Dr Sudhir Verma

Scopus Publications

Effect of mulching on soil moisture conservation, yield, soil properties and profitability in apple (Malus domestica) at cold desert region in North-Western Himalayas
U Sharma, S Vashisth, S Verma
Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 2025
In cold desert region of lower Spiti valley in Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, apple (Malus domestica) is grown under adverse climatic conditions like high diurnal temperature variation, negligible rainfall (<200 mm annually), high evaporation losses during summers, low water holding capacity and timely availability of scarce irrigation water. Considering the above factors, on-farm trials were conducted for three years in lower Spiti region consisting four treatments viz., T1 : famers’ practice (no mulching), T2 : mulching with black polythene, T3 : mulching with grey polythene and T4 : mulching with dry grass. Results revealed that on an average, the dry grass mulching in apple basin resulted in 33.1 per cent higher moisture content as compared to farmer’s practice where no mulch was applied. Highest apple fruit yield (30.8 t ha-1) was recorded in T4 followed by T3 (28.2 t ha-1) and T2 (27.8 t ha-1). Dry grass mulching improved the organic carbon content of soil over initial status. Among available nutrients, nitrogen content increased over initial status in polythene mulching treatments. Available phosphorus and potassium increased in all the treatments over initial status. Higher net returns and benefit to cost ratio were obtained with dry grass mulch followed by polythene mulching.
Transitioning apple farming towards sustainability: evidence from Himachal Pradesh, India
Divyanshu, Rohit Kumar Vashishat, Subhash Chander Verma, Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Subhash Sharma, Sudhir Verma, Narender Bharat, Kuldeep Singh Thakur, Inder Dev, Sanjeev Chauhan, Prashant Sharma, Kamal Kishore, Ashu Chandel, Pramod Sharma
Environmental Research Communications, 2025
Objective. This study evaluates the comparative impact of Natural Farming (NF) and Conventional Farming (CF) on soil health and economic outcomes in apple orchards across two agro-climatic zones in Himachal Pradesh, India. Findings. Soil analysis showed improved health under NF systems. Organic carbon levels were higher in NF soils, reaching 26.10 g kg−1 in Zone III and 12.50 g kg−1 in Zone IV. NF also maintained more favorable pH and lower electrical conductivity. Available nitrogen and phosphorus were consistently higher in NF, with nitrogen up to 522 kg ha−1 and phosphorus up to 198.26 kg ha−1. Potassium levels were slightly higher in cf Micronutrient concentrations—including zinc, copper, iron, and manganese—were significantly greater in NF soils, with maximum values of 9.67 mg kg−1 for zinc, 12.15 mg kg−1 for copper, 91.25 mg kg−1 for iron, and 14.84 mg kg−1 for manganese, compared to notably lower values in cf Economically, NF farmers practiced more diverse intercropping systems such as Apple + Vegetables, Apple + Pulses, and Apple + Pea, whereas CF focused mainly on Apple + Pea and Apple + Kidney Beans. The Apple + Vegetables combination under NF resulted in a 31.29% increase in net returns and a 27.55% reduction in production costs, primarily due to the elimination of chemical inputs. Implications. NF improves soil quality, enhances farm profitability, and reduces dependence on synthetic inputs. These results support the need for targeted policies, including subsidies, training, and awareness campaigns, to promote NF and ensure sustainable apple farming in the region.
