Imbalanced application of P and Zn usually disturbs the uptake of both nutrients in plants. Both show antagonistic relation with each other when applied in soil as inorganic fertilisers. However, inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) can improve the uptake of P. For development of a balance between P and Zn in soil, current study focussed on the combined use of an inorganic P and Zn fertiliser with AMF. The aim of the study was to maximise the wheat yield via judicious use of P and Zn in the presence of AMF.

Deficiencies of nutrients such as sulfur cause significant crop losses associated with a decrease in the number of grains. In this work, we show that reductions in grain number in barley crops caused by sulfur deficiencies are determined by reductions in crop growth in the period prior to heading known as the ‘critical period’. This shows that the effects of deficiencies of different nutrients on cereal yields have some common mechanisms.

In past decades, maize breeding has been conducted mostly under high-input conditions. Among inputs, both excessive and insufficient nitrogen fertilisation causes environmental degradation; however, in the current study we show how maize yield can be increased under low and high nitrogen soil availability. Thus, maize yields are improved minimising the negative impact on the environment.

Difficulties in seed production have slowed the establishment and use of subtropical forage grasses. We studied possibilities to improve seed yield components and reduce seed shattering through breeding and estimated prospective genetic gains after selection in traits related to seed production in Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense. We suggest time-points after anthesis to perform selection to maximise genetic response in seed retention.

Buckwheat is a potential but lesser known crop, with wide adaptability and multiple utility, cultivated under resource poor and marginal soils of mountainous Eastern Himalaya. Our results indicate significant genetic variability for physio-morphological traits responsible for moisture stress tolerance on hill slopes of Meghalaya. Identified high-yielding buckwheat genotypes (IC13411 and IC24298) with increased stress tolerance could be promising for enhanced crop productivity and food security under fragile mountainous ecosystem of Meghalaya (India).

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) is a prerequisite for the development of high-phospholipid soybean genotypes. In two studied F₂ populations, we identified seven and six QTLs for phosphatidylethanolamine, seven and nine QTLs for phosphatidic acid, six and six QTLs for phosphatidylinositol, and nine and eight QTLs for phosphatidylcholine. The QTLs identified may be useful in marker-assisted breeding for development of high-phospholipid soybean genotypes and for identifying functional genes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis.

There is urgent need to characterise and conserve genetic diversity of grassland species affected by changes in land-use pattern, overexploitation and climate change. This study revealed high genetic diversity for morphological and nutritive parameters among genotypes of Sehima nervosum, an important grassland species. The set of germplasm is a valuable genetic resource and the core subset can be used for evaluation in target environments and establishment of sustainable pastures.

The advantages of integrated crop–livestock systems with the presence of trees mean that defoliation targets are needed to manage pasture in shaded environments. We assessed different pre- and post-defoliation targets for Axonopus catharinensis and found that this forage can be managed similarly in full sun and shade environments. Because the defoliation targets were based on canopy height and canopy defoliation proportion, recommendations for this species (<35 cm height, <60% defoliation) may be easily implemented by livestock producers.