This work was done at Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. The literature search was done during July 2023 to January 2024. About 120 review and research papers were screened from various databases, including the TNAU library, Google Scholar, Scopus, Research Gate, ARCC journals and 75 papers were used to write this paper. This review article documents information gathered on importance of cowpea, nutritional profile of cowpea, anti-nutritional factors, health benefits, critical period of weed control, yield reduction percentage, weed flora in cowpea, SSB, mulching, manual weeding, cultural practices, chemical methods and IWM in cowpea was comprehensively presented.
A bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Agrometeorology (JAM) from 2008 to 2022 V. KALAIMATHI, V. GEETHALAKSHMI, P. PARASURAMAN, P. KATHIRVELAN, C. SWAMINATHAN Journal of Agrometeorology, 2024 A quantitative analysis of scientific articles published in the Journal of Agrometeorology (JAM) between 2008 and 2022 was conducted using a variety of scientometric indicators. Various metrics were utilized to examine aspects including yearly research output, highly referenced sources, author rankings, contributions and profiles, cooperation trends, highly contributing nations, most cited papers, commonly searched keywords and worldwide collaboration mapping. This study employs biblioshiny for analysis and only looks at data that is available in Scopus database. With an h-index (17), a g-index (21) and 3238 total citations across the study period, the journal demonstrated considerable influence. With the greatest number of research publications (n=46) and the greatest number of citations (236), Pandey V stands out among other authors. In terms of the number of papers and citations, India emerged as the leading nation, with the Punjab Agricultural University in the lead with 744 publications. Four clusters were found by co-citation network analysis, with Allen RG being the most quoted author among them. The study also highlighted the fact that Indian authors worked together the most. This analysis is important for assessing the influence of the JAM and offers insightful information about noteworthy research trends and developments in the scientific community.
