A total of 23 phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and 35 phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) were isolated from 19 samples of salt affected soils. The ability of 12 selected PSB and PSF to grow and solubilize tricalcium phosphate in the presence of different concentrations of NaCl was examined. Among 12 PSB, Aerococcus sp. strain PSBCRG1-1 recorded the highest (12.15) log viable cell count at 0.4 M NaCl concentration after 7 days after incubation (DAI) and the lowest log cell count (1.39) was recorded by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PSBI3-1 at 2.0 M NaCl concentration after 24 h of incubation. Highest mycelial dry weight irrespective of NaCl concentrations was recorded by the Aspergillus terreus strain PSFCRG2-1 (0.567 g). The percent P i release, in general, was found to increase with increase in NaCl concentration up to 0.8 M for bacterial solubilization and declined thereafter. At 15 DAI, strain Aerococcus sp. strain PSBCRG1-1 irrespective of NaCl concentrations showed the maximum P-solubilization (12.12%) which was significantly superior over all other isolates. The amount of P i released in general among PSF was found to decrease with increase in NaCl concentration at all the incubation periods. Aspergillus sp. strain PSFNRH-2 (20.81%) recorded the maximum P i release irrespective of the NaCl concentrations and was significantly superior over all other PSF at 7 DAI.

Poor land utilization and land degradation is always a concern in semi-arid regions. This study was conducted to examine the effect of different silvopastoral systems on soil chemical, biological and biochemical properties after 9 years of establishment. Six land use systems were studied: guava (Psidium guajava L.) + pasture [buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and Caribbean stylo (Stylosanthes hamata L. Taub.)], guava (monoculture), bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] + pasture [buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Caatinga stylo (Stylosanthes seabrana B.L. Maass and ‘t Mannetje)], bael (monoculture), pasture (monoculture) and barren land. All studied soil properties were influenced by different land use systems except soil pH. Guava + pasture system recorded higher organic carbon [OC ~12 Mg ha^–1], N (~257 kg ha^–1), K (~223 kg ha^–1), and glomalin contents (5.57 mg g^–1 soil), fungi (~43×10⁷ cfu g⁻¹ soil), actinomycetes (~176×10³ cfu g⁻¹ soil) and cellulolytic fungi (~46×10⁴ cfu g⁻¹ soil) counts, alkaline (35.83 µg p-nitrophenyl g^–1 soil h^–1), and acid phosphatase (32.84 µg p-nitrophenyl g^–1 soil h^–1) activities compared to other land use systems. Whereas, OC (~11 Mg ha^–1), and microbial biomass carbon [MBC, ~92 mg kg^–1 soil] contents, total bacteria (239×10⁷ cfu g⁻¹ soil) and cellulolytic bacteria (170×10⁴ cfu g⁻¹ soil) counts were higher under bael + pasture system. Increased soil pH (7.1 to 7.4) in the monoculture pasture system favoured the P content (~35 kg ha^–1) over other land use systems. All the soil properties were higher in 0 to 15 cm compared to 15 to 30 cm depth. Our results demonstrate that for the resilience of key soil health indicators, the long term silvopastoral systems (guava + pasture and bael + pasture systems) can be a promising option for semi-arid environment.

Livestock contributes enormously in food and nutritional security apart from livelihood security to rural population all over the world. India has the largest number of livestock, representing over 17% of world population. Availability of forage legumes is essential for better animal health, production and increasing the nutritive value of forage-based rations, besides providing a source of biological nitrogen fixation for enriching soil, reducing land degradation and mitigating climate change. However, supply of quality green fodder in India is extremely precarious, and the gap is huge against demand. The major fodder legume crops cultivated in India are Medicago sativa, Trifolium alexandrinum, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna umbellate and range legumes are Stylosanthes spp., Desmanthus virgatus, and Clitoria ternatea. Indian subcontinent represents wide spectrum of eco-climates and reported diversity of 21 forage legumes genera viz., Desmodium, Lablab, Stylosanthes, Vigna, Macroptelium, Centrosema and browse plants Leucaena, Sesbania, Albizia, Bauhinia, Cassia, Grewia, etc. Diversity of forage legumes were collected (>3200 accessions), evaluated and sources for different biotic and abiotic stress tolerance were identified, apart from >50 cultivars developed. Considering these aspects, tropical legumes for livestock production, soil health and ecosystem services, diversity, evaluation and breeding for improved varieties are discussed in this chapter.