<div>Background: In Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh long duration varieties of pigeonpea (160-180 days) is grown during rabi under rainfed conditions. Late or advancement of north east monsoon, prolonged breaks and early cessation of rainfall may have devastating effects on pigeonpea yield in rainfed areas of Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh even if the mean annual rainfall is normal. In this context, there is a need for introduction of suitable super early varieties of pigeonpea which are ideal even under changing climatic situations, with suitable crop geometry to enhance the yields of pigeonpea.&nbsp; 
 
Method: A field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Agricultural Research Station, Podalakur, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore andhra Pradesh, to find out the suitable super early variety of pigeonpea and their response to different crop geometries. The present field experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 4 varieties of pigeonpea (V1: ICPL 20338; V2: ICPL 20325; V3: ICPL 11255; V4: LRG 52) as main plot treatments and 3 crop geometries (S1: 30 cm x 15 cm; S2: 45 cm x 15 cm); S3: 60 cm x 15 cm) as subplot treatments and replicated thrice. 
 
Results: Super early variety ICPL- 20325 recorded the highest mean grain yield (1098 kg ha-1) among the four varieties of pigeonpea tested. Among the three crop geometries tested significantly the highest grain yield (930 kg ha-1) was recorded at 45 cm x 15 cm. Super early varieties ICPL- 20325 (1256 kg ha-1), ICPL- 11255 (930 kg ha-1) and ICPL- 20338 (817 kg ha-1) recorded higher mean grain yield at crop geometry of 45 cm x&nbsp;15 cm. LRG-52 (996 kg ha-1) variety recorded higher grain yield at crop geometry of 60 cm x 15 cm.</div>

Response of Super Early Varieties of Pigeonpea to Crop Geometry under Rainfed Conditions

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of crop geometry and irrigation levels on sugarcane under drip irrigation at Main Sugarcane Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Kodinar during 2011-14. The treatment consisted of three crop geometry (90 cm normal planting, paired row planting (60: 90 cm) and paired row planting (60: 120 cm) and three drip irrigation levels (0.5 PEF, 0.7 PEF and 0.9 PEF) and with an extra treatment (control) &nbsp;having surface irrigation (90 cm) at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio. Experimental results indicated that paired row (60: &nbsp;90 cm) planting gave significantly higher cane yield (101.04 t/ha) over 60: 120 cm paired row planting (88.82 t/ha) and remained at par with 90 cm row spacing (97.34 t/ha). Drip irrigation level of 0.9 PEF gave significantly higher cane yield (108.63 t/ha) over 0.7 PEF (96.01 t/ha) and 0.5 PEF (82.56 t/ha). Juice quality parameters like brix, sucrose, purity and sugar recovery percent were not affected significantly due to either crop geometry or different drip irrigation levels. Significantly higher cane yield was recorded under drip irrigation (95.74 t/ha) compared to surface irrigation (76.86 t/ha). The total water use was not affected due to different crop geometries. Water use decreased constantly in 0.7 and 0.5 PEF compared to 0.9 PEF and accordingly WUE increased.

Effect of crop geometry and drip irrigation levels on sugarcane&nbsp;in South Saurashtra region of India

<div>Background: Cotton is one of the important commercial crops cultivated in India for fibre and oil. The average cotton productivity of India is lower compared to other countries. Among the improved agronomic practices, important yield contributing agro techniques are crop geometry and fertilizer application. Drip irrigation and use of water soluble fertilizers (WSF) by drip system is a recommended practice to increase both water and nutrient use efficiency. Taking this aspect, a field investigation was carried out to find the resource use efficiency, productivity and profitability of inter specific Bt cotton hybrid with different levels crop geometry and drip fertigation. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at TNAU, Coimbatore during 2013 and 2014 for two consecutive years. The experiment was laid out in a strip plot design with three replications. The treatments in main plot consisted of four crop geometry levels (120 x 60 cm, 120 x 90 cm, 150 x 60 cm and 150 x 90 cm) and sub plots consisted of four nutrient levels viz., 75 %, 100 %, 125 % of recommended dose as water soluble fertilizer (WSF) through drip system and as conventional practice. Resource use efficiency (water, nutrient), seed cotton yield and profitability of the system were recorded. 
 
