In order to support livelihoods, enhance food security, restore ecosystem services, and reduce pressure on forests, degraded land can be restored by utilising alternative land-use systems (ALUS), such as silviculture, silvipasture, and hortipasture techniques. ALUS significantly modify the dynamics of soil nutrients in both the surface and subsurface layers. Soils from the 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm layers of Leucaena leucocephala (S)-, Hardwickia binata (H)-, Emblica officinalis (A)-, and Azadiracta indica (N)-based silviculture systems, Acacia nilotica-based silvipasture systems (SPS), natural grassland (NT), and fallow land (F) were sampled in order to better understand the nutrient dynamics of ALUS. Soils under S, H, and SPS had ~203%, 195%, and 129% higher organic carbon (SOC), respectively, than fallow land in the 0–15 cm soil layer. In the subsequent soil layer, those land-use systems had ~199%, 82%, and 110% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. Similarly, in the deeper layer, those land uses had ~232%, 23%, and 105% higher SOC, respectively, than fallow land. SPS and NT also improved the SOC concentration significantly over fallow land. Plots under S, H, and SPS had ~198%, 190%, and 125% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land in 0–15 cm soil layer. In the 15–30 cm soil layer, those land-use systems had ~19%9, 82%, and 110% higher available N, respectively, than fallow land. These systems also improved the P and K contents in subsurface soil. Micronutrient concentrations were also improved in soils under S, H, and SPS. Hence, ALUS’ adoption in degraded areas with trees provides a chance for C storage and improves the nutrient dynamics on degraded land.

An integrated forage-legume cropping system has immense potential to address the issue of land degradability. It provides a critical understanding of the capacity of diversified species mixes vs. monocultures to boost forage production and the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and phosphorus (P). In this study, we assessed the performance of Napier Bajra Hybrid (NBH) (Pennisetum glaucum × P. purpureum) + cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and tri-specific hybrid (TSH) (P. glaucum × P. purpureum × P. squamulatum) + cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) as compared to monocultures of NBH and TSH. The legume equivalent yield of NBH + cowpea and TSH + cluster bean intercropping systems were found −31% and −23% higher than monoculture systems. The SOC increased by −5% in the NBH + cowpea system as compared to NBH monoculture. The carbon mineralization rates under NBH + cowpea and TSH + cluster bean were −32% and −38% lower than the NBH and TSH monoculture cropping systems, respectively. It was found that the legume intensification with the forage significantly improved the soil’s P status. The research suggested that coalescing diverse crops (e.g., grass and legume) poses enormous potential for sustaining soil health and productivity in semi-arid regions of India. This study advances the research on characterizing the crucial factors of grass-legume-based cropping systems and helps in assessing the impact of these factors on long-term sustainability.

Soil function encompasses numerous functions and services the soil provides and can be measured using physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. In any event, research on fertility and biological activity is increasingly being stressed as indices of ecosystem services. Rangeland degradation is one of the world's most widespread land use changes, with serious consequences for soil processes and ecosystem services. The influence of uncontrolled grass cover on soil functioning in semiarid environments is little understood. In the current study, the following seven varieties of grass coverings were studied in a semiarid area of central India: Cenchrus ciliaris (CC), Megathyrsus maximus (MM), Chrysopogon fulvus (CF), Heteropogon contortus (HC), Sehima nervosum (SN), Vetiveria zizanioides (VZ), and Tri-Specific Hybrid (TSH). The carbon accumulation proficiency of TSH, MM, and HC was ~2.23, 2.17, and 2.07 times greater than fallow. The nutrient cycling capacity of grasses was ~1.1 to 1.6 times greater than that of fallow, despite the grasses' depleted macronutrients in the soil. The biological activity under MM and HC was ~1.23 and 1.67 times higher than fallow. Overall soil functionality under TSH and HC was 83 and 25% greater than MM, respectively. These soil functions augment ecosystem services like climate regulation, biomass production, nutrient recycling, water, and airflow. However, more attention should be paid to the management of inputs for greater ecosystem services from this grass cover in semiarid, degraded land.

