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Background: The rise in unprecedented pressure of producing enough food for an ever-growing human population resulted in the use of considerable amounts of agrochemicals in crop production. To overcome this, inclusion of annual pulse crops such as cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) in cropping systems is an alternative technique for enhancing output while minimising environmental impact. Therefore, to assess the influence of different crop production systems on yield, quality and soil fertility attributes of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.)- cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) crop sequence, a long term field experiment was conducted. Methods: A field experiment was conducted on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) crop sequence under AI-NPOF Project during 2016-17 to 2020-21 at ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer (Rajasthan), India. The experiment was laid out as a factorial design based on randomized complete blocks (RCBD) with three replications. The first factor consisted of six production systems viz., (PS1) - 100% organic, (PS2) - 75% organic + 25% innovative practice (Compost extract, cattle urine), (PS3) - Integrated (50% organic + 50% inorganic), (PS4) - Integrated (75% organic + 25% inorganic), (PS5) -100% inorganic nutrient sources and (PS6) - State recommendation] including fennel (Rabi season) - cluster bean (Kharif season) cropping sequence, whereas the second factor included the environment over the period. Result: The outcomes of study revealed that production system (PS4) - Integrated (75% organic + 25% inorganic) resulted in the maximum seed yields and yield attributes of cluster bean (1501.87 kg ha-1) and fennel (1970.19 kg ha-1). The study shows that the production system (PS4) had a 17.29 and 30.75% increment of protein as compared to PS5 and PS1 in fennel and cluster beans, respectively. Under production system PS1, the per cent increment of soil organic carbon (~25.2%) and readily available N (~9%), P (~38.5%) and K (~Non-significant) were noted over the years respectively, compared with production system (PS5). A significant positive association was observed between fennel and cluster bean grain yield and soil organic carbon (P<0.01) and the Shannon- Wiener indexes (R² = 0.75, R² = 0.69), respectively. The combined assessment of yield, quality, soil organic carbon and soil sustainability shows that rotations based on legume crops performed better and provided a model of sustainable crop intensification. Thus, adding legume to the cropping system and implementing integrated nutrient management (INM) could gradually improve soil quality in agroecologies where fennel predominates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses including drought and salinity have become frontier areas in agricultural research, particularly due to their damaging potential to threaten global food security in near future. Constantly increasing soil salinity has severely damaged the global production of staple food crops. The ever-increasing world population is critically strained already due to the shrinkage of existing agricultural production system. Looking at the constraints, rigorous initiatives have been taken to yield several strategies to utilize conventional and modern approaches for increasing stress tolerance and/or mitigating the stress-induced ill-effects on crop to potentially improve the productivity. Recent literature signifies prominent attempts towards devising new strategies aiming at salinity and drought smart crop cultivation. The use of halophytes and halophyte-associated microbes is among the highly promising approach from both the perspectives of salinity stress mitigation, and saline soil reclamation in the long term. The cutting-edge omics tools have provided deeper insights into the understanding of the interactions of halophytes, associated microbiomes and the soil rhizosphere habitat. We have described ample of mechanism-based evidences to establish the role of halophytic plants and associated microbial communities in establishing a strong base for their application in bio-saline agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of different planting ratios and nitrogen levels on yields and economics of fodder maize and cowpea, an experiment was laid out in split plot arrangement with three intercropping row ratios of maize:cowpea (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2) in main plot and five nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N/ha) in sub plot with three replication. The maize and cowpea planted under 1:2 ratio showed maximum values of growth parameters (i.e. plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, stem girth, number of branches and leaf to stem ratio), nutrient content and their uptake (N and P) over 1:1 and 2:1 ratio. The significantly higher value aforesaid growth parameters of maize were recorded with applications of 90 kg N/ha. However, cowpea showed significantly higher value of growth parameters upto 60 kg N/ha. The highest total DMY (141.22 q/ha) and maize DMY (122.92 q/ha), net return (₹ 57089.42) and B:C ratio (1.72) were observed under 2:1 intercropping ratio. However, in case of cowpea, 1:2 intercropping ratio resulted in highest DMY (33.25 q/ha). Among fertility levels the significantly maximum total DMY, maize DMY and farm profitability, nutrient content and uptake by maize were observed with 120 kg N/ha. However, cowpea showed significantly increase in DMY up to 30 kg N/ha only. The 1:2 intercropping ratio resulted in 5.60 and 6.70% higher soil N and 4.00 and 2.57% higher soil P over 1:1 and 2:1 intercropping ratios. The use of 120 kg N/ha resulted 2.0, 6.6, 9.3 and 20.2% improvement in soil N over 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N/ha, respectively. Thus it can be concluded that to realize higher productivity and farm profitability their planting 2:1 ratios with use of 120 and 60 kg N/ha, respectively is a viable option and may