Result: The experiment revealed that the fertilizer use efficiency and the efficiency of individual nutrient (partial factor productivity) for the crop geometry of 120 x 90 cm and 75% RDF were higher in both the years. &nbsp;The crop geometry of 120 x 90 cm in combination with 125% RDF effectively utilized the water as indicated by its water use efficiency and comparable results was also obtained with 100% RDF. &nbsp;The mean (2012-13 and 2013-14) seed cotton yield of 2,713 kg ha-1 in 120 x 90 cm kg ha-1 for 125% RDF was 41.5 per cent higher compared to their lower counterpart. Their interaction was significant, consequently the treatment M2S3 (120 x 90 cm and 125% RDF) recorded higher mean (both years) seed cotton of 3,176 kg ha-1 which was nearly 93.7 per cent increase over conventional irrigation and fertilizer application (M4S4). Here M1S2 could be considered as alternate option as it maintained similarity with the best treatment. The gross and net return was estimated to be higher with spacing of 120 x 90 cm with 125 % RDF and however the benefit cost ratio was higher with 120 x 90 cm with 100 % RDF followed by 120 x 60 cm with 100 % RDF.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Resource Use Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of Bt Cotton (interspecific) as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Drip Fertigation</div>

Background: Rapid expansion in population increased the global food demand. To meet this surge in demand for food and to ensure food and nutritional security addition of pulses in the cropping system is a visible alternative. Pulses intensifies cropping intensity, enhances health and fertility status of the soil and acts as a good source of dietary protein etc. However, due to a wide gap between the potential and actual yield of pulses in rainfed areas. Hence, identification and adoption of best management practices has become a pre-requisite. The present study was undertaken as the information available on foliar nutrition and different crop geometries on performance of different blackgram genotypes in rainfed condition is meagre. 
 
Methods: In this investigation conducted during kharif&nbsp;season of 2018 at Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, SKUAST-Jammu, Rakh Dhiansar. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 3 factors and 3 replications. The factor-1 consisted of three blackgram cultivars (Uttara, PU-31 and Mash-114), factor 2 consisted of two crop geometries (30&times;10 cm and 45&times;10 cm) and factor-3 consisted of three foliar nutrition (Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS, Foliar spray of 1.5% KCl at flowering and Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering). 
 
Result: The results from the present investigation indicated that adoption of Mash-114 at 30&times;10 cm crop geometry, supplemented with foliar application of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering could be a viable technological proposition under rainfed conditions of Jammu.

Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Crop Geometry on Cultivars of Blackgram in Shiwalik Foothills of Jammu

<div>Background: Pigeonpea being highly branching and indeterminate growth habit responds very well to crop geometry. Hence to achieve potential yields, it is important to maintain optimum plant population which can effectively utilize available moisture, nutrients and solar radiation. The plant growth regulators are also known to enhance the source sink relationship and stimulate the translocation of photo assimilates, thereby increase the productivity. 
 
Methods: A 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 comprised of four crop geometries as 90 cm x 20 cm, 120 cm x 20 cm 60-120 cm x 20 cm and 75-150 cm x 20 cm and sub plot treatments were five treatments on foliar application of plant growth regulators i.e. NAA @ 40 ppm, Mepiquat chloride @ 50 g a.i. ha-1, Brassinosteroids @ 0.1 ppm, Chlormequat Chloride @ 75 g a.i ha-1 and control. 
 
Result: The crop geometry of 120 cm x 20 cm and 75-150 cm x 20 cm recorded higher values of all yield parameters followed by crop geometry of 60-120 cm x 20 cm. While the seed, straw and biological yield of pigeonpea as well as highest net realization of Rs. 72072 ha-1 was obtained with crop geometry of 60-120 cm x 20 cm followed by 90 cm x 20 cm. Among the plant growth regulators foliar application of Brassinosteroids @ 0.1 ppm (G3) tended to recorded higher yield parameters, seed yield and fertility coefficient of pigeonpea as well as highest net realization followed by foliar application of NAA @ 40 ppm.</div>

Production Potential of Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Plant Growth Regulators

<div style="text-align:justify">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.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Various crop geometries shown remarkable effect on growth and developement of pigeonpea. The crop geometry of 60-120 cm &times; 20 cm and 90 cm &times; 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&nbsp;and dry matter accumulation plant-1 crop geometry of 120 cm &times; 20 cm and 75-150 cm &times; 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 &times; 20 cm as the lower per plant yield was compensated by higher plant population. The crop geometry 60-120 cm &times; 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 &times; 20 cm and crop geometry 75-150 cm &times; 20 cm, but it was found at par with crop geometry 90 cm &times; 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.&nbsp;</div>

&nbsp;​Morphophenological Characters and Productivity of Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Plant Growth Regulators

<div>Background: Pearlmillet is conventionally cultivated by farmers either broadcasting or uniform row spacing of 45 cm where it is difficult to accommodate an intercrop. Modified planting pattern provides additional space for intercrop component as well as harvest better solar energy in the system. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted in Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during Kharif (July-October) of 2019. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and were replicated thrice. Different crop geometry viz. 45 x 15 cm, 60 x 15 cm, 30/60 x 15 cm and 30/90 x 15 cm were adopted in main plots, whereas intercropping [S1- Greengram, S2-Sesame and S3- No intercrop] were allotted in subplots. 
 
