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Water and energy crisis, rising temperature and subsequent changes in climate result in calamitous loss of wheat productivity due to adverse effect on plant growth and development. Plateauing yield trends and declining total factor productivity compel for alternative water and energy-efficient conservation practices supporting sustainable wheat productivity in humid tropics. Present investigation tested the hypothesis stating that the alternate wheat establishment methods and inter-culture practices would economize energy and water requirement with enhanced productivity. Different wheat establishment methods viz., conventional tillage, reduced tillage, zero tillage and raised bed landforms of 40/20 and 60/20 cm and two inter-culture practices, i.e. conoweeding and alternate ridging on spring wheat were evaluated for two years at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, India. Zero and reduced tillage depicted better economic viability with benefit cost ratio of 2.86 and 2.84, respectively, which was statistically at par with conventional tillage. Alternate ridging and raised bed (60/20 cm) recorded 13.3 and 41.7% saving of irrigation water, respectively. Highest energy use efficiency was observed in raised bed 60/20 cm with 22.4% less energy consumption compared to conventional method. Thus, adoption of conservation practices with improved inter-culture operations holds potential for sustainable, water and energy-efficient and profitable wheat productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2012-13 and 2013-14 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, GBPUA & T Pantnagar, Uttarakhand to improve the late sown wheat productivity, profitability and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) through crop establishment methods, irrigation levels and chemical sprays. The experiment comprising two crop establishment methods (dry bed and wet bed), two irrigation levels (irrigation till flowering and irrigation till grain filling) and four foliar sprays [control (water spray), urea @ 2%, cytokinin @ 25 ppm and KNO3 @ 1%] was set in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The wheat grain yield and its yield attributes did not improve significantly due to crop establishment methods and irrigation levels. Foliar feeding of urea @ 2% at anthesis stage produced the maximum number of ears, grain weight/ear and 1000-grain weight. It also recorded significantly higher mean grain yield than control (water spray) by a margin of 13.9%. Besides, it also registered the maximum irrigation WUE. In terms of monetary advantage, foliar feeding of urea @ 2% and KNO3 @1% treatments fetched the maximum net returns (Rs. 33,809) and B : C ratio (1.29), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of home gardens was conducted in 14 villages of Alaknanda and Mandakini valleys of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, which were in the grip ofa severe natural disaster during August-September 2013. The villages included wereAuli, Bamni, Bhattwadi, Birahi, Dhak, Gopeshwar, Josimath, Kimana, Lolti, Mana, Mandal, Pakhi, Shersi, and Tilwara. A comprehensive checklist of 105 plant species belonging to 50 families was prepared from their home gardens. The majority of the respondents were 31-45 years of age in Alaknanda and 40-60 years in Mandakini valley. Data indicated that leaves, fruits, seeds, tubers, and stems were some integral and important elements in the diet of natives of these villages. Mean percent score was used for the analysis of data. The natives of Alaknanda and Mandakini valleys practice organic farming in daily life which is eco-friendly and organic produce are highly nutritious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring sweet corn as a short duration cash crop is gaining popularity in northern India owing to increasing demand in urban and peri-urban regions. Under hot dry climate and minimal rainfall, irrigation is the major yield contributing factor for attaining superior quality cobs and higher economic returns. The study aimed at examining the effect of irrigation scheduling (I) (IW/CPE 1.0, 1.2, 1.4), sowing methods (S) (flat and furrow) and moisture conservation practices (M) (no-residue, rice straw mulch 6.0 t ha−1 and rice straw biochar 3.0 t ha−1) on spring sown sweet corn yield, quality, profitability and water use efficiency in the Tarai region (sandy loam soil texture) of Uttarakhand, India. The experiment was conducted in split factorial design (Main I x S, Sub M) with 18 treatment combinations and three replications. Results indicated that the combination IW/CPE 1.4 +furrow+mulch being at par with IW/CPE 1.4 +furrow+biochar were superior in terms of dehusked cob yield which was ~42% higher over IW/CPE 1.0 +flat+control. Application of biochar 6 t ha−1 and straw mulch 3 t ha−1 increased dehusked cob yield of sweet corn by ~6–9% over control (no-residue) during both years. Among irrigation schedules, IW/CPE 1.0 obtained highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) followed by IW/CPE 1.2. Mulch and biochar being on par recorded 7–10% higher IWUE over no-residue control. Likewise, furrow sowing increased IWUE by 39–44% over flat method with ~25% higher water savings. Average soil moisture content under mulch and biochar was 25% and 12% higher respectively over no-residue. Maximum net returns was obtained under the combination IW/CPE 1.4 +furrow+mulch (1672 USD ha−1) which was 69% higher over IW/CPE 1.0 +flat+no-residue. Sweet corn quality parameters viz., total soluble solids and non-reducing sugar was significantly higher under IW/CPE 1.0 and 1.2 in comparison to 1.4, as well as under furrow sowing over flat sowing. Therefore, although maximum yield and profitability of sweet corn was obtained under irrigation schedule IW/CPE 1.4, the treatment combination of IW/CPE 1.2 with furrow sowing and mulch/biochar application may be adopted for attaining superior quality parameters and improved water use efficiency of sweet corn. • Irrigation scheduled at IW/CPE 1.4 & 1.2 increased sweet corn yield over IW/CPE 1.0. • IW/CPE 1.2 improved irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 7% over IW/CPE 1.4. • Furrow sowing had 4–8% and 39–44% higher cob yield and IWUE resp. than flat sowing. • Mulch 6 t ha−1 & biochar 3 t ha−1 observed 7–10% higher IWUE of sweet corn over control. • Virtual water of sweet corn was lowest with IW/CPE 1.0, furrow and mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]