<div>Background: Okra is an important vegetable crop in India, Method of fertilization also plays an important role in supplying the nutrient to the plants because, the efficacy of fertilizers applied in soil being low due to various losses and fixation, mainly in area of problematic soil. Water and fertilizers are the two important inputs which are used scientifically and judiciously through precision farming technologies to increase productivity, profitability and nutrient use efficiency in okra seed yield and quality.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiments were conducted during kharif 2016 and kharif 2017 to study the effect of precision farming technologies including fertigation and black polythene mulching to know the crop growth, yield, quality of seeds and root studies in okra seeds var. Arka Anamika and at ICAR-IIHR Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replication and four treatments each with mulch and&nbsp;on mulch&nbsp;viz., 100:50:75 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 100:50:100&nbsp; N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1&nbsp;T3-150:75:112.5 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 T4- 150:75:150 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 compared with soil application treatments. &nbsp; 
 
Result: Application of water soluble fertilizer @ T4-150:75:150 NPK kg/ha through fertigation either mulch (14.05q/ha) or non mulch (11.83q/ha) recorded significantly higher seed yield than fertilizer through soil application (9.92 q/ha).Similarly significantly higher value of Absolute Growth Rate (AGR) Crop Growth Rate (CGR) and root character were observed in the NPK fertigation treatment with or without mulch than the soil application of fertilizers (NPK soil application @ 100:50:100kg per ha (T9) and NPK soil application @ 150:75:150kg per ha (T10). Significantly higher root parameter tap root length (21.03cm), average length of primary roots (64.63cm), number of primary roots (10.83 nos), fibrous roots arising from main stem (26 nos) and root dry weight (23.07 g/plant) were recorded in the T4-150:75:150 NPK kg ha-1 through fertigation (WSF) with mulch than the fertigation without mulch and fertilizer applied through soil.</div>

<div>Effect of Fertigation and Mulching on Root Studies and Crop Growth Indices for Seed Production in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]</div>

<div>A&nbsp;mulch&nbsp;is a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of&nbsp;soil. Mulches are used for various reasons in agriculture but water conservation and erosion control are the most important objectives particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Other reasons for use of mulching include soil temperature modification, weed control, soil conservation and after decomposition of organic mulch add plant nutrients, improvement in soil structure, increase crop quality and yield. Conservation of soil moisture by application of mulches becomes essential for profitable cultivation of the crop under rainfed condition of semi-arid ecosystem. In spite of no assured irrigation in these regions, the moisture conservation technique is not in practice. Mulches not only conserve soil moisture but also impart manifold beneficial effects, like suppression of extreme fluctuation of soil temperature and reduction of water loss through evaporation, resulting in more stored soil moisture, maintenance of soil fertility, suppression of weed growth, improvement in growth and yield. The requirement of water through mulch can further be reduced by using locally available organic materials as mulches which not only save irrigation water but also conserves soil moisture.</div>

Effect of Mulches on Crop, Soil and Water Productivity: A Review

<div>Background: Present study, aimed to assess effect of organic and inorganic crop mulching on physical, physiological and biochemical quality of fresh cowpea beans. 
 
Methods: Cowpea (cv. Kashi Kanchan bush-type) was grown during two consecutive seasons from April 2018 to July 2019 under four different mulching treatments. Mulching treatments included no mulch; wheat straw mulch (organic mulch); black mulch and silver mulch. Black and silver mulches were made of 25 microns LDPE sheet. Cowpea was grown as per standard agronomic practices and physical, biochemical and postharvest quality parameters of beans were evaluated. 
 
Result: Results indicated that bean length (28.7cm) was highest under silver mulch whereas bean thickness (9.10mm), width (9.29mm) and 100 bean weight (1094.5g) were highest under organic mulch. Likewise, protein content (28.63%), total phenolic content (17.0&micro;g GAE/100g) and total antioxidant activity (46.84&micro;mol trolox equiv./100g) were found highest in beans produced under organic mulch. Overall results demonstrated that crop mulching could be used for enhancing the antioxidants, phenolic content of cowpea beans.</div>

<div>Variation in Postharvest Quality Attributes of Fresh Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Beans Harvested from Different Crop Mulching Regime</div>

<div>Background:&nbsp;Weeds are the major biological constraint in okra due to its slow initial growth and wider row spacing. Due to severe crop weed competition, weeds removed considerable amount of nutrients from the soil. Competition exists between the crop and weed for nutrients results in nutrient deficiencies in crop. Hence the present experiment is formulated to assess the effect of stale seedbed, mulching and mechanical weeding on nutrient availability, nutrient uptake by crop and weed in okra. 
 
