Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Coffee Husk Biochar: A Sustainable Amendment for Soil Acidity Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration

Haile Hasana — 2026-02-11

Coffee husks are the most abundant biomass waste generated by coffee processing plants. Converting this waste into biochar is an emerging and promising approach for reclaiming acidic soils and enhancing carbon sequestration. This paper provides an overview of the characteristics of coffee husk biochar (CHB) and its effects on soil properties, liming and agronomic potential, and environmental impacts. Application of CHB produced at different pyrolysis temperatures and application rates increased soil pH, organic carbon, and the availability of P, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ in acidic soils, while significantly reducing exchangeable acidity and the concentrations of Al³⁺ and H⁺. The high ash content of CHB, together with the presence of KHCO₃ and CaCO₃, contributes to its strong liming potential in acidic soils. Furthermore, CHB produced at moderate pyrolysis temperatures (350–550 °C) exhibited high cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating its potential to improve soil nutrient retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance carbon sequestration, thereby reducing dependence on agricultural lime. Overall, this review synthesises current knowledge on the effects of CHB on soil properties and highlights its potential role in mitigating soil acidity and climate change. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and farmers seeking sustainable strategies to improve acidic soils using CHB. However, as most existing studies have been conducted under controlled conditions, further research across diverse soil types and agroecological zones is required to fully understand the long-term impacts and practical applicability of CHB.

Fruit Cultivation and Socioeconomic Transformation in the Semi-Arid Regions of India: A Thematic Review with Special Reference to Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra

Dada Khandu Bandgar — 2026-07-01

Fruit cultivation has become an important component of agricultural diversification in semi-arid regions, where conventional cereal-based farming is constrained by rainfall variability, water scarcity, and limited farm returns. This thematic review examines the role of fruit cultivation in socio-economic transformation, with special reference to Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. The review synthesises scholarly and institutional literature on horticultural diversification, market integration, rural livelihoods, institutional support, and sustainability challenges. The evidence indicates that the expansion of high-value fruit crops, including pomegranate, guava, grapes, banana, and citrus, has contributed to improved farm income, employment generation, livelihood diversification, and greater market orientation among farmers. These changes are closely associated with the adoption of micro-irrigation technologies, improved crop varieties, institutional support, and access to domestic and export markets. However, the benefits of fruit cultivation are unevenly distributed. Small and marginal farmers continue to face constraints related to high initial investment, limited credit access, pest and disease incidence, price fluctuation, inadequate cold-storage facilities, weak value chains, and climate-related risks. The review also identifies research gaps, particularly the limited availability of district-level empirical studies, long-term data, gender-based analysis, and evidence on environmental sustainability. Overall, fruit cultivation can support rural development in semi-arid agrarian regions, but its long-term contribution depends on inclusive policies, efficient water management, stronger market infrastructure, and sustained institutional support.

Evaluation of Sustainable Agroecological Practices Based on the Application of Organic Substrates (Cocodust) in Vegetable Seedlings at the Nursery Level in the Producing Areas of Bangladesh

Md. Arifur Rahaman — 2026-01-14

Seedling quality is a critical determinant of vegetable crop productivity, yet conventional soil-based nurseries in Bangladesh are frequently associated with high seedling mortality, soil-borne diseases, and excessive agrochemical use. This study assessed the agronomic performance and adoption potential of cocodust-based seedling nurseries compared with traditional soil-based practices across eight major vegetable crops in northern Bangladesh. Using a farm-level comparative mixed-methods design, data were collected from 80 vegetable farmers selected through stratified random sampling and grouped into cocodust users and traditional nursery users. Crop-wise differences in yield, harvesting time, and seedling mortality were analyzed using independent two-sample Welch’s t-tests. Cocodust application significantly increased yields of bitter gourd (17%), bottle gourd (18%), brinjal (23%), chili (23%), country bean (44%), and tomato (25%), while yield increases in cabbage (15%) and cauliflower (12%) were not statistically significant. Across all crops, seedling mortality was reduced by 68–82% under cocodust-based nurseries. Harvesting time was significantly shortened for all crops, with reductions of 8–15% in most cases and reaching 43–47% in chili and country bean. Cocodust use was associated with significantly reduced chemical fertilizer application in bitter gourd and marginally in tomato, and with reduced pesticide use in bitter gourd, country bean, and tomato, while organic fertilizer use remained high irrespective of nursery practice. Incidence of soil-borne diseases was significantly lower in bottle gourd and cauliflower under cocodust-based nurseries. Overall, cocodust-based seedling nurseries improved vegetable productivity, reduced early-stage seedling losses, shortened production cycles, and lowered reliance on chemical inputs in selected crops, highlighting cocodust as a low-cost and environmentally sustainable option for smallholder vegetable production systems.

