@article{Chandra Sekar M_K. Petchimuthu_B. Parthiban_2026, title={Comparative Assessment of Panchakavya and DAP-Based Nutrient Management on Soil Properties, Yield Attributes and Grain Elemental Composition of Selected Pulse Crops in Tamil Nadu, India}, volume={21}, url={https://thebioscan.com/index.php/pub/article/view/6623}, abstractNote={<p>Nutrient management practices can influence the mineral composition and<br>safety of pulse grains. A three-year field study (2022–2024) was conducted<br>in Ottapidaram, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, to compare organic<br>(Panchakavya) and conventional inorganic (DAP) nutrient-management<br>practices in red cowpea, horse gram, black gram, and green gram. Grain<br>elemental composition (25 elements) was determined using ICP-MS, while<br>soil properties, germination, seed count, and 50-seed weight were evaluated<br>annually. Grains from the DAP-treated plot generally showed lower<br>concentrations of several potentially hazardous elements, including As, Cd,<br>Cr, Mn, Mo, Pb, and Tl, along with lower K, Na, and Fe. Green gram from<br>the organic plot showed markedly higher Cd levels, highlighting the<br>importance of verifying the quality of organic inputs. A significant difference<br>across the 25-element profile was observed for red cowpea, but not for the<br>other crops. Overall, neither nutrient-management system was consistently<br>superior in terms of grain safety or nutrient density. The findings emphasize<br>the need for source verification of organic inputs and replicated studies to<br>assess their effects on pulse grain quality and safety.</p>}, number={3}, journal={The Bioscan}, author={Chandra Sekar M and K. Petchimuthu and B. Parthiban}, year={2026}, month={Sep.}, pages={1756–1771} }