Methods: Experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Rabi 2020-21. Design adopted for the study was RBD with two factors. The first factor was seedbed preparation (S) and the second factor was weed management (W). Stale seedbed (S1) and normal seedbed (S2) were the two different seedbed preparation methods and dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb wheel hoe weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb hand weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W3), wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4), hand weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W5) and weedy check (W6) were the six different weed management options tried. Soil samples were collected after the harvest of the crop to determine the nutrient availability. Weed samples at 30 and 60 DAS and plant samples at harvest were analyzed to determine the NPK content and respective uptake of nutrients were calculated by multiplying the nutrient content with DMP. 
 
Result: Stale seedbed significantly enhanced the dry matter production and nutrient uptake by okra at harvest and lowered the nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS. Compared to non-stale, stale seedbed recorded significantly higher fruit yield. Among the weed management, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, recorded the lowest total weed dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS and resulted in the highest NPK uptake by crop and fruit yield. Uncontrolled weed growth resulted in a loss of 81.33, 18.16 and 50.84 kg N:P:K ha-1&nbsp;at 30 DAS and 102.09, 57.90 and 55.31 kg N:P:K ha-1 at 60 DAS, respectively. Nutrient removal by weeds was the lowest in wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and the highest in weedy check. It could be concluded that, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS was the best option for the management of weeds, higher nutrient availability and uptake and yield in okra.</div>

Nutrient Availability and Nutrient Uptake by Crop and Weed as Influenced by Stale Seedbed, Mulching and Mechanical Weeding in Okra

<div style="text-align:justify">As the population of India is continuously rising so we have to adopt some means of sustaining our agricultural growth and it can be done through conservation farming. The best way out is the adoption of the age old practice of mulching in our agricultural fields. Mulching is an agricultural and horticultural technique in which the use of organic materials and synthetic materials for the purpose of increasing soil productivity is involved. In rainfed area, judicious use of water is essential for improving crop productivity. Therefore, mulching has been advocated as an effective means for conserving soil moisture. This technique is very useful in protecting the roots of the plants from heat, cold or drought or to keep fruit free from diseases and insect pests. Mulching is an old age technique to conserve soil moisture, checks evaporation, check the weed growth, moderate soil temperature and provide congenial microclimatic conditions for plant growth and development. This technology is a boon for the horticulture crops not only for increasing growth, development, yield but also a method for soil and water conservation. This review paper deals with the various effects of mulching on plants, soil as well as on soil microflora. This technology has brought a great revolution in the agriculture especially for water conservation and proves to be a fastest growing plasticultural technique in the world.</div>

​Effect of Mulching on Crop Production under Rainfed Condition: A Review

Background: Understanding the complex relationship between soil characteristics and crop production is crucial for sustainable agriculture practices. Soil physicochemical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM) and nutrient content (e.g., NPK) significantly influence crop yield. Additionally, the application of straw mulch can impact soil moisture retention, there by affecting crop growth and productivity. Intercropping system offers potential advantages in terms of water use efficiency (WUE) and productivity compared to monoculture system. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted using a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications. The study included six treatments with different cropping system: T1 = Monoculture soybean(planting size 30&times;10 cm), T2 =&nbsp; Monoculture maize (planting size 45&times;15 cm),T3 = Maize + soybean (2:2) line sown,T4 = Maize intercropping with soybean (2:2) + wheat straw (5 tha-1), T5 = Maize intercropping with soybean (2:2) + maize straw (5 tha-1), T6 = Maize intercropping with soybean (2:2) + mustard straw (5 tha-1). 
 
Result: Water use efficiency (WUE) varied among treatments, with the highest WUE (9.44) observed in application of maize straw mulch 5t ha-1, indicating 42.57% increases compared to monoculture maize and 42.17% increases compared to monoculture soybean cultivation. Similarly, superior grain yield (19.30 q ha-1), pod yield (16.29 q ha-1), intercrop yield (35.59 q ha-1), maximum maize equivalent yield (54.33 q ha-1) when comparing the results with and without straw mulch applied to maize and soybean crops. Maize and soybean intercropping system demonstrated superior land utilization efficiency (LER:1.04 to 1.24) and productivity metrics.

