Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and the primary purpose is to obtain raw sugar. It is an important substance for sugar and alcohol production by both the sugar and beverage industries. During cane processing, various byproducts are obtained, namely sugarcane bagasse, bagasse ash, pressmud cake, sugarcane vinasse, and spent wash. There are many challenging problems in storage, and they cause great environmental pollution. This review discusses their properties by which they can be used for cleaner agricultural and environmental sustainability. Utilization of byproducts results in value-added soil properties and crop yield. Replacing chemical fertilization with these organic natured byproducts not only minimizes the surplus usage of chemical fertilizers but is also cost-effective and an eco-friendly approach. The drawbacks of the long-term application of these byproducts in the agricultural ecosystem are not well documented. We conclude that the agriculture sector can dispose of sugar industry byproducts, but proper systematic disposal is needed. The need arises to arrange some seminars, meetings, and training to make the farming community aware of byproducts utilization and setting a friendly relationship between the farming community and industrialists.

Globally, the rapid rise in the human population has increased the crop production, resulting in increased pesticide xenobiotics. Despite the fact that pesticide xenobiotics toxify the soil environment and ecosystem, synthetic pesticides have increased agricultural yields and reduced disease vectors. Pesticide use has increased, resulting in an increase in environmental pollution. Various methods of controlling and eliminating these contaminants have been proposed to address this issue. Pesticide impurity in the climate presents a genuine danger to individuals and other oceanic and earthly life. If not controlled, the pollution can prompt difficult issues for the climate. Some viable and cost-effective alternative approaches are needed to maintain this emission level at a low level. Phytoremediation and microbial remediation are effective methods for removing acaricide scrapings from the atmosphere using plants and organisms. This review gives an overview of different types of xenobiotics, how they get into the environment, and how the remediation of pesticides has progressed. It focuses on simple procedures that can be used in many countries. In addition, we have talked about the benefits and drawbacks of natural remediation methods.

Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of radish crops against different plant growth regulators, biostimulants, and leaf extracts at Yale University, USA. The first experiment examined the marginal effect of vitamin B12 when added to the Berlyn Laboratory’s proprietary biostimulant formula (GPB Core). Increasing concentrations of vitamin B12 were added, as investigated in groups SL (0 mg/L), SB1 (0.5 mg/L), SB2 (1.0 mg/L), and SB3 (1.5 mg/L). The addition of vitamin B12 conferred no significant incremental benefit over the GPB Core. However, the GPB Core formula (SL) increased fresh shoot biomass by 172.9%, dry shoot biomass by 136.4%, fresh root biomass by 64.7%, and dry root biomass by 29.1% over plant treated with inorganic fertilizer alone (p < 0.01). The second experiment examined the combined marginal effect of vitamin B12 and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) when added to the GPB Core. The three experimental groups included the GPB Core plus inorganic fertilizer (S+); GPB Core, vitamin B12, CoQ10, and inorganic fertilizer (SBQ+); and GPB Core, vitamin B12, CoQ10, and no inorganic fertilizer (SBQ0). SBQ0 outperformed the inorganic fertilizer control in fresh shoot, dry shoot, fresh root, and dry root biomass by 190.3%, 127.1%, 128.5%, and 41.3%, respectively (p < 0.01), indicating that inorganic fertilizer can be replaced by biostimulants while simultaneously increasing yield. Additionally, the differences between SBQ+ and SBQ0 in the biomass metrics were statistically insignificant, indicating that in the presence of biostimulants, inorganic fertilizers confer a slight marginal benefit. There was no evidence, however, that the addition of CoQ10 and vitamin B12 conferred benefits over S+. Overall, the application of biostimulants statistically significantly improves radish biomass. Both experiments indicate that under low stress conditions, biostimulants can replace inorganic fertilizer while simultaneously increasing yield.

Technology-oriented approaches to reduce chemical fertilization in agroecosystems without influencing the vegetable yield is a proficient method for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety. However, short-term studies are not capable to indicate the effects of various inputs in a long run; therefore, a six-year experiment was conducted in Ningxia, China. The experimental units were: no fertilizer control (CK: 0 kg N ha⁻¹), chicken manure (M: organic N 362 kg ha⁻¹), reduced chemical fertilizer (RCF: chemical N 992 kg ha⁻¹ + organic N 362 kg ha⁻¹), and conventional fertilizer (CF: chemical N 1515 kg ha⁻¹ + organic N 362 kg ha⁻¹). The study aimed to assess the effects of reduced fertilization on yield, nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), N leaching, and the economic benefits. The results achieved herein indicate that RCF has significantly improved the NUE, reduced N leaching (23.7%), and improved the N economic benefit (NEB, 41.8%) as compared to the CF. Based on yield, net benefit, and NUE conditions, the optimum N application range was 634–821 kg N ha⁻¹ for tomato and 556–778 kg N ha⁻¹ for cucumber. The study concluded that reduced chemical application of N is an important factor to control environmental pollution and improve fertilizer use efficiency. Further experiments are suggested to examine the optimum N rate provision from chemical fertilizer and its ratio with organic fertilization.

Composting is a well-known method for waste management, but it causes greenhouse gas emissions. Various techniques have been used to reduce emissions and improve the quality of compost, but they resulted in an increased composting time. Keeping in view the above points, the current study aimed to reduce the composting time and gas emissions along with improving the nutritional value of compost using FeSO₄ as an additive to cattle manure and corn straw composting. Seven treatments were established, including control (CK) without FeSO₄ and six levels of FeSO₄ (0.25%, 0.50%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%). The results revealed that FeSO₄ reduced the CH₄ (36.1–36.7%), H₂S (10.7–34.5%), N₂O (17.2–48.5%), and NH₃ (18.3–69.0%) emissions compared to CK. In addition, the total N (8.4–40.0%) content in compost products was also improved. The study showed that a higher dose of applied FeSO₄ can significantly reduce emissions, but it reduces the temperature at the start of composting resulting in an increase in the composting time, while the lower dose (0.5–1%) also has the capability to reduce the emissions compared with the control without negatively affecting the temperature rise. The study concludes that using 0.5–1% of FeSO₄ can effectively utilize its inhibitory action of decomposition that mitigates gas emissions and prepares an N-enriched compost.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop used for feeding humans and cattle globally. Deficiency of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) adversely impacts the maize crop productivity and quality. However, the application of these nutrients shows variant responses in different maize cultivars. To understand this perspective, the current study aimed at investigating K and Zn’s optimal concentration in different hybrid and inbred maize cultivars. The treatments were based on three zinc levels (0, 6, and 12 mg Zn kg⁻¹) and K levels (0, 30, and 60 mg kg⁻¹), and their respective combinations. The experiment results showed that combined fertilization approaches of Zn and K (Zn12K60) improved the plant biometric, and physiological attributes of maize crop. The results revealed a significant increase in plant height (45%), fresh weight (70%), and dry weight (45%). Similarly, physiological attributes significantly improved the relative water content (76.4%), membrane stability index (77.9%), chlorophyll contents (170%), and photosynthetic rate (130%) in both inbred and hybrid genotypes. Furthermore, Zn and K (Zn12K60) increased transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Ci), and internal CO₂. In conclusion, maize hybrids (Neelam and DK-6142) were observed best compared with inbred (Afghoi and P-1543) cultivars with the combined application of Zn and K (Zn12K60). Thus, these inbred varieties should be preferred for fodder requirement with optimum fertilizer (Zn12K60) application in Zn deficient soils.