Economic Viability and Cost Efficiency of Cocodust-Based Nursery Systems in Vegetable Farming in Bangladesh

Md. Arifur Rahaman — 2026-02-02

Seedling quality is a critical determinant of productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability in vegetable farming. However, despite the growing adoption of cocodust-based nurseries in Bangladesh, their farm-level economic performance remains poorly quantified. This study assessed the economic viability of cocodust nursery technology using a farm-level comparative mixed-methods design. Data were collected from 80 vegetable farmers selected through stratified random sampling and grouped into cocodust user’s vs traditional nursery users. A detailed cost–benefit analysis was conducted and differences between nursery systems were analysed using independent two-sample Welch’s t-tests. The results show that cocodust-based nurseries incurred higher seedling costs, increasing by approximately 50–90% for most crops. However, these higher initial costs were more than offset by significant reductions in subsequent input use. Fertilizer costs declined by 18–38%, pesticide costs by up to 33%, labor costs by 16–40%, intercultural operation costs by 30–65%, irrigation costs by up to 22%, and pole and fence costs by 12–42% under cocodust-based systems. Consequently, total production costs decreased by 14–24% across crops, leading to substantial gains in net profitability. Net profit increased significantly for all vegetables, with improvements ranging from approximately 29–60% compared with traditional nursery practices. Overall, the findings indicate that cocodust nursery technology enhances input-use efficiency and reduces total production costs. This technology also significantly improve farm profitability, suggesting a financially viable and scalable option for promoting sustainable vegetable production and income growth among smallholder farmers in Bangladesh.

Genetic Transformation of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Plants by Ri Plasmids Isolated from Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834

Zahraa Ammar Hassan — 2026-06-22

This study evaluated the genetic transformation of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) through direct injection of Ri plasmids isolated from Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834. Ri plasmid DNA was obtained from bacterial cultures incubated for 24, 48 and 72 hours, yielding concentrations of 14.49, 27.75 and 19.59 ng µl-1, respectively, with a purity ratio of 1.8. Fifteen-day-old purslane seedling stems were inoculated with the three plasmid concentrations, while controls received sterile distilled water. Transformation was assessed by the formation of tissue masses and hairy roots at injection sites, followed by establishment of hairy root cultures on solid MS medium. Among the tested treatments, 27.75 ng µl-1 was most effective, producing 92% hairy root formation after 10 days, with 3.2 hairy roots per responsive stem and 285 tissue masses. The 14.49 and 19.59 ng µl-1 treatments produced lower responses, with hairy root formation of 40% and 64%, respectively, while the control showed no tissue masses or hairy roots. Hairy roots induced by 27.75 ng µl-1 were successfully excised and maintained as dense, branched cultures after subculturing at 20-day intervals. Molecular confirmation was performed using genomic DNA extracted from transformed tissue masses, hairy roots and non-transformed control roots. Polymerase chain reaction analysis with rolA-specific primers produced a 248 bp band in transformed tissue masses and hairy roots, whereas no corresponding band was detected in the control. These findings confirm the genetic transformation of purslane using isolated Ri plasmids.