Result: Pearlmillet grown under paired row sowing 30/90 x 15 cm recorded higher growth attributes and yield parameters. Grain and stover yields was also recorded higher in the above-mentioned crop geometry. In intercropping system higher growth and yield parameters was observed in sole crop treatment and it was on par with greengram intercropping system. Pearlmillet grown under paired row sowing 30/90 x 15 cm (M4) + greengram (S1) recorded higher equivalent yield.</div>

Crop Geometry and Intercropping of Legume and Oilseed in Irrigated Pearlmillet

<div style="text-align: justify;">The field experiment carried out during kharif seasons of 2015 and 2016 at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior; Madhya Pradesh indicated that HG 2-20 (V2) was significantly superior under weed control efficiency, crop growth and yield attributes, seed yield and economics over HG 563 (V1). 30 cm x 10 cm (S1) crop geometry observed significantly effective over 45 cm x 6.5 cm (S2). Weed free situation (W5) was significantly superior in similar parameters; while lower values were observed under weedy plot (W6). Among herbicidal treatments; Imazethapyr 35% WG + Imazamox 35% WG (Pre-mix) @ 40 g a.i./ha (W4) followed by Imazethapyr 10% EC @ 75 g a.i./ha (W3) were achieved statistically at par and significantly effective results over rest of the treatments. In case of interaction; the significantly superior values were registered under interaction of HG 2-20 (V2) with 30 cm x 10 cm (S1) to weed free situation (W5) over rest of the interactions. Among interaction of herbicidal treatments with varieties and crop geometries; Imazethapyr 35% WG + Imazamox 35% WG (Pre-mix) @ 40 g a.i./ha (W4) combined with HG 2-20 (V2) and 30 cm x 10 cm (S1) earned significantly effective over other interactions.&nbsp;</div>

The efficacy of weed management practices with crop geometries on growth, yield and economic viability of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L). Taub.] varieties

<div>Background: An ideal crop geometry is essential for obtaining optimum plant stand in the field as the yield of a crop depends on the final plant density with effective utilization of growth resources. Conjunctive use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures is important to maintain and sustain soil fertility and crop productivity. Nutrient Management system is gaining importance among the farmers and it is advisable to optimize the use of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manures for getting high yields of better quality besides keeping the production cost at sustainable level. The current field study was aimed to evaluate the impact of various crop geometries and nutrient management treatments on yield and quality of transplanted finger millet. 
 
Methods: A Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural college farm, Bapatla during the kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 and the experimental design was split plot with three replications. The main-plot factor comprised of three crop geometries with different age of seedlings and seven nutrient management practices in subplots.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The experimental results indicated that significantly higher grain and straw yields with good quality grain of finger millet were recorded in the spacing of 30 &times; 10 cm fb 30 &times; 30 cm spacing and among the nutrient management approaches application of FYM @ 10 tonnes ha-1 + 125% RDF along with wooden log treatment (S6) recorded the highest yield and however was statistically comparable with 125% of RDF + FYM (S5).</div>

Effect of Crop Geometry and Nutrient Management Approaches on Yield and Quality of Transplanted Finger Millet

Background: One of the possible agronomic ways for increasing productivity of pigeonpea is adoption of suitable crop geometry with nipping practices for getting suitable crop architecture for optimum utilization of resources. This investigation was planned to study the influence of crop geometry and nipping practices on production potential of pigeonpea.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted at experimental farm of the Department of Pulses, TNAU, Coimbatore, during kharif season of 2021 and 2022. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with each four main and sub plot treatments. The main plot treatments comprised of four crop geometries while thesub plot treatments were nipping practices which includes no nipping, mechanical nipping and chemical nipping. 
 
Result: Various crop geometries shown remarkable effect on growth and development of pigeonpea. The crop geometry of 90 cm x 30 cm and 90 cm x 45 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 per plant, leaf area, number of branches per plant and dry matter accumulation per plant crop geometry of 120 cm x 45 cm and 120 cm x 30 cm were found superior as compared to othertreatments and were at par with each other. The yield per hectare was increased at wider crop geometry 120 cm&nbsp;x 45 cm as the higher per plant yield was compensated by lesser plant population. The crop geometry 120 cm x 45 cm produced significantly higher seed yield (1187, 1275 and 1231 kg ha-1 during 2021, 2022 and pooled mean respectively) over crop geometry of 90 cm x 30 cm and crop geometry 90 cm x 45 cm, but it was found at par with crop geometry 120 cm x 30 cm. Among the nipping practices, growth characters viz., plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area, number of branches and dry matter accumulation per plant as well as phenological characters were enhanced with the foliar application of chlormequat chloride @500 ppm during both the years of study. Foliar application of chlormequat chloride @ 500 ppm also recorded significantly highest seed yield (1152, 1237and 1195 kg ha-1 during 2021, 2022 and in pooled data, respectively), while it was at par with foliar application of mepiquat chloride @ 500 ppm.

Productivity and Morpho-phenological Characters of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Nipping Practice