The co-occurrence of salinisation and alkalisation is quite frequent in problematic soils and poses an immediate threat to food, feed and nutritional security. In the present study, root system architectural traits (RSAs) and ion profiling were evaluated in 21 genotypes of Avena species to understand the effect of salinity–alkalinity stress. The oat genotypes were grown on germination paper and 5-day-old seedlings were transferred to a hydroponic system for up to 30days. These seedlings were subjected to seven treatments: T0, treatment control (Hoagland solution); T1, moderate salinity (50mM); T2, high salinity (100mM); T3, moderate alkalinity (15mM); T4, high alkalinity (30mM); T5, combined moderate salinity–alkalinity (50mM+15mM); and T6, combined high salinity–alkalinity (100mM and 30mM) by using NaCl+Na2SO4 (saline) and NaHCO3+Na2CO3 (alkaline) salts equivalently. The root traits, such as total root area (TRA), total root length (TRL), total root diameter (TRD), total root volume (TRV), root tips (RT), root segments (RS), root fork (RF) and root biomass (RB) were found to be statistically significant (P<0.01) among the different genotypes, treatments and their interactions. Na+ and K+ content analysis in root and shoot tissues revealed the ion homeostasis capacity of different Avena accessions under stress treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) covered almost 83.0% of genetic variation and revealed that the sharing of TRA, RT, RS and RF traits was significantly high. Biplot analysis showed a highly significant correlation matrix (P<0.01) between the pairs of RT and RS, TRL and RS, and RT and RF. Based on PCA ranking and relative value for stress tolerance, IG-20-1183, IG-20-894, IG-20-718 and IG-20-425 expressed tolerance to salinity (T2), IG-20-425 (alkalinity; T4) and IG-20-1183, IG-20-894 and IG-20-1004 were tolerant to salt–alkali treatment (T6). Multi-trait stability index (MTSI) analysis identified three stable oat genotypes (IG-20-714, IG-20-894 and IG-20-425) under multiple environments and these lines can be used in salinity–alkalinity affected areas after yield trials or as donor lines for combined stresses in future breeding programs. The co-occurrence of salinisation and alkalisation is quite frequent in problematic soils and poses an immediate threat to food, feed and nutritional security. In the present study, root system architectural traits (RSAs) and ion profiling were evaluated in 21 genotypes of Avena species to understand the effect of salinity–alkalinity stress. The oat genotypes were grown on germination paper and 5-day-old seedlings were transferred to a hydroponic system for up to 30days. These seedlings were subjected to seven treatments: T0, treatment control (Hoagland solution); T1, moderate salinity (50mM); T2, high salinity (100mM); T3, moderate alkalinity (15mM); T4, high alkalinity (30mM); T5, combined moderate salinity–alkalinity (50mM+15mM); and T6, combined high salinity–alkalinity (100mM and 30mM) by using NaCl+Na2SO4 (saline) and NaHCO3+Na2CO3 (alkaline) salts equivalently. The root traits, such as total root area (TRA), total root length (TRL), total root diameter (TRD), total root volume (TRV), root tips (RT), root segments (RS), root fork (RF) and root biomass (RB) were found to be statistically significant (P<0.01) among the different genotypes, treatments and their interactions. Na+ and K+ content analysis in root and shoot tissues revealed the ion homeostasis capacity of different Avena accessions under stress treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) covered almost 83.0% of genetic variation and revealed that the sharing of TRA, RT, RS and RF traits was significantly high. Biplot analysis showed a highly significant correlation matrix (P<0.01) between the pairs of RT and RS, TRL and RS, and RT and RF. Based on PCA ranking and relative value for stress tolerance, IG-20-1183, IG-20-894, IG-20-718 and IG-20-425 expressed tolerance to salinity (T2), IG-20-425 (alkalinity; T4) and IG-20-1183, IG-20-894 and IG-20-1004 were tolerant to salt–alkali treatment (T6). Multi-trait stability index (MTSI) analysis identified three stable oat genotypes (IG-20-714, IG-20-894 and IG-20-425) under multiple environments and these lines can be used in salinity–alkalinity affected areas after yield trials or as donor lines for combined stresses in future breeding programs.