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Not AvailableIN THIS STUDY THE AUTHORS PRESENT THE RESULTS OF A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED ON AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM WITH SUBABUL TREES AND CROPS OF WHEAT AND BAJRA TO EVALUATE THE TREE- CROP INTERACTIONS AND THEIR PRACTICAL FEASIBILITY IN RESTORING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF DEGRADED RAVINES IN AGRA REGION. ECONOMICALLY, THE SYSTEM HAVING TWO ROWS OF SUBABUL TREES ALTERNATED WITH 6 ROWS OF BAJRA AND 12 ROWS OF WHEAT PROVED MOST PROMISING , GIVING HIGHEST NET RETURNS OF RS 668 per ha.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableContinuous use of diammonium and single super phosphates having traces of cadmium (02 to 200 ppm) is contaminating agricultural soils. In order to assess the levels of cadmium contamination of semiarid Indo-gangetic soils in Yamuna ravines and crop quality, a green house study was conducted in oat crop with four levels (mg kg-1 of soil) each of cadmium (Cdo: 0, Cd1: 12.5, Cd2: 25.0 and Cd3: 50.0) and sulfur (So: 0, S1: 12.5, S2: 25.0 and S3: 50.0) in factorial randomized block design. Results revealed that increasing Cd doses significantly decreased grain (3.98 g pot-1 in Cd0 to 2.50 g pot-1 in Cd3) and straw (5.59 g pot-1 in Cd0 to 4.07 g pot-1 in Cd3) yields. Increasing Cd doses significantly enhanced Cd (g pot-1) in biological harvest (2.7 in Cd0 to 7.3 in Cd3 in grain and 5.8 in Cd0 to 23.2 in Cd3 in straw) and decreased S (g kg-1) in biological harvest in treatment (0.29 in Cd0 to 0.21 in Cd3 in grain and 0.18 in Cd0 to 0.13 in Cd3 in straw) and interactions (0.32 in Cd0 to 0.18 in Cd3 x S0 x S3 in grain and 0.20 in Cd0 x S3 to 0.11 in Cd3 x S0 in straw), over various S doses. Thus, Cd inhibited plant biochemical processes and metabolism and enhanced sink and consumption of reduced sulfur as indicated by lower S in grain and straw. Increasing S enhanced S (mg kg-1) in grain (0.21in S0 to 0.28 in S3) and straw (0.14 in S0 to 0.17 in S3) under varying Cd stress confirming mitigation in uptake, accumulation and toxicity of Cd as well as higher S translocation from aerial parts to grain. Cd recovered in biological harvest in Cd0 revealed that semi arid alluvium soils are already considerably cadmium polluted. Singnificantly higher productivity (g pot-1) was recorded in Cd0 and S2 for grain and straw i.e. 3.98 and 3.59 and 5.99 and 5.52, respectively. Among interactions, singnificantly higher productivity (g pot-1) was recorded in Cd0 x S2 for grain (4.34) and straw (6.51). Cd3 x S3 produced minimum grain (2.37 g pot-1) and straw (4.20 g pot-1) yield. Thus, S partially mitigated Cd stress upto 25 mg kg-1 of soil and also maintained higher oat yields.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDespite investigations suggesting that agro-geo-textiles (AGT) could be an effective and inexpensive soil conservation method, limited quantitative data are available on erosion-reducing effects of AGT under field conditions and effects on crop productivity. Field experiments (probably first of its kind) were conducted on two crop rotations during 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Dehradun on a 4% land slope in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Seven treatments were executed to evaluate the conservation effects of AGT prepared from giant-cane (Arundo donax) and maize (Zea mays L.) straw; and comparisons were made with coir-geo-textile, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and grass weed vegetative filters (all placed at 1 m vertical intervals, within 100 m length plots in the rainy season maize crop) on crop productivity, profitability, runoff and soil loss reduction, and moisture conservation. During two years of experimentation, a total of 35 runoff events were observed in maize crops in rainy months (June to September). Results revealed that the highest (p < 0.05) maize grain yield (2.8 Mg ha−1) was recorded in Arundo donax AGT treatment (conservation agriculture plus), which was 36% higher than maize crops raised without AGT (conservation agriculture only). This treatment also reduced runoff (24%) and conserved soil losses (8.22 t ha-1  year -1) across 18 runoff events, resulting in more soil moisture conserved in the soil profile than without AGT (35 runoff events). Productivities of succeeding pea (Pisum sativum var. hortense) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Paol.) crops were enhanced by 122 and 36%, respectively, which resulted the higher net return (736 US$ha−1) than in a maize-pea-wheat system in conservation agriculture only (128 US$ ha−1). In summary, conservation tillage practices along with AGT (conservation agriculture plus) are more profitable than conservation tillage practices alone on 4% land slopes of IHR.