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Background: Intensive cultivation with suitable crop geometry for optimum utilization of resources is one of the possible ways for increasing productivity of pigeonpea. Plant growth regulators have the capacity to stimulate and inhibit physiological processes, which directly or indirectly might affect crop yield and quality. This investigation was planned to study the influence of crop geometry and foliar application of plant growth regulators on production potential of pigeonpea. Methods: The field experiment was conducted at experimental farm of Agronomy department, V.N.M.K.V., Parbhani, during kharif season of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four main plot treatments and five sub plot treatments. The main plot treatments comprised of four crop geometries while thesub plot treatments were five treatments on foliar application of plant growth regulatorsalongwith control. Result: Various crop geometries shown remarkable effect on growth and developement of pigeonpea. The crop geometry of 60-120 cm × 20 cm and 90 cm × 20 cm recorded maximum plant height of pigeonpea as compared to other wider crop geometries. While in case of all the other growth attributes viz. number of functional leaves plant-1, leaf area, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation plant-1 crop geometry of 120 cm × 20 cm and 75-150 cm × 20 cm were found superior as compared to other treatments and were at par with each other. The yield per hectare was increased at closer crop geometry 60-120 cm × 20 cm as the lower per plant yield was compensated by higher plant population. The crop geometry 60-120 cm × 20 cm produced significantly higher seed yield (1661, 1982 and 1821 kg ha-1 during 2018, 2019 and pooled mean respectively) over crop geometry of 120 cm × 20 cm and crop geometry 75-150 cm × 20 cm, but it was found at par with crop geometry 90 cm × 20 cm. Among the foliar application of plant growth regulators, growth characters viz., plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area, number of branches and dry matter accumulation plant-1 as well as chlorophyll content were enhanced with the foliar application of Brassinosteroids @ 0.1 ppm and application of NAA @ 40 ppm during both the years of study. Foliar application of Brassinosteroids @ 0.1 ppm also recorded early flower initiation and significantly highest seed yield (1742, 2018 and 1880 kg ha-1 during 2018, 2019 and in pooled data, respectively), while it was at par with foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm.

The study was carried out at Department of Agricultural Meteorology, VNMKV, Parbhani to find the quantitative relationship between weather parameters and district level yield of pigeon pea. For this purpose, 30 years (1982-83 to 2011-12) weather and crop yield records of different district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra (India) were collected. A twenty-eight-week crop period model was recommended for pre harvest forecast due to higher R2 value and lower simulated forecast deviation. The time trend, maximum temperature, morning and evening relative humidity significantly affected crop yield. In Aurangabad equation shows that the Tmin. and Tmean has positively significant effect on yield. In latur the equation shows that all weather parameters have highly positively significant effect Tmax., Tmin., Tmean, RH I, RH II, Rainfall and R.D. effect on yield.In osmanabad equation show that the Tmin.and Tmean have negatively significant effect on yield while other variables show non-significant effect on yield. While in Parbhani and Beed District all the weather parameters have no significant effect on yield.

Soybean is the predominant crop of Marathwada Region covering 15 lakh hectare area in kharif season. Though its potential yield reported to be very high but the farmers of the region particularly under rainfed condition is not getting higher yield due to various reasons. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted on medium black soils during 2014 to 2018 for evaluation of various in-situ rainwater conservation practices for reducing runoff and soil loss as well as to enhance the moisture availability to cope with dryspell conditions. The various in-situ rainwater conservation practices includes opening of furrow after every 4 rows,dead furrow, tied ridging, conservation furrow, BBF and flatbed and were evaluated for its performance to enhance the productivity of rainfed soybean through soil moisture conservation. BBF recorded significantly higher crop productivity as compared to other treatments and found to be at par with opening of furrow after every 4 rows. The net returns and BC ratio were also found higher under BBF treatment. The rainwater use efficiency under BBF was found to be 2.78 as compared to 177 under flatbed treatment (farmers practice). The runoff and soil loss were also found less (46% and 53%, respectively) under BBF treatment as compared to flatbed treatment. Study concluded that BBF sowing technique for soybean was most suitable for enhancing production potential and soil moisture.

