Productivity and profitability of drip fertigated wheat (Triticum aestivum) – mungbean (Vigna radiata) – maize (Zea mays) cropping system

An experiment was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2019–20 and 2020–21 to study the productivity and economic viability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)– mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek)–maize (Zea mays L.) fertigated with 0, 60, 80, 100% recommended doses of NPK and irrigated at 0.6 and 0.8 crop evapotranspiration (ETc) through subsurface (SSDI) and surface drip irrigation (SDI). The results were compared with the conventional practice of surface irrigation and soil application of 100% recommended doses of NPK. Grain yields of wheat, mungbean, maize and system wheat equivalent yield (SWEY) improved by 22.9, 7.2, 21.9 and 19.4%, respectively with increase in NPK fertigation doses from 60 to 100% and by 15.6, 9.2, 4.9 and 9.7% with the increase in irrigation frequency from 0.6 to 0.8 ETc. However, SDI and SSDI had equal system productivity (12.48 and 12.85 Mg/ha). The SWEY at 0.8ETc fertigated either with NPK80 or NPK100 was statistically at par (14.2–15.9 Mg/ha) with the conventional practice (14.3–15.2 Mg/ha). The cash inflow, net income and benefit cost ratio (BCR) of the cropping system also increased successively with increase in fertigation doses and irrigation frequency. The net income and BCR followed the order maize>wheat>mungbean. The net income under SSDI at 0.8 ETc with NPK80 or NPK100 in wheat, mungbean, maize and system was 11–13, 88–105, 1-9 and 8–14% higher than the conventional practice. At 0.8 ETc and NPK100, BCR in SSDI (1.86) was higher than in SDI (1.71) and conventional system (1.67).

Temporal characterization of biogas slurry: a pre-requisite for sustainable nutrigation in crop production

Biogas slurry serves as a useful organic fertilizer due to its substantial nutrient content, and its characterization enables the evaluation of nutrient content and its efficient utilization. This study focuses on the variations in the nutrient content of biogas slurry from different dairy farm systems located near the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) (New Delhi), Daryapur Kalan (New Delhi), and Madanpur (Uttar Pradesh) during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. The study reveals significant variations in macronutrient levels, particularly nitrogen (N), which showed variations exceeding 3% and a wider range of almost 6% during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. Spatial differences between dairy farms also contributed to the variance, with more than 10% differences observed between IARI and Daryapur Kalan and between IARI and Madanpur. Phosphorus (P) remained stable across seasons with spatial variation, while potassium (K) exhibited a reverse trend. Correlation analysis highlighted strong positive associations between N content and phosphorus (0.959), organic carbon (0.954), pH (0.813), and electrical conductivity (0.806). The findings suggest the use of biogas slurry has a potential to reduce the synthetic fertilizer consumption of N, P, and K by approximately 8.78%, 11.01%, and 14.33%, respectively and using them for further for nutrigation

Weed dynamics, wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield and irrigation water-use efficiency under conservation agriculture

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impacts of a 12-year old conservation agriculture (CA)- based pigeon pea-wheat system on weeds, wheat crop, and resource use during winter (rabi) 2021–22. Results indicated that surface retention of residue irrespective of ZT permanent bed and N dose led to significant reduction in weed interference at 60 DAS. CA-based systems reduced weed density and dry weight considerably than CT. CA- based systems led to significantly higher wheat grain yield (by 11.6–14.9%) and net B:C (by 24.0 –28.0%) than CT, and PFBR100N and PBBR100N were slightly superior to others. PBBR100N and PBBR75N had lower irrigation water use and significantly higher irrigation water productivity than CT. Contrast analysis showed that wheat yield and water productivity were comparable between 75% N and 100% N in CA, indicating a saving of 25% N under CA

Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification

Sensor-based decision tools provide a quick assessment of nutritional and physiological health status of crop, thereby enhancing the crop productivity. Therefore, a 2-year field study was undertaken with precision nutrient and irrigation management under system of crop intensification (SCI) to understand the applicability of sensor-based decision tools in improving the physiological performance, water productivity, and seed yield of soybean crop. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes [I1: standard flood irrigation at 50% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) (FI), I2: sprinkler irrigation at 80% ETC (crop evapo-transpiration) (Spr 80% ETC), and I3: sprinkler irrigation at 60% ETC (Spr 60% ETC)] assigned in main plots, with five precision nutrient management (PNM) practices{PNM1-[SCI protocol], PNM2-[RDF, recommended dose of fertilizer: basal dose incorporated (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM3-[RDF: basal dose point placement (BDP) (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM4-[75% RDF: BDP (50% N, full dose of P and K)] and PNM5-[50% RDF: BDP (50% N, full P and K)]} assigned in sub-plots using a split-plot design with three replications. The remaining 50% N was top-dressed through SPAD assistance for all the PNM practices. Results showed that the adoption of Spr 80% ETC resulted in an increment of 25.6%, 17.6%, 35.4%, and 17.5% in net-photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), respectively, over FI. Among PNM plots, adoption of PNM3 resulted in a significant (p=0.05) improvement in photosynthetic characters like Pn (15.69 µ mol CO2 m−2 s−1), Tr (7.03 m mol H2O m−2 s−1), Gs (0.175 µmol CO2 mol−1 year−1), and Ci (271.7 mol H2O m2 s−1). Enhancement in SPAD (27% and 30%) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (42% and 52%) values were observed with nitrogen (N) top dressing through SPAD-guided nutrient management, helped enhance crop growth indices, coupled with better dry matter partitioning and interception of sunlight. Canopy temperature depression (CTD) in soybean reduced by 3.09–4.66°C due to adoption of sprinkler irrigation. Likewise, Spr 60% ETc recorded highest irrigation water productivity (1.08 kg ha−1 m−3). However, economic water productivity (27.5 INR ha−1 m−3) and water-use efficiency (7.6 kg ha−1 mm−1 day−1) of soybean got enhanced under Spr 80% ETc over conventional cultivation. Multiple correlation and PCA showed a positive correlation between physiological, growth, and yield parameters of soybean. Concurrently, the adoption of Spr 80% ETC with PNM3 recorded significantly higher grain yield (2.63 t ha−1) and biological yield (8.37 t ha−1) over other combinations. Thus, the performance of SCI protocols under sprinkler irrigation was found to be superior over conventional practices. Hence, integrating SCI with sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management could be a viable option for enhancing the crop productivity and enhance the resource-use efficiency in soybean under similar agro-ecological regions

