In South Asia, soil health degradation is affecting the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). Indeed, for the sustainability of the soil quality, new adaptive technologies, i.e., conservation tillage and straw management resource conservation, are promising options. This investigation was focused on the interaction of tillage and straw management practices and their effects on Aridisols, Yermosols soil quality, and nutrients dynamics with different soil profiles within RWCS. The long-term field experiment was started in 2014 with the scenarios (i) conventional tillage (SC₁), (ii) residue incorporation (SC₂), (iii) straw management practices (SC₃ and SC₄) and conservation tillage (SC₅). Conservation tillage practice (SC₅) showed significant impact on properties of soil and availability of nutrients in comparison with that of conventional farmers practice (SC₁) at the studied soil depths. The SC₅ showed significant results of gravitational water contents (25.34%), moderate pH (7.4), soil organic-matter (7.6 g kg⁻¹), total nitrogen (0.38 g kg⁻¹), available phosphate (7.4 mg kg⁻¹), available potassium (208 mg kg⁻¹) compared to SC₁ treatment at 0 to 15 cm soil depth. Whereas, DTPA-extractable-Cu, Mn, and Zn concentration were significantly higher, i.e., 1.12 mg kg⁻¹, 2.14 mg kg⁻¹, and 4.35 mg kg⁻¹, respectively under SC₅ than conventional farmer’s practices, while DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Fe (6.15 mg kg⁻¹) was more in straw management practices (SC₄) than conventional and conservation tillage. Therefore, conservation tillage (SC₅) can surge the sustainability of the region by improving soil assets and nutrients accessibility and has the potential to minimize inorganic fertilizers input in the long run.

Industrialization and extensive use of automobiles cause air pollution which indicates the inability of trees plants due to changes in their biochemical and physiological processes for absorbing the air pollutants. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) is an important indicator for determining the ability of trees plants for their efficient ability for controlling air pollution. To estimate it and its effects a comparitive study of the air pollution tolerance index was examined in 14 species of plants between residential areas (University of the Punjab) and roadside areas (orange train line). To calculate the APTI value, four physiological and biochemical parameters—ascorbic acid, relative water content (RWC), pH, and chlorophyll concentration of leaf samples—were integrated. Present study results reveal that the plant tolerance against pollution is site specific, and that integrating a number of biochemical parameters give more accurate results as compared to single. Results show that Alstonia scholaris show maximum and Magnifera indica show minimum APTI values in residential areas while Magnifera indica shows maximum and Bougainvillea glabra shows minimum APTI value in roadside areas. Present study results show that plants with higher APTI values are tolerant of pollution, whereas those with lower APTI values are susceptible to it. Thus Plants with more APTI values are tolerant and use as a sink to control pollution in urban and industrial sites.

Burning rice straw contribute to Atmospheric Pollution, which makes it unsustainable in the long-run, but are still opted by farmers due to faster removal of residue. Lignocellulose Degrading Microorganisms, facilitating sustainable management, may accelerate the breakdown of various crop residues. A study comprised of twenty-one treatments including fungal strains, bacterial strains and microbial consortia. In addition, nitrogen supplementation as well as the retention of rice crop residue and incorporation were included in treatments accordingly. The results showed that T₁₂ (Residue Incorporated + Microbial Consortia + Urea) have highest decomposition and enzyme activities. With content of rice residue decreased to cellulose 17%, hemicellulose 4% and lignin 16% from 41%, 9%, and 28% respectively in T₁₂. Enzyme activities being highest on 30th DOA (Day of Application) were; cellulose activity of 0.691 µmole/ml/h, laccase activity of 705.7 µg/µl/h and peroxidase activity of 271.2 µmole/g/h in T₁₂. The CO₂ emission by the T₁₂ were also highest on 30th day as 6.16 mg CO₂/g/d, which still when compared to the values of open field burning were prominently lower. Therefore, for the purpose of sustainable residue management, we deduce that the employment of microbial consortia in conjunction with residue-incorporated nutrient supplementation has the potential to accelerate the larger-scale decomposition of rice straw.

The sustainability of the environment and the productivity of agriculture are both critically dependent on soil. Maximizing agricultural yields while reducing agriculture’s negative environmental effects is becoming more and more important as the world’s population continues to expand. Innovating tillage and management techniques to harness the potential of the soil is a topic that is explored in this chapter. The first section of the chapter describes the difficulties that contemporary agriculture faces, such as soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and water shortages. The part new technology has played in managing soil. Making educated management decisions is made easier by using precision agricultural technology like soil sensors, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS). These technologies provide useful insights into soil variability. It emphasizes how crucial it is to implement sustainable soil management techniques in order to guarantee long-term agricultural output and ecological harmony. The chapter’s conclusion emphasizes the need of maximizing soil potential through creative methods of tactical tillage and management. Agricultural systems may raise crop yield, lessen their environmental effect, and become more resilient to climate change by using sustainable soil practises, assuring a more sustainable and food-secure future.