Search

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers are widely used worldwide to increase agricultural productivity. However, significant N losses contributing to air and water pollution ultimately reduce the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops. Numerous research studies have emphasized the use of a low dose of N fertilizer, but few have focused on screening N-efficient rice genotypes. This study aimed to identify and screen ten rice genotypes that are N-use-efficient under different N fertilization treatments using the surface placement of neem-oil-coated urea: N0 (control), N60 (½ of recommended N), and N120 (recommended N) for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021) under a split plot design. In both growing seasons, the application of N120 yielded the highest panicles m−2 (PAN = 453), filled grains panicle−1 (FGP = 133), leaf area index (LAI = 5.47), tillers m−2 (TILL = 541), grain yield t ha−1 (GY = 5.5) and harvest index (HI = 45.4%) by the genotype ‘Nidhi’, being closely followed by the genotype ‘Daya’. Four genotypes (‘Nidhi’, ‘Daya’, ‘PB 1728’ and ‘Nagina 22’), out of the ten genotypes evaluated, responded well to different fertilization treatments with N with respect to the grain yield efficiency index (GYEI ≥ 1). Regarding N fertilization, N60 and N120 recorded the highest increase in PAN (28.5%; 41.4%), FGP (29.5%; 39.3%), test weight (29.5%; 45.3%), LAI at 30 days after transplanting (DAT) (143.7%; 223.3%), and LAI at 60 DAT (61.6%; 70.1%) when compared with N0. Furthermore, the application of N60 and N120 improved GY and HI by 47.6% and 59.4%, and 3.4% and 6.2%, respectively, over N0. Nitrogen addition (N60 and N120) also significantly increased the chlorophyll content at 60 DAT (8.8%; 16.3%), TILL at 60 DAT (22.9%; 46.2%), TILL at harvest (28%; 41.4%), respectively, over N0. Overall, our research findings clearly indicate that ‘Nidhi’ and ‘Daya’ could be efficient candidates for improved nitrogen use, grain yield and GYEI in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India.

Decline in soil fertility is one of the major constraints to sustainable crop production and profitability. To meet the increasing demand for the growing population the issue of low soil fertility needs to be addressed moreover, excessive pumping of groundwater over the years to meet the high irrigation water requirement of rice-wheat system has resulted in over exploitation of groundwater in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India. Replacement of traditional wheat cultivation practices under conservation agriculture (CA) based management (tillage, and crop establishment management) practices are required to promote sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, inefficient nutrient management practices are responsible for low crop yields and nutrient use efficiencies in wheat under rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India to evaluate the effects of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods, and nutrient management practices on crop yields, water productivity and profitability of wheat under RWCS. The main plot treatments included four combinations of TCE [Furrow irrigated raised beds (FIRB), Roto tillage (RT), Reduced tillage (RTW) and conventional tillage (CT), with six nutrient management practices [N1 Control, N2 100% Recommend Dose of Fertilizer, N3 100% RDF + NPK consortia + Bio-stimulant, N4 75% RDF + NPK consortia + Bio-stimulant, N5 100% RDF + NPK consortia + Bio-stimulant + NPK (18:18:18) spray after II irrigation, and N6 and 75% RDF + NPK consortia + Bio-stimulant + NPK (18:18:18) spray after II irrigation]. Crop water productivity and net returns under FIRB were significantly increased by 11.7% and 13.8% compared to CT respectively, during year of experimentation. Study showed that conservation agriculture based sustainable practices (FIRB) and nutrient strategies 100% RDF + NPK consortia + Bio-stimulant + NPK (18:18:18) spray after II irrigation approach provided opportunities for enhancing crop and water productivity, and profitability of wheat crop in North-West IGP of India. Treatments with N and conservation agriculture were the most profitable. A combined use of conservation agriculture and organic and chemical fertilizers is the best bet for increasing, wheat crop yield and associated return on investment.