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Not AvailableAn experiment consisting of five multitier cropping systems comprising square planting (4m x 4m) of two fruit trees (papaya and drumstick), Gliricidia or No-Gliricidia planting on plot boundary with ginger as intercrop and a control (farmers' practice of broadcast sown fingermillet) was carried out for four years (2007-2010) on 2% sloping land having sandy clayey red lateritic soil in Eastern Ghat Highland zone of Odisha. Planting papaya and drumstick along with ginger arrested the runoff by 6.05 and 5.24% compared to control. Gliricidia planted on boundary of papaya + ginger and drumstick + ginger plots decreased soil loss by 8.64 and 7.88 t/ha, respectively, over control. These multitier cropping systems reduced nutrient losses (N, P and K) by about 50%. Gliricidia improved ginger yield by 11.5% under papaya + Gliricidia and 8.6% under drumstick + Gliricidia system over papaya and drumstick sole treatments. Maximum net returns ( 2.29 lakhs ha-1) were obtained from ginger + papaya + Gliricidia with benefit: cost ratio of 1.67. Farmers' practice (broadcasting of finger millet) was not found economical as it gave benefit: cost ratio below 1 and allowed higher runoff, soil and nutrient losses.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableConservation agriculture (CA) involving minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent soil cover with crop residue mulch and diversified crop rotation, plays a crucial role in sustainable crop production. A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rabi seasons (November–April) of 2018–19 and 2019–20 in wheat involving maize-wheat-mungbean system to assess the effects of CA on crop productivity, nutrient uptake and profitability. Results showed that CA-based practices with residue retention resulted in higher yield as well as economic benefits when compared to conventional tillage (CT). Wheat yield parameters in CA were greater than in CT. The CA-based practices improved wheat grain and straw yield to the tune of 7.2–27.1% and 5.7–20.6%, respectively compared to CT practice. The CA-based practices with residue retention with 100% N registered 9.7% higher cost of cultivation, but resulted in 24.3–35.1% higher net returns than CT. Among CA-based practices, the plots under permanent broad bed with residue with 100% N (PBB+R+100N) resulted in ~27% higher wheat grain yield compared to CT. The PBB+R+100N plots also had considerably greater nutrient uptake and net returns than CT plots. The CA practice involving PBB+R+100N was found to be more productive, remunerative and could potentially boost up the wheat productivity and profitability under maize-wheat-mungbean system in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableConservation agriculture (CA) involving minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent soil cover with crop residue mulch and diversified crop rotation, plays a crucial role in sustainable crop production. A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rabi seasons (November–April) of 2018–19 and 2019–20 in wheat involving maize-wheat-mungbean system to assess the effects of CA on crop productivity, nutrient uptake and profitability. Results showed that CA-based practices with residue retention resulted in higher yield as well as economic benefits when compared to conventional tillage (CT). Wheat yield parameters in CA were greater than in CT. The CAbased practices improved wheat grain and straw yield to the tune of 7.2–27.1% and 5.7–20.6%, respectively compared to CT practice. The CA-based practices with residue retention with 100% N registered 9.7% higher cost of cultivation, but resulted in 24.3–35.1% higher net returns than CT. Among CA-based practices, the plots under permanent broad bed with residue with 100% N (PBB+R+100N) resulted in ~27% higher wheat grain yield compared to CT. The PBB+R+100N plots also had considerably greater nutrient uptake and net returns than CT plots. The CA practice involving PBB+R+100N was found to be more productive, remunerative and could potentially boost up the wheat productivity and profitability under maize-wheatmungbean system in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThere has been a growing trend for achieving sustainable crop intensification without jeopardizing land productivity through conservation agriculture (CA). The CA has paved the way for cultivation of pulses in diverse cropping systems. A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2018-19 and 2019-20 cropping cycle with summer greengram in maize-wheat system to assess the effects of CA on weed interference, crop productivity and resource use efficiency. Results showed that CA-based practices with residue retention resulted in a considerable reduction in weed density and biomass when compared to conventional tillage (CT). Greengram yield parameters in CA were higher than in CT. The permanent broad bed (PBB) with residue retention (R) and recommended 100% N application (100N) (∼PBB+R+100N) gave ∼56% higher greengram grain yield than CT with considerably higher water productivity, nutrient-use efficiency and net returns. The adoption of CA practice involving PBB+R in greengram led to higher weed control efficiency and was more productive, remunerative and irrigation water-use efficient. Thus, it could potentially boost up the greengram productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency under maize-wheat-greengram system in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableConservation agriculture (CA) can promote sustainable crop intensification. However, weeds are the major constraints under CA, in the initial years. Nitrogen (N) management under CA is also crucial. A field experiment was undertaken to study the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and CA with and without residue using 75 and 100% recommended N dose on weed dynamics and crop productivity during 2018-19 and 2019-20 in maize (Zea mays L.) under maize - wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) cropping system at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Nine CA-based treatments and one conventional tillage were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. CA-based zero till (ZT) bed planting systems with residue retention resulted in significant reductions in total weed density and biomass compared to CT. Permanent broad bed with residue using 75% N resulted in 34% lesser weed density than CT. Among the CA-based treatments, the permanent broad bed with residue using 100% N resulted in 22% higher maize grain yield than CT (5.72 t/ha) with 36% higher net returns than CT. However, the permanent broad bed with residue using 75% N was found comparable in this regard and may be recommended for sustainable maize production under the maize-wheat-greengram system in north-western Indo Gangetic Plains of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDeveloping suitable crop rotations and crop establishment practices is an important mechanism that can enhance factor productivity and sustainability of an agro-ecosystem. However, the impact of Conservation Agriculture (CA) on alternate crop rotation of the most-dominant but tillage- and input-intensive rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori & Paol) rotation of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India is not elaborately studied. Hence, we evaluated the effect of CA on crop and water productivity, profitability, and soil carbon status in rice-mustard (Brassica juncea L.) rotation in the North-western IGP of India for five consecutive years. Eight treatments comprising of tillage, crop residue, brown manuring (BM) using Sesbania bispinosa, and summer mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] (SMB) were adopted in rice - mustard cropping system. The conventional transplanted puddled rice (TPR) - conventional till mustard (CTM) (∼TPR-CTM) rotation resulted in significantly higher rice grain yield than zero till direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR) – ZT mustard (ZTM) system with or without crop residue in all five years. However, in this regard, the CA-based ZT rice – mustard - SMB with residue [ZTDSR-ZTM-ZTSMB ( + R)] was comparable with it during first three years, but was inferior to it in 4th and 5th years. The ZTDSR-ZTM-ZTSMB ( + R) had overall 10.9 % lower five-year mean rice yield than that in the TPR-CTM system. This CA-based system gave significantly higher mustard grain yield in all the years (except first year), and the five-year mean mustard yield was 30.3 % higher than in the TPR-CTM. Another CA-based double cropping system having ZTDSR + BM – ZTM ( + R) was comparable with TPR-CTM in all the years and resulted in 27.6 % higher five-year mean mustard yield than the TPR–CTM practice. The ZTDSR-ZTM-ZTSMB ( + R) practice gave 44 % (including SMB) and 8.1 % (excluding SMB) higher system productivity and significantly higher sustainable yield index of the rice-mustard system compared with the TPR-CTM practice. The ZTDSR-ZTM-ZTSMB ( + R) practice encountered significantly lower weed density in mustard in all five years than TPR-CTM system. The cost-benefit analysis revealed that this CA practice fetched higher net returns by INR 53,000 and 21,400 ha−1 from the rice-mustard system with and without SMB, respectively over the TPR-CTM system. Again, this ZTDSR -ZTM- ZTSMB ( + R) system led to an increase in irrigation water productivity by 27.8 % in rice and 35.1 % in mustard, and the total water (irrigation + rainfall) productivity by 35.7 % in mustard crop compared with the TPR-CTM system (P ≤ 0.05). This CA-based rice-mustard system resulted in significantly higher very labile (∼50.6 %) and labile (∼47.7 %) carbon concentration at 0–5 cm depth of soil compared to the conventional TPR-CTM system. The CA system being productive, profitable, and resource-efficient can be recommended for North-western IGP of India and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics and sub-tropics. It can be adopted with suitable site-specific refinement in South-Asian countries, where decline in crop productivity and soil health is a consistent pervasive problem due to continuous cereal-cereal rotation.Not Availabl