The bactericidal effects of nanomaterials play an essential role in cytoplasmic leakage, leading to bacterial cell death. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a fungal extract of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus). The physicochemical properties of the bare and myco-synthesized AgNPs (MS-AgNPs) were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD revealed the crystalline structure of the prepared NPs. The FTIR spectrum of the MS-AgNPs revealed the presence of the stretching vibrations of hydroxyl (−OH) and carbonyl groups (C=O). The UV results showed absorption from 450 nm to 590 nm, confirming the synthesis of the AgNPs. SEM and TEM showed rough cubic shapes (spheres), 20–60 nm in size, while EDX confirmed the presence of 60% Ag in the sample. The MS-AgNPs revealed the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with a zone of inhibition of 18.21 ± 2.1 mm, followed by Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi. The bimetallic-AgNPs played a vital role in cell membrane damage and the release of cellular contents, specifically nucleic acids and proteins. These results suggest that MS-AgNPs have promising antimicrobial capabilities and might be beneficial for an extensive array of biological applications.

Vegetable soybean production is dependent on the development of vegetable type varieties that would be achieved by the use of germplasm to evolve new agronomically superior yielding vegetable type with beneficial biochemical traits. This can be accomplished by a better understanding of genetics, which is why the research was conducted to reveal the quantitative genetics of vegetable soybean genotypes. Genetic variability of main morphological traits in vegetable soybean genotypes and their divergence was estimated, as a result of the magnitude of genotypic variation (GV), and phenotypic variation (PV) of traits varied among the genotypes. All traits showed high heritability (h²) associated with high genetic advance percentage mean (GAM). Therefore, these variable traits are potential for genetic improvement of vegetable type soybean. Genetic diversity is the prime need for breeding, and the magnitude of genetic diversity values were maximized among specific genotypes. Eight clusters were found for all genotypes; cluster VIII and cluster I were considered to have the most diversity. Cluster VIII consisted of two genotypes (GM-6 and GM-27), based on the mean outcomes of the high yield attributing traits. Hence, these two (GM-6, GM-27) genotypes can be advanced for commercial cultivation; furthermore, other genotypes can be used as source of breeding lines for genetic improvement of vegetable soybean.

People have traditionally relied on fish to supply their major food and healthcare needs all across the world. However, there has been little focus on the traditional dietary, cultural identity, and integrity of traditional food systems in many rural Himalayan populations. The current study looks into the use of fish in traditional food and foraging practices, as well as its role in local traditional medicine and cultural practices. Semi-structured interviews and group discussions were used to collect data in the years 2020–2021. The data were analyzed using various statistical indices such as the fidelity level (FL), rank order priority (ROP), and relative popularity level (RPL). The data were then classified through a heat map, and ordination techniques were used to refine them even further. The current study identified 20 fish species of five families, with Cyprinidae (70%) as the dominant family. Three unique traditional fish preservation techniques were documented, namely: (1) smoking, (2) sun drying, and (3) pickling. The smoked fish are locally called fari, sun-dried fish are known as hugaad, and pickled fish are gaad anchaar. As a result of rapid modernization, fish has become a symbol of social class in the valley. In total, 17 diseases were identified, with joint pain being treated by the greatest number of species (N = 10). Flesh (43%) was the most commonly used part to treat various diseases. The mode of application of various fishbody parts for treating a variety of diseases was most commonly peroral (65%), followed by topical (35%). Schizopyge niger demonstrated the highest level of fidelity (82%) for joint pain. Schizopygeniger, Schizothorax curvifrons, Catla catla, Schizothorax esocinus, Schizothorax labiatus, and Schizothorax plagiostomus were the most popular (relative popularity level = 1.0). The rank order priority of six species was above 55 (Schizothorax plagiostomus (59.18), Labeo dyocheilus (61.99) Schizothorax labiatus (64.28), Schizothorax esocinus (68.36), Schizothorax curvifrons (73.19), and Schizopyge niger (82)). Two principal groups of six ethno-zoological categories (medicine, food, black magic, poultry, agricultural, and recreational) were identified using cluster analysis. Fish are also important as a source of livelihood and are closely associated with a local ethnic group known as Hanji/Haanz, who have extensive knowledge of ecology of the local fish species. Our research will contribute to filling a knowledge gap in the Kashmir Himalayan region, with policy implications for the protection and preservation of high-quality traditional knowledge for future generations. The findings of this documentation study can be used as an ethnopharmacological foundation for selecting fish in future pharmaceutical research.