The rapid population growth has driven the demand for more food, fiber, energy, and water, which is associated to an increase in the need to use natural resources in a more sustainable way. The growing connectivity in the rural environment, in addition to its greater integration with data from sensor systems, remote sensors, equipment, and smart-phones have paved the way for new concepts from the so-called digital agriculture. The information that crops offer is turned into profitable decisions only when efficiently managed. Current advances in data management are making Smart Farming grow exponentially as data have become the key element in modern agriculture to help producers with critical decision-making. Valuable advantages appear with objective information acquired through sensors with the aim of maximizing productivity and sustainability. These kind of data-based managed farms rely on data that can increase efficiency by avoiding the misuse of resources and the pollution of the environment. Data-driven agriculture, with the help of robotic solutions incorporating artificial intelligent techniques, sets the grounds for the sustainable agriculture of the future. Digital agriculture offers far-reaching opportunities for accelerating agricultural transformation. Although there are concerns that digital agriculture will enhance the market power of large agribusiness enterprises and increase the digital divide, a combination of new actors and public action can help accelerate the supply of digital agricultural technology, manage threats of market concentration, and harness the opportunities of digital agriculture for all. The agriculture industry has radically transformed over the past 50 years. Advances in machinery have expanded the scale, speed, and productivity of farm equipment, leading to more efficient cultivation of more land. Seed, irrigation, and fertilizers also have vastly improved, helping farmers increase yields. Now, agriculture is in the early days of yet another revolution, at the heart of which lie data and connectivity. Artificial intelligence, analytics, connected sensors, and other emerging technologies could further increase yields, improve the efficiency of water and other inputs, and build sustainability and resilience across crop cultivation and animal husbandry. This paper reviews the current status of advanced farm management systems by revisiting each crucial step, from data acquisition in crop fields to variable rate applications, so that growers can make optimized decisions to save money while protecting the environment and transforming how food will be produced to sustainably match the forthcoming population growth.

Residues of various crops are considered nuisance but they can be helpful in increasing organic matter in soil and better cycling of nutrients in soil if managed properly. Better management and utilization of crop residues (CR) is necessary for better productivity and quality of crops. Sowing into loose residues is the major issue in adapting the drill sowing method. Apart from the higher quantity of rice (192.82 mt) and wheat residue (120.70 mt), the residue of sorghum, maize, barley, chickpea, groundnut, rapeseed, mustard, sugarcane trash, potato, soybean, sunflower and some other minor cereals also contribute substantially towards total amount of about 462.93 million tonnes in India in 1997-98. Three quarters of the total residue is produced by rice, wheat and oil seed crops with remaining quarter coming from sugarcane and sorghum. Crop residue is important component of low external input for sustainable agriculture without sacrificing productivity. The crop residues left behind is considered as burden forcing farmers to burn them as cheap and easiest method with mistaken belief that it enhances the soil fertility and helps in controlling weeds, insects and pests. Different studies revealed that burning of residues causes air pollution and nutrient loss in soil. Improvements in soil properties and the sustainability in crop productivity could be achieved if CR are proper managed. Long-term field studies at sites carefully selected with variations in temperature, moisture, soil mineralogy and management of agricultural residues representing various cropping systems across regions should be identified and sustained. The possible benefits of crop residues for the improvement of degrading soil fertility would be completely understood only then. Owing to the competing requirements for such biomass for feed, fuel or building material, smallholder farmers typically find it difficult to maintain a soil cover for crop residue or a cover crop.

A field experiment was conducted on sandy loam at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel university of agriculture and technology, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) during the winter (rabi) season of 2017–18, to study the effect of precision nitrogen management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under conservation agriculture. The treatment comprising of tillage four crop establishment methods (T1 - Zero tillage (ZTW), T2 - Reduced tillage (RT), T3 - Furrow irrigation raised beds (FIRB), T4 - Conventional tillage (CTW)) in main plot and precision five nitrogen management (F1 – N 80:20 - N rate split as 80% basal and 20% at second irrigation, F2 - N 33:33:33 - N rate split as 33% basal, 33% at CRI stage (20–25 DAS) and 33% at second irrigation (40–45 DAS), F3 - N 80 – LCC - Split as 80% basal and further application of N based on LCC, F4 – N 50:50 - N rate split as 50% basal and 50% at CRI stage and F5 – FFP - farmers fertilization practice) in sub-plot and laid out in split-plot design with three replications. Results revealed that the maximum values of growth parameters (plant height, number of tiller, dry matter accumulation), yield attributes (number of spike, spike length, grain spike-1 and test weight) and yield was recorded in furrow irrigated raised beds system than rest of the tillage practices. Among precision nitrogen management treatments, the maximum values of growth characters (plant height, number of tiller and dry matter), yield attributes (number of spikes, spike length, grain spike-1 and test weight), grain and straw yield were noticed with application of fertilizer as N 80-LCC respectively. Thus, the use of furrow irrigated raised bed system along with application of nutrient as N 80 – LCC resulted the best combination for achieving higher growth, yield attributes and productivity of wheat crop.