Study of appropriate planting time and response to agronomic management practices is imperative for the newly introduced cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) into a semi-arid region of India. Responses of cactus pear to agronomic practices (planting time and irrigation and fertilizer application) were evaluated to determine the potential for fodder production and livestock feed in a semi-arid environment of India. We assessed four planting times (February, March, July and October) and two agronomic managements (with and without irrigation and fertilizer application) during 2016–2020 at Jhansi, India. Cactus pear establishment and growth improved with planting time in July and October due to favorable soil moisture and congenial temperature. However, plant height (19 cm) and cladode weight (118 g) were greater in July than in October planting. Nutrient uptake and crude protein contents, however, were higher for the earlier plantings of February and April compared to June and October. Irrigation and nutrients application had little effect on the cactus pear plant growth, except on plant width and cladode length and width. Cactus pear can be planted during July in moderately fertile soils without any agronomic intervention in semi-arid situations of India and has potential as an effective alternative source of forage for livestock during the summer months.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key component for sustaining crop production. A field experiment was conducted during 2004–2018 to assess the changes in soil carbon fractions under different fertilization practices in grass-legumes mixture. The result indicates that application of farmyard manure (FYM) at 80 Mg ha^–1 has increased SOC concentration leading to carbon sequestration rate of 4.2 Mg ha^–1 year^–1. Further, it has increased the proportion of labile carbon in the total SOC and have accumulated 126, 60, 83 and 95% higher very labile, labile, less labile and non-labile C stock than that of control plot, respectively in top 30 cm soil layer. Inorganic fertilization and FYM 20 Mg ha^–1 influenced SOC concentration, SOC stock and C sequestration rate similarly. The highest carbon management index (264) was found in the treatment receiving FYM 80 Mg ha^–1 and it was positively correlated with SOC (r = 0.84**). The sensitivity index of the SOC varied from 26 to 152% and the differences were greatest in FYM treatments. The result indicates that grass-legumes mixture build-up the SOC in long-term and the addition of FYM further increases it.

An observational study was carried out to assess the soil fertility attributes of three districts (i.e. Jhansi, Datia and Tikamgarh) of the Bundelkhand region of central India. Soil samples were collected randomly from 0-15 cm soil depth using a soil auger with a diameter of 5 cm and followed the standard protocols for assessing the soil fertility attributes. A total number of samples were 58 (randomly selected sites). The soil reaction was neutral to strongly alkaline (pH 7.28-9.71) in nature. The electrical conductivity (EC) values were low (0.01- 0.89 dS m-1) indicating that of no harmful effect on crop growth. Most of the soils were found under low category of soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The available potassium (K) and sulphur (S) were found in the range between 68.32 to 781.76 kg ha-1 and 7.97 to 273.24 kg ha-1, respectively. With respect to DTPA extractable micronutrients i.e. copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were in sufficient range but boron (B), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were in low category. Based on the Soil Nutrient Index (SNI), the soils of the study area were found in low fertility status for N and P and medium in SOC and K. The SNI for S was ranging from medium to high fertility category. Thus, SOC, N, P, K, B, Fe and Mn were the key soil fertility constraints in the Jhansi, Datia and Tikamgarh districts of the Bundelkhand region. The balanced use of chemical fertilizers and micronutrients (B, Fe and Mn) based on the soil test results along with the combination of bio-fertilizers and organic manures as an integrated nutrient management (INM) approach could greatly help in maintaining the soil fertility and sustainable crop production in Bundelkhand region of central India.