Intensive mono-cropping without a balanced supply of nutrients and declining water resources are degrading soil health, and as a consequence, agriculture production is becoming unsustainable and causing environmental degradation. The field experiment was conducted during Rabi season to assess the effect of an irrigation schedule, nutrient management, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and soil enzymes activities. Two nutrient levels, recommended rate of chemical fertilizer (RDF) and 50% RDF + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through farmyard manure (FYM) designated as Integrated Nutrient Sources (INS), and three irrigations levels, one irrigation at crown root initiation (CRI), two irrigations at CRI and flowering stages, and five irrigations at all main stages of the crop (CRI, tillering, jointing, flowering, and grain filling) were allocated to main-plots while four varieties of wheat, HD 2967, WR 544, HD 2987, and HD 2932, were allocated to sub-plots. The results revealed that SMBC and activities of dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase enzymes, and acid phosphatase were higher under restricted irrigation (irrigation at CRI stage) than other irrigation schedules. SMBC, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were 73.0 µg g soil⁻¹, 86.0 µg TPF g soil⁻¹d⁻¹, 39.6 µg PNP g soil⁻¹ h¹, and 81.8 µg PNP g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹, respectively, with the use of INS that was higher than RDF. Root weight and root volume followed a similar pattern. Applying single irrigation at CRI left behind the maximum available nitrogen (166.4 kg ha⁻¹) in soil compared to other irrigation schedules and it was highest (149.31 kg ha⁻¹) with the use of INS. Moreover, total organic carbon (TOC) was 0.44 and 0.43% higher with irrigation at CRI stages and the use of INS, respectively. The INS with single irrigation at the CRI stage is important to improve the root growth, SMBC dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase enzyme activity in the wheat production system.

Poplar is popular among farmers and planted widely in the form of block and boundary systems. The preferences of farmers are shifting much more towards bund plantations due to their smaller yield reductions and can take up kharif and rabi crops till rotation. As for boundary plantations, farmers tend to grow trees in any direction without concern for yield reduction or profitability. Against this background, an experiment was designed by planting poplar at 2 m intervals in East–West (E–W) and North–South (N–S) directions during 2008 to determine the production potential and economic viability of boundary plantations and their effect on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop rotations till harvesting of the trees. The experiment comprised three variables: stand age (years); four aspects (northern and southern E–W rows, eastern and western N–S rows; these four aspects are considered by dividing the tree lines); and six distances from tree the lines (0–3, 3–6, 6–9, 9–12, 12–15, 15–18 m and a control). A split-split plot design with three replicates was used. A significant reduction of fodder biomass of sorghum and wheat yield was observed up to 9 m distant from the tree line: the reduction was 10 to 60% for the kharif season and 7.2 to 29.5% for rabi crops from the second year to eight years after planting, respectively. Interestingly, the poplar boundary plantation had a favorable microclimatic effect from 9 to 15 m distance from the tree line, which increased crop yields compared with the control. The total dry wood production of poplar in the E–W direction (166.99 mg ha⁻¹) was almost two times more than production for the N–S direction (82.62 mg ha⁻¹) at 8 years of rotation. The economic analysis of this study concluded that an E–W boundary plantation of poplars exhibited the maximum net returns of INR 549,367 ha⁻¹, a net present value of INR 222,951 ha⁻¹, a BC ratio of 1:1.65, an IRR of 85% and an LEV of INR 1,220,337 ha⁻¹. Therefore, it is concluded that the intercropping of a sorghum-wheat crop rotation in E–W boundary plantations was more beneficial for enhancing farm income over traditional agriculture in north India.

Periodic drought is a major challenge in drought-prone areas of South Asia. A sample survey of farmers (n = 400) from South Asia was conducted to study the farmers’ perception about drought impacts on their socio-economic status, agro-biodiversity, and adaptation besides public institutions’ drought mitigation measures. The results revealed reduced surface and groundwater availability, soil degradation, partial or complete crop failure, increased agricultural fallows and wastelands, biodiversity loss, decrease in agricultural yields, pasture lands, and livestock in drought-impacted South Asia. About 16–26% of the farmers perceived a reduction in the agricultural area and production of commercial crops and millets in drought-prone areas, while changes in the cropping of pulses, oilseeds, horticultural, and fodder crops were minimal. About 57–92% of respondents showed a reduction in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and fish. Unemployment, migration, reduced farm income, and malnutrition were major socio-economic impacts among respondents (38–46%). Despite sufficient public support as a mitigation strategy, the farmers had poor participation (8–65%) for agri-information and adaptation (7–36%) against drought impacts. Hence, researchers, extension agents, and policymakers must develop efficient ‘participatory-mode’ drought adaptation and mitigation policies in watershed-based semi-arid pastoral and agricultural regions of South Asia and similar agro-ecologies across the globe.