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDespite investigations suggesting that agro-geo-textiles (AGT) could be an effective and inexpensive soil conservation method, limited quantitative data are available on erosion-reducing effects of AGT under field conditions and effects on crop productivity. Field experiments (probably first of its kind) were conducted on two crop rotations during 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Dehradun on a 4% land slope in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Seven treatments were executed to evaluate the conservation effects of AGT prepared from giant-cane (Arundo donax) and maize (Zea mays L.) straw; and comparisons were made with coir-geo-textile, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and grass weed vegetative filters (all placed at 1m vertical intervals, within 100m length plots in the rainy season maize crop) on crop productivity, profitability, runoff and soil loss reduction, and moisture conservation. During two years of experimentation, a total of 35 runoff events were observed in maize crops in rainy months (June to September). Results revealed that the highest (p < 0.05) maize grain yield (2.8 Mg ha−1) was recorded in Arundo donax AGT treatment (conservation agriculture plus), which was 36% higher than maize crops raised without AGT (conservation agriculture only). This treatment also reduced runoff (24%) and conserved soil losses (8.22 t ha-1 year -1) across 18 runoff events, resulting in more soil moisture conserved in the soil profile than without AGT (35 runoff events). Productivities of succeeding pea (Pisum sativum var. hortense) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Paol.) crops were enhanced by 122 and 36%, respectively, which resulted the higher net return (736 US$ha−1) than in a maize-pea-wheat system in conservation agriculture only (128 US$ ha−1). In summary, conservation tillage practices along with AGT (conservation agriculture plus) are more profitable than conservation tillage practices alone on 4% land slopes of IHR.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn on farm study was conducted during summer season of 2004-5 and 2005-6 on cotton in semi arid region of Agra with three levels of supplementary irrigation (I : irrigation at 21 DAS; I : irrigation at 42 DAS and I : I + I ) and plant geometry 1 2 3 1 2 (S : 60 x 30; S : 60 x 45 and S : 60 x 60 cm) in split plot design in cotton-wheat 1 2 3 cropping sequence. Residual effect of irrigation and plant density in cotton was evaluated on succeeding wheat. The yield performance of cotton-wheat system was compared with pearl millet-wheat raised on nearby farmer's fields in terms of pearl millet equivalent. Results showed that I recorded significantly higher mean 1 seed cotton yield (1546 kg ha-1), total biomass yield (3791 kg ha-1), net return (Rs 32265 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.87) than I and I in cotton-wheat system. 2 3 Although, I recorded significantly higher mean cotton stalk yield (2319 kg ha-1), 2 wheat grain (3791 kg ha-1) and straw (4898 kg ha-1) yield but mean seed cotton yield (1389 kg ha-1) and monetary returns (net return: Rs 28984 ha-1 and benefit cost ratio: 1.79) was minimum among different irrigation treatments tested in cotton-wheat system. S recorded significantly higher mean seed cotton yield 3 (1615 kg ha-1), total biomass yield (3859 kg ha-1), main branches plant-1 (15.9), balls plant-1 (36.2) and wheat grain yield (3810 kg ha-1) due to lower competition on behalf of more space plant-1. S also recorded significantly higher mean net return 3 (Rs 40011 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.92) than other plant geometry treatments in cotton-wheat system. Among interactions, I S recorded significantly higher 1 3 seed cotton yield (1694 kg ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.96) but variations in wheat grain yield and net returns under different interactions of irrigation and plant geometry were not significant. Cotton-wheat produced higher wheat yield (3786.5 kg ha-1) than pearl millet-wheat (3416 kg ha-1) system. Cotton-wheat also produced higher mean pearl millet equivalent (8270 kg ha-1) than pearl millet-wheat (2394 kg ha-1) in the kharif season.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSloping croplands require different nutrient management practices than levelled lands in order to check soil degradation. In order to check erosion vis-a vis degradation, fertilization of maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Paol.) crop rotation with organic manure supplemented with inorganic fertilizer is required. A seven year fixed plot field experiment under rainfed conditions was conducted comprising seven management practices in both maize and wheat crops: control (0), 100% NPK through inorganic fertilizers (1000), 100% N through farmyard manure (FYM) (0–100), substitution of 50% N through four different organic manures viz., FYM (50 +50 FYM), vermicompost (50 +50 VC), poultry manure (50 +50 PM) and in-situ green manuring (50 +50 GM) of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.). Crop productivity, runoff coefficient, soil loss, and post harvest soil fertility parameters were assessed to estimate the effects of combined use of inorganic and organic sources of nutrients. The results indicated that 50 +50 (FYM) could maintain significantly higher (p<0.05) productivity of maize (18–74%) and wheat (10–77%) than 100-0 in different years. However, 50 + 50 (GM) resulted in higher reduction of runoff (16–40%) and soil loss (13–50%) than 100-0 in different years, leading to higher conservation of natural resources. Maize grain yield was significantly negatively correlated with run-off (r 2 =0.16 with p =0.005) and soil loss (r 2=0.26 with p=0.0001). Our study concluded that combined use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures particularly FYM or GM may be considered as a feasible and environment-friendly option for soil conservation.Not Availabl