Maximizing Water Use Efficiency (WUE), Land Utilization Efficiency (LUE) and Competitive Indices of Maize and Soybean Crops Through Intercropping Pattern with Straw Mulching

Background: Conservation tillage and residue mulch plays an important role in controlling weed and enhancing wheat yield. These practices reduce soil disturbance and suppress weeds, improving soil health and moisture retention. This leads to better crop growth and higher wheat productivity. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A experiment was conducted during rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22 at MARS, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad to assess the effect of conservation tillage and residue mulch on weeds in wheat. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 10 treatment combinations, including a randomized complete block design to compare outside control with treatment combinations. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Experimental results revealed that conventional tillage significantly reduced density of weeds. Conventional tillage decreased the total number of weeds and dry weight of weeds and higher weed control efficiency at 20, 40, 60 DAS and harvest stage, respectively. Conventional tillage significantly higher grain yield resulted lower weed index over minimum tillage. The high infestation of weeds under minimum tillage resulted in the lowest weed control efficiency among the tillage practices. Residue mulch application of glyricidia recorded lower number of weeds and dry weight of weeds. An increase in grain yield was registered with residue mulch application of glyricidia, maize, soybean and groundnut as compared to no residue. Glyricidia residue mulch recorded higher values of weed control efficiency and lower weed index. Based on the findings, it was concluded that conventional tillage with glyricidia residue mulch reduced population of mixed weed flora diversity and resulted in higher grain yield of wheat.

Effect of Conservation Tillage and Residue Mulch on Weed Dynamics and Productivity of Wheat Crop

<div>Background: Freshwater in sufficient quantity and adequate quality is a prerequisite for human societies and natural ecosystems. To adequately feed 9.3 billion people in 2050, consumptive water use (i.e. transpired water) by all food and fodder crops needs to increase from its present estimated level of 7000 km3/year to 12,586 km3/year. However, fresh water resources are increasingly getting scarce because of increased competition among a multitude of users. Getting agriculture to perform with progressively smaller allocation of renewable water resources will remain a challenge on global scale. To meet the challenge there is an urgent need to improve the crop water productivity to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. 
 
Methods: An experiment was carried out at village Menawali, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during both kharif and rabi seasons to assess productivity, economics, N-uptake and water use of different crops. An area of 187 ha comprising 25 farmers irrigated by common irrigation channels were selected to collect the information. The information required i.e. soil, crop management, growth, phonological, yields, water balance, N-uptake and water use efficiency of each crops were collected from 15 farmers. Bt-cotton and clusterbean of kharif and wheat and Indian mustard in rabi were prominent crops, cotton-wheat, cotton-mustard, clusterbean-wheat and clusterbean-mustard were major cropping sequences of the study region. 
 
Result: In kharif season, Bt-cotton gave higher economic yields than clusterbean and amongst rabi season crops, economic yields of wheat and mustard were 4255, 1778 kg/ha, respectively. The economic yield of cropping sequences varied from 3741-6514 kg/ha and were higher for cotton-wheat (6218 kg/ha), intermediate for clusterbean-wheat (5785 kg/ha) and lower for cotton-mustard (3741 kg/ha) and clusterbean-mustard (3308 kg/ha). The cotton-wheat (₹1181.2 mm) sequence had highest water use. Clusterbean-wheat cropping system recorded highest water productivity (16.5 kg/ha mm) followed by clusterbean-mustard (14.9 kg/ha mm). The clusterbean-mustard (₹456/ha mm) cropping sequence was most profitable and fetched highest net return followed by clusterbean-wheat (₹383/ha mm).</div>

Assessing Crop and Water Productivity Performance of Different Crops and Cropping Systems

<div>Background: Direct seeded rice is very much prone for weed infestation in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The aim of this trial is to find out appropriate option for improving rice 
growth and yields besides increasing nutrient uptake. 
 
Methods: A field investigation was conducted during the Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Rice variety MTU-7029 was sown with Sesbania and sunhemp cover crop bispyribac Na 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS and 2, 4 -D 0.5 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS were applied to find out best weed control practice for enhancing growth, yields and nutrient uptake in direct seeded rice. 
 
Result: Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS markedly improved plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, chlorophyll content. Consequently, Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS influenced statistically grain and straw yields. Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS recorded significantly lower nutrients (NPK and Zn) depletion by weeds and higher nutrients (NPK and Zn) uptake as compared to hand weeding at 15 and 35 DAS in rice.</div>

Impact of Mulch, Cover Crop and Herbicides on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

<div style="text-align: justify;">The use of plastic mulch in agriculture has increased dramatically in the last 10 years throughout the world. The adverse effects of plastic mulch pollution in agriculture forced the scientists to search for alternatives. Studies in Xinjiang showed that residual plastic film mulch levels of 200 kg m-2 in the topsoil (0&ndash;20 cm) affected the emergence rate of cotton seeds and reduced cotton production by 15%. Soil mulching for 5&ndash;20 consecutive years led to a 122&ndash;146% increase in the salt content of the topsoil.&nbsp;Efficiency of both plastic mulches and biodegradable mulches compared in terms of crop production, period of weed control, etc.</div>