New Report of Eulecanium Tiliae L. Infestation in Apple Orchards of the Western Himalayan Cold Desert: Morphological and Molecular Insights
Sumit Vashisth, Sunil Joshi, Sawraj Jit Singh, Pankaj Kumar, Madhurjit Singh Rathore, Sudhir Verma
Applied Fruit Science, 2025
Effect of foliar application of boron on apple yield and socioeconomic status of farmers in cold desert region of North-Western Himalayas
, U. Sharma, N.S. Kaler, , S. Verma, and
Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2025
Apple (Malus domestica) grown in the lower Spiti Valley in harsh climatic conditions is regarded as an important source of income for tribal farmers. Poor flower and fruit formation due to a lack of boron in apple orchards leads to lower productivity. Considering this issue, front-line demonstrations were conducted at farmers' orchards across various locations in the Spiti Valley from 2020 to 2021. The impact of boron foliar application on apple yield and the socioeconomic status of farmers in the region was then assessed. Front-line demonstrations demonstrated a yield increase of 21.32% and 9.14% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, over traditional practice (no boron application). Apple yield varied from 205 to 221 q ha-1 and 262 to 275 q ha-1 during 2020 and 2021, respectively, in demonstration plots. Average apple yield of 213.4 q ha-1 (2020) and 267.4 q ha-1(2021) were recorded in demonstration plots. The technology gap was 86.6 q ha-1 in 2020 and 32.6 q ha-1 in 2021. The mean extension gap during 2 years of study was 22.9 q ha-1, emphasizing the need to motivate and train farmers to adopt improved scientific practices. The technology index during the year 2020 was 20.9% and further, it reduced to 10.9% during 2021, showing higher feasibility of the demonstrated technology. Economic practices revealed higher net returns and benefit-to-cost ratios of 2.16 in 2020 and 3.53 in 2021, enhancing better awareness and adoption of improved practices, thereby increasing the socio-economic status of farmers.
Blending Traditional Knowledge of Farmers in Agriculture with Modern Scientific Technologies in Cold Desert Region of Himachal Pradesh
Sudhir Verma, Sumit Vashisth, Lav Bhushan, C. L. Acharya
Blending Indian Farmers Traditional Knowledge in Agriculture with Modern Scientific Technologies A Way Forward, 2025
Impact of Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit on soil properties and productivity of kiwi fruit
Devi Meera, Sharma Anurag, Shukla Arti, Vikram Amit, Dev Inder, R S Chandel, Chauhan Jitender, Verma Sudhir, Kapoor Renu, Bharti, Rana Rajesh, Sheoran Parvender, Mohit
Plant Science Today, 2025
Kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.) cultivation is gaining popularity in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. An experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Solan, Himachal Pradesh to study the influence of natural farming system on crop yield, fruit weight, total sugar, physico-chemical and biological properties of soil and to find out the most effective doze of inputs viz., Ghanjeevamrit and Jeevamrit. We studied the application of jeevamrit and ghanjeevamrit with nutrient management practices in kiwifruit cropping sequence under natural farming system. Jeevamrit and ghanjeevamrit were prepared using desi-cow urine and dung. These natural farming ingredients are widespread among farmers for improving soil biology and productivity. Among different treatments, T5 (Ghanjeevamrit 2.0 t/ha + Jeevamrit 20 %) was found superior in terms of yield, crop equivalent yield, number of leaves, leaf area, pH, organic carbon, bulk density and microbial count. However, T2 (Ghanjeevamrit 1.5 t/ha + Jeevamrit 20 %) was found best in terms of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potash contents in the soil and it was statistically on par with T5. Intercrop combination of pea and mash was found superior in terms of crop equivalent yield, physico-chemical and biological properties of soil as compared to intercrop combination of rajmash and radish. Bacterial count varied from 14.56 x 107 to 23.38 x 107, fungal count from 2.36 x 104 to 5.70 x 104 while, actinomycetes from 5.36 x 104 to 8.70 x 104 among different treatments.
Evidence of transitioning apple farming to an agro-ecological model in Himachal Pradesh
Divyanshu, Subhash Sharma, Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Rohit Vashishat, Subhash Chander Verma, et al.