quite helpful in sustain the performance of livestock in terms of health and milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are getting space world-wide to answer many emerging challenges like; declining factor productivity, deteriorating soil health, water scarcity, climate change, and farm profitability and sustainability. Oilseed brassica (Indian mustard, Brassica juncea L.), a winter oilseed grown under rainfed agro-ecosystem is vulnerable to low yields, high production cost, degrading soil and water quality, and climatic vagaries. The present study was undertaken on CA-based sustainable intensification of Indian mustard for enhancing inputs efficiencies, farm profitability and sustainability. Permanent beds with residue retention (PB + R) improved mustard equivalent yield (11.4%) and system grain yield (10.6%) compared with conventional tillage without residue (CT − R). Maize–mustard rotation (Mz–M) increased system grain yield (142.9%) as well as mustard equivalent yield (60.7%) compared with fallow-mustard (F-M). Mz–M system under PB + R increased sustainable yield index (376.5%), production efficiency (177.2%), economic efficiency (94%) and irrigation water productivity (66%) compared with F-M under CT − R. PB + R increased soil organic carbon (SOC) stock at 0–15 cm (17.7%) and 15–30 cm (29.5%) soil depth compared with CT − R. Addition of green gram in rotation with mustard improved SOC at 0–15 cm (27.4%) and 15–30 cm (20.5%) compared with F-M system. CA-based cluster bean-mustard/GG-M system increased N productivity, whereas, P and K productivity improved with Mz–M system compared with F-M under CT − R. Thus, CA-based Mz–M system should be out-scaled in the traditional rainfed fallow-mustard system to improve the farm production and income on holistic basis to make the country self-sufficient in edible oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural modeling has long suffered from fragmentation in model implementation. Many models are developed, there is much redundancy, models are often poorly coupled, model component reuse is rare, and it is frequently difficult to apply models to generate real solutions for the agricultural sector. To improve this situation, we argue that an open, selfsustained, and committed community is required to co-develop agricultural models and associated data and tools as a common resource. Such a community can benefit from recent developments in information and communications technology (ICT). We examine how such developments can be leveraged to design and implement the next generation of data, models, and decision support tools for agricultural production systems. Our objective is to assess relevant technologies for their maturity, expected development, and potential to benefit the agricultural modeling community. The technologies considered encompass methods for collaborative development and for involving stakeholders and users in development in an integrated farming system manner. The next generation of data models is developed through incorporation of all independent variables which affect directly or indirectly the output of a system. Models can also be useful in teaching processes involved in the systems and its behavior in response to input variables. Calibration, verification, and validation are very important procedure to produce accurate simulation models. This paper deals with the discussion that how the integrated farming system (IFS) ver. 1.1 model has been developed simulating the entire farm based situations faced by innovative farmers of western Uttar Pradesh with desired technological modifications needed to boost the farmers' productivity and profitability on sustainable basis. Integration of sugarcane crop and practically feasible farm enterprises, we can earn better net profitability with lesser annual cost of cultivation with overall holistic B: C ratio under (IFS) ver. 1.1 models. These results reveal that induction of IFS principles and technological interventions on the basis of land use planning, the system can fetch better gains and livelihood through their farms. IFS ver. 1.1 model can act as an innovative tool to transform less remunerative farm production systems into highly remunerative systems using available farm resources to generate better farm gains on sustainable basis towards a new generation of agricultural system data models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is the most critical externally added input for any crop production system. The half of the global population directly or indirectly depends on nitrogenous fertilizers for food supply. Today, Rice, wheat, and maize are consuming more than 90% of total nitrogenous fertilizer used in cereals. Underuse of nitrogen is associated with lower crop production while overuse leads to several soil and environmental related consequences. Therefore, response to applied nitrogen and its use efficiency have to be monitored properly for obtaining the maximum potential and sustainable yield. Efficiency of applied nitrogenous fertilizers is very low due to its various losses i.e. volatilization, leaching, surface runoff and denitrification from soil-plant system. Therefore, the proper understanding of advanced soil and plant management practices which helps in enhancement of nitrogen recovery efficiency is one of the key factors to enhance crop output, decreasing cost of cultivation, and to maintain environmental quality which ultimately adds towards the goal of achieving long term sustainable production system. In this review, an attempt has been made summarize the locally as well as scientific soil and crop management technologies used for improving use efficiency of applied N. This paper also discusses nitrogen cycling in soil-plant systems, various N losses pathways, present status and most possible management options at the farm level for enhancing nitrogen use in crop production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment entitled "Effect of weed mangement and sulphur on weed count, growth attributes and yield of soybean (Glycine max) " was