Available labour in the agricultural farm has been decreasing over the years. Mechanization of agriculture is an essential input in modern agriculture. It enhances productivity besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation. Mechanization also helps in improving utilization efficiency. A field experiment was conducted on medium black soils in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state during 2016 to 2018 with respect to evaluation mechanization practices coupled with various in-situ rainwater conservation practices for rainfed soybean. The treatments of complete mechanization, partial mechanization and traditional methods of cultivation were evaluated for rainfed soybean (MAUS-162) along with sub plot treatments of broad bed and furrow (BBF), ridges & furrow and flatbed. Complete mechanization in soybean resulted in higher seed yield, Gross Monitory Returns (GMR), Net Monitory Returns (NMR), Benefit Cost ratio (B: C ratio) and Rain Water Use Efficiency (RWUE). In-situ moisture conservation practices viz. BBF and ridges & furrow method of sowing recorded highest seed yield, GMR, NMR, B: C ratio and RWUE as compared to traditional method of cultivation. Complete mechanization along with BBF method of sowing soybean is found to be significantly superior over all treatment combinations with respect to seed yield, NMR, B: C ratio, RWUE. The highest energy output-input ratio (10.2) was observed in complete mechanization with BBF method of sowing.

Water budget under deficit rainfall years was conducted at Babhulgaon micro watershed, Parbhani district of Maharashtra state considering crop water demand, human and livestock consumption. On the main streams, there were nala bunds and farm ponds constructed for rainwater harvesting and supplemental/protective irrigation. During the year 2014, a total rainfall of 398.1 mm was received, which was 52% deficit than average normal rainfall. The major losses were occurred as soil evaporation and transpiration are 59.71 mm and 155.26 mm, respectively. The surface runoff of 29.87 mm (11%) was estimated and the soil moisture of 103.50 mm was utilized for crop growth and which was found to be insufficient for normal crop growth, thus effected the crop yields. The crop water requirements of kharif and rabi season were 339.45 and 70.10 ha-m, respectively. The total crop water requirement of the year 2014 was 409.55 ham. During 2015, an amount of 407.8 mm of rainfall received which was 51% deficit to average normal monsoon rainfall. The major losses observed were due to soil evaporation and transpiration as 61.94 mm and 161.61 mm respectively. In 2015, rainfall was well distributed and only two storms were observed in the month of September resulted in a surface runoff of 18 mm which was 4.42% of rainfall. The ground water recharge contribution was 52.36 mm (12.84% of rainfall). The soil moisture storage of 107.77 mm was observed and found to be insufficient for crop growth. The crop water requirement of kharif and rabi season was 337.55 and 81.00 ha-mm, respectively. The total crop water requirement of the year 2015 was 418.55 hamm. The outflow characteristics indicated that there is additional possibility for construction of rainwater harvesting structures like nala bunds, earthen dams and farm ponds etc., because total available water storage capacity in all existing structures is about 21 to 35% of annual runoff only. The deficiency of water resources in the Babhulgaon micro watershed can be managed by harvesting the available potential runoff and its efficient utilization through modified cropping pattern.

Recharging of borewells using designed filtration system was studied since 2014 on 14 borewells locations in assured rainfall zone of Marathwada region. As the specific gravity of soil is basic property and primary requisite for determination of velocities of silt contained water, it has been determined by pycnometer test and found to be 2.66. Using stokes, law, the depth of filtration material was designed and filtration efficiency was found to be in range of 93 to 96%. A long duration pumping test was conducted on representative bore well. The well characteristics like specific yield and transmissivity were determined as 0.0134 and 572.37 m2/day, respectively. The results revealed that the water level fluctuation in pre monsoon and post monsoon season in recharged bore wells are found to be in the range of 5.90 to 8.84 m. The ground water recharge in treated bore well was found to be 23.28% of annual rainfall as against 5.56% in untreated bore wells. The rise in water level in recharged bore well is found to be 2.37 m as compared to fall of 0.62 m water level in un-recharged bore wells during May 2015 to May 2016.