Plant health management strategies for increasing oilseeds production under changing climate scenarios

Abstract

is one of the major producers of oilseeds, contributing about 8% of global production. The diverse agro-ecological conditions in the country foster the growing of all nine annual oilseed crops. Despite being the fourth largest oilseed crop producing country in the world, India is also one of the largest importers of vegetable oils. There is a spurt in vegetable oil consumption in recent years in respect of both edible as well as
industrial uses. The country needs a three-fold increase in oilseeds production in the next 30 years. Despite the opportunity for cultivating nine annual oilseed crops and recording the highest acreage under oilseeds, low productivity of oilseeds is due to their cultivation under sub-optimal agro-ecological situations (>64% area rainfed) by the majority of small and marginal farmers (>85%) and low or non-adoption of improved production and protection technologies. The oilseed crops are highly versatile to be grown in all agro-eco regions with wider adaptability to soils, seasons, and cropping systems. The low agro-ecological optimal requirements of oilseeds in terms of irrigation, nutrition, plant protection, and management can be met through low-cost integrated crop management. The major limitation for realizing higher yield of oilseeds is the adoption of soil and water conservation practices, sub-optimal plant population due to its cultivation under rainfed conditions. Adopting recommended soil moisture conservation is paramount to realize higher yield in rainfed cultivation. Further, proper weed control, adequate and balanced nutrition, and plant protection of key pests and diseases result in very high yield advantage translating into higher profitability. Site-specific soil test-based nutrition and crop management with the available BMPs can provide higher use efficiency of resources and inputs for realizing higher productivity and reducing cost. The use of microbial inoculants increases nutrient availability and plant growth, is effective for biocontrol of pests and diseases, and mitigates the effects of stressful conditions (salt, drought, pH, and temperature). The shelf life and persistence of these microbial inoculants/bio-agents remain challenges that can hinder their applications. Under changing climate scenarios over the past few decades, advanced polymeric materials have gained popularity in the development of sustainable agricultural applications. Smart polymeric systems have extensively contributed to the agricultural industry by increasing the efficiency of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers by facilitating controlled release systems and, therefore, enabling lower doses
to be used. Polymers have proven potential to protect seeds and also act as carriers of bioagents used for seed treatment. The matrix-forming nature of polymers provides favourable environment to hold beneficial microbes within seeds, leads to physical protection under different soil environments, improves viability, and serves as controlled release system. Trichoderma harzianum strain Th4d, a biological control agent,
embedded in specially formulated bio-polymeric compositions and tested through seed coating, was found effective against a number of soil- and seed-borne pathogens in oilseed crops. Encapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana using polymers was found effective against lepidopteran pests. The available improved technologies of production and protection have proven their potential under real farm situations to result in quantum jump in oilseeds productivity with higher profits. They will make oilseeds cultivation more sustainable, profitable, and globally competitive.