The world is facing a pressing issue: an increasing population and a shrinking area under cultivation. However, it is unrealistic to increase food production and optimize energy production on existing land. The agrivoltaics system proves to be a panacea for integrating energy production with agriculture. Agrivoltaics is the concept of using the same land for both crop production and solar energy generation. It is defined as agricultural production, such as crop or livestock production, that occurs underneath or adjacent to solar panels. Through photovoltaics, it is possible to co-locate solar and agricultural power on the same land, providing benefits to both the solar and farming industries. This integrated approach enables the simultaneous production of food and electricity by effectively capturing solar radiation. The approach will allow us to address food security problems on the one hand and minimize our dependence on non-renewable sources on the other, thus paving the way for a sustainable environment.
Background: Optimising nutrient management strategies is crucial to enhance the growth, yield and nutritional quality of fodder maize, while minimizing environmental impacts and reducing input cost. This study was conducted at the Andro Research Station, CAU Imphal, during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023, to evaluate the performance of nano urea under various nitrogen management regimes. Methods: The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 10 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments included one recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), six different nitrogen substitution levels with nano-urea (2-6 mL L-¹), two foliar urea sprays (2%), and one control (without nitrogen). Results: The study revealed that by applying 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through urea, along with a foliar spray of nano-urea @ 6 mL L-¹, achieved comparable productivity to the 100% RDF. This treatment also gave the highest green fodder yield, dry matter yield, and crude protein, along with maximum net return (₹64,208 ha-¹) and B:C ratio (2.57). While the RDF also performed well, nano-urea treatments proved to be more economical and sustainable by reducing chemical nitrogen input by 25% without incurring a yield penalty. Higher levels of organic carbon and available nitrogen in post-harvest soil analysis were found under nano-urea treatments as compared to the control. Conclusion: It was concluded that the foliar spray of nano-urea @ 6 mL L-¹, along with 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), is a viable option to enhance the productivity, profitability, and nutrient use efficiency in fodder maize under acidic subtropical conditions in Imphal.
The escalating demand for natural pigments, driven by their eco-friendly and bioactive properties, has spotlighted microbial production as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Pineapple wastes (PAWs), comprising 45–55% of the fruit’s weight, are rich in fermentable sugars and bioactive compounds, making them ideal substrates for microbial pigment synthesis. This review comprehensively explores the production of pigments like carotenoids, anthocyanins, and prodigiosins using PAWs, leveraging bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and microalgae. Advanced extraction technologies, including supercritical CO2, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ionic liquids (ILs), and enzyme-assisted extraction, are critically evaluated for their efficiency and sustainability. Industrial applications span food, cosmetics, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, with techno-economic assessments (TEA) and life cycle assessments (LCA) highlighting scalability and environmental benefits. Recent data from 2024–2025 underscore PAW’s up to a projected 60% cost reduction under optimal scale-up conditions and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to synthetic methods. Challenges such as high equipment costs, regulatory hurdles, and process optimization are addressed, emphasizing the role of PAW valorization in advancing a circular bioeconomy.This review highlights the potential of pineapple waste-derived pigments to drive a circular bioeconomy while identifying research gaps for industrial implementation.