conducted during kharif seasons of 2011 and 2012 at Instructional Farm (Agronomy), Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The study involved 28 treatment combinations, comprising 7 weed control treatments (weedy check, pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 1000 g/ha, post-emergence application of quizalofop-ethyl at 50 g/ha and imazethapyr at 100 g/ha at 15 day after sowing alone and followed by hoeing & weeding at 30 DAS) and four levels of sulphur (control, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha). The treatments were replicated thrice. All weed control treatments reduced weed count over weedy check on pooled basis. Pendimethalin followed by hoeing & weeding at 30 DAS was significantly superior in reducing weed count of broad-leaved and total weeds at 25 and 50 DAS over rest of the treatments but quizalofop-ethyl fb hoeing & weeding was significantly superior in reducing weed count of narrow-leaved weeds at 25 and 50 DAS. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb by hoeing & weeding gave maximum branches/plant and dry matter of crop followed by imazethapyr and quizalofop-ethyl POE fb hoeing & weeding. All weed control treatments significantly enhanced seed yield of soybean over weedy check. Pendimethalin followed by hoeing & weeding at 30 DAS produced significantly higher pooled seed (2168 kg/ ha) yield compared to other treatments. All the weed control treatments and sulphur levels did not differ significantly in their effect on plant population of soybean at 20 DAS and at harvest on pooled basis. Sulphur rates had no significant effect on weed count at 25 and 50 DAS. The plant height increased significantly by applying 20 kg S/ha while number of branches/plant increased significantly by up to 60 kg S/ha. Application of 40 kg S/ha resulted in significantly higher crop dry matter at 25 and 75 DAS but results were significant only up to 20 kg S/ha at 50 DAS and harvest. Significantly higher seed (1892 kg/ ha) yield of soybean was obtained by applying 40 kg S/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of any technology in agricultural extension can help to improve agricultural productivity and increase farmer's income, especially in developing economies. This paper analyses the adoption behaviour of wheat growers regarding recommended wheat cultivation practices in ten villages in the Bidar district of North Kamataka State in India utilizing an ex-post-facto research design. The majority of farmers surveyed exhibited a medium level of adoption category. In case of individual selected recommended wheat cultivation practices, ninety six per cent of wheat growers had not adopted the improved varieties. Chi-square value showed that land holding status, annual income and economic motivation to adopt recommended cultivation practices varies significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niger is an edible oilseed crop of tribal farmers of Eastern Ghat High Land zone of Odisha. It supplements to the socio-economic condition and fulfills the requirement of cooking oil of the Indian tribal community. The production and productivity of Niger crop continues to be quite low due to low levels of management in crop production, cultivation in poor marginal lands and repeated use of local cultivars. The yield of Niger can be increased by demonstrating the improved agronomic package of practices viz. timely sowing of the crop, proper nutrient management, weed management and need based plant protection measures at the farmer's field under the keen supervision of concern scientists working in the operational area. Keeping in view, the front line demonstration was conducted on Niger crop, under All India Coordinated Research Project on Niger operating at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (OUAT), Semiliguda in farmer's field for a consecutive year from 2010-11 to 2012-13. The increase in seed yield of 149%, 124% and 123% with cost benefit ratio of 1.28, 1.61 and 1.38 was obtained from front line demonstration on whole package, improved variety i.e. Utkal Niger-150 and recommended dose of fertilizer 40:40:20 of N:P:K over farmers practices respectively. It can be concluded that FLD programme on niger effectively increase the production and productivity in the specific region of Odisha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses, including drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, and waterlogging, are the major constraints in crop production. These abiotic stresses are likely to be amplified by climate change with varying temporal and spatial dimensions across the globe. The knowledge about the effects of abiotic stressors on major cereal and legume crops is essential for effective management in unfavorable agro-ecologies. These crops are critical components of cropping systems and the daily diets of millions across the globe. Major cereals like rice, wheat, and maize are highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, while many grain legumes are grown in abiotic stress-prone areas. Despite extensive investigations, abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants is not fully understood. Current insights into the abiotic stress responses of plants have shown the potential to improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses. Studies aimed at stress tolerance mechanisms have resulted in the elucidation of traits associated with tolerance in plants, in addition to the molecular control of stress-responsive genes. Some of these studies have paved the way for new opportunities to address the molecular basis of stress responses in plants and identify novel traits and associated genes for the genetic improvement of crop plants. The present review examines the responses of crops under abiotic stresses in terms of changes in morphology, physiology, and biochemistry, focusing on major cereals and legume crops. It also explores emerging opportunities to accelerate our efforts to identify desired traits and genes associated with stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]