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025
Agro-ecological farming practices that integrate economic viability and environmental resilience, based on principles designed to support optimal food and nutritional security in farming systems. This study compares Natural Farming (NF) and Conventional Farming (CF) in apple orchards of Himachal Pradesh by using agro-ecological indicators to assess soil health, pest management, and profitability. The research was conducted across the High Hills Temperate Wet (Zone III) and Dry Temperate High Hills (Zone IV). A total of 140 farm (70 under Natural Farming and 70 under Conventional Farming) were sampled by using simple random sampling method and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the interrelationships among soil nutrient status, pest and disease incidence, and farm profitability. The results revealed that NF had higher organic carbon (OC) levels, ranging from 0.84 to 1.95%, compared to CF, which ranged from 0.53 to 1.91%. NF also exhibited higher nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and micronutrient levels, while potassium (K) levels were lower. Pest incidence was significantly higher in NF, with Woolly Apple Aphid (50.08%) and Leaf Folder (41%) infestations, compared to CF (17.5 and 5.5%, respectively). NF also showed a 1.59% increase in yield (161.25 quintals/ha) and a 46.76% reduction in total variable costs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified key pathways linking farming practices to soil quality, yield performance, and economic outcomes. The analysis revealed that organic matter positively influenced microbial activity (0.05), thereby enhancing soil fertility. SEM findings also highlighted the importance of balanced nutrient management for sustaining both productivity and profitability. These results underscore NF’s capacity to support agro-ecological indicators by enhancing both economic and environmental resilience, while encouraging long-term nutritional security through this agro-ecological supported system. This research provides compelling evidence for adopting NF as a transformative approach in apple farming systems.
Long-Term Impact of Forest-Based Land Uses on Soil Quality Indicators in Himalayan Region
Pankaj Panwar, Sharmistha Pal, Sudhir Verma, Nancy Loria, Med Ram Verma, V. K. Bhatt, N. K. Sharma
Agricultural Research, 2022
Establishment of virus-free elite mother orchards of apple in the Trans-Himalayan region of India
Santosh Watpade, Rakesh Kumar, Pooja Bhardwaj, Kallol Kumar Pramanick, Arun Kumar Shukla, Baswaraj Raigond, Jitender Kumar, Usha Sharma, Sumit Vashisth, Sudhir Verma
Indian Phytopathology, 2021
Impact of palekar's natural farming on farmers' economy in Himachal Pradesh
Indian Journal of Ecology, 2021
Fire in pine grown regions of Himalayas depletes cultivable plant growth promoting beneficial microbes in the soil
Divya Mittal, Rakesh Shukla, Sudhir Verma, Anand Sagar, Kartar S. Verma, Anita Pandey, Yashwant Singh Negi, Reena V. Saini, Adesh K. Saini
Applied Soil Ecology, 2019
Natural 13C abundance and soil carbon dynamics under long-term residue retention in a no-till maize system
Pramod Jha, S. Verma, R. Lal, C. Eidson, G. S. Dheri
Soil Use and Management, 2017
Global nitrogen budgets in cereals: A 50-year assessment for maize, rice, and wheat production systems
J. K. Ladha, A. Tirol-Padre, C. K. Reddy, K. G. Cassman, Sudhir Verma, D. S. Powlson, C. van Kessel, Daniel de B. Richter, Debashis Chakraborty, Himanshu Pathak
Scientific Reports, 2016
Changes in soil quality and carbon storage under biofuel crops in central Ohio
Anup Das, Rattan Lal, Upender Somireddy, Catherine Bonin, Sudhir Verma, Basant Kumar Rimal
Soil Research, 2016
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Soil Air Concentration of N2O and Corn Growth in a Greenhouse Study
G. S. Dheri, Rattan Lal, Sudhir Verma
Journal of Crop Improvement, 2015
Impact of climate change on mountain horticulture
Kartar Singh Verma, Mahadev Singh Mankotia, Sudhir Verma, Vikas Kumar Sharma
Climate Resilient Horticulture Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies, 2013
SOIL POTASSIUM FRACTIONS IN RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF LANTANA RESIDUE INCORPORATION IN A NORTHWEST HIMALAYAN ACID ALFISOL
Sandeep Sharma, Girish Chander, T. S. Verma, Sudhir Verma
Journal of Plant Nutrition, 2013
Long-term effects of organics, fertilizers and cropping systems on soil physical productivity evaluated using a single value index (NLWR)
Sudhir Verma, Pradeep K. Sharma
Soil and Tillage Research, 2008
Effect of long-term manuring and fertilizers on carbon pools, soil structure, and sustainability under different cropping systems in wet-temperate zone of northwest Himalayas
Sudhir Verma, Pradeep Kumar Sharma
Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2007
Phosphorus fractions in an acid soil continuously fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers
S. Verma, S.K. Subehia, S.P. Sharma
Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2005