<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is an important annual legume used as green manure. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are apparently effective in suppressing nematodes. It is pertinent to know the growth stage during which pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentrations become higher. 
 
Methods: The period of days necessary for flowering, pod growth and the concentrations of one pyrrolizidine alkaloid in pods at different stages in five sunn hemp cultivars with May and July seeding were investigated. 
 
Result: Findings indicated that flowering of the two cultivars occurred later than the others, especially for May seeding. The pods grew to 20 mm length in 6-11 days from flowering. Then the pods grew to maximum size (40 mm length) in only few days. A main pyrrolizidine alkaloid in sunn hemp seed, trichodesmine, increases as pod size grow; then it increases considerably as pod mature. However, it in matured pod hull contains similar values of whole immature pod. These results demonstrate that both day-neutral and short-day cultivars with July seeding shorten the days to first flower and indicate that cutting after 10 days from first flowering is effective for increasing pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration.</div>

Variety and Seeding Time Influence on Flowering Characteristics and Trichodesmine Content in Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: In recent times, termites have gained importance in agriculture as a pest in wheat crop. Famers are using chemical pesticides for the management of termites, which eventually leads to degradation of soil, insecticide residue, pest resurgence, air pollution, water pollution and also affects human health. In this regard, botanicals as an effective alternate to insecticides in the management of termites is crucial. The root and leaf extracts of Crotalaria burhia Buch-Ham and Anacardium occidentale L. against termites was evaluated. 
Methods: Field experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of botanicals viz., Crotalaria burhia Buch-Ham and Anacardium occidentale L. along with Indigenous technologies, biofungicide and standard chemicals against Odontotermes obesus Rambur in wheat. An experiment was laid at the Research Farm, Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology, Gurgaon, Haryana during two seasons, i.e., November 2014-March 2015 and during December 2015-April 2016.&nbsp; 
Result: The test botanicals incorporated along with indigenous technologies and widely recommended termiticides assessed for their efficacy against O. obesus in wheat at two locations proved to be effective in the order of imidacloprid 17.8 SL at 350 ml ha-1&gt; chlorpyrifos 20 EC at 2 l ha-1 &gt; B. bassiana 2x108 at 500 ml ha-1 &gt; C. burhia root extract (10%) at 50 l ha-1 &gt; A. occidentale leaf dust (5%) at 25 kg ha-1 &gt; irrigating plots &gt; neem oil (2%) &gt; dusting salt at 25 kg ha-1.</div>

​​Evaluation of Botanicals Crotalaria burhia Buch-Ham and Anacardium occidentale L. against Termite Odontotermes obesus Rambur (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Wheat

<div>Background: Sunnhemp, a rapid growing, high biomass yielding bast fibre crop has a tremendous potentiality in biofuels sector as a lignocellulosic substrate. In order to capitalize the new found area there is a need to identify high biomass and fibre yielding sunnhemp genotypes. The present study provides details of morphological diversity and geographical distribution pattern of Indian sunnhemp accessions.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A total of 42 germplasm accessions collected from ten different states were evaluated for fibre yield and attributing traits in April-June cropping season. Based on phenotypic data agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Geographical coordinates of germplasm collection site were utilized to derive the spatial genetic diversity pattern for green biomass yield and fibre yield. 
 
Result: Phenotypic evaluation revealed significant genetic variability among the genotypes for biomass and fibre yield leading to identification of several promising accessions. Cluster analysis and PCA grouped the 42 sunnhemp accessions into three clusters. Cluster II and III are highly divergent harboring contrasting phenotypes. DIVA-GIS approach identified eastern Rajasthan, western Jharkhand and border area between Bihar and Jharkhand as sites of highest sunnhemp diversity.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Diversity Assessment of Indian Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) Accessions for Enhanced Biomass and Fibre Yield using Geographic Information System Approach</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Sunnhemp is a very important green manuring crop. The crop is utilized for various purposes like reducing soil erosion, improving soil&nbsp;properties and recycling plant nutrients. The knowledge regarding the crop is still not exploited, due to lack of research in this crop. So, the present study was conducted to know the extent of genetic diversity present in the crop. From the divergence analysis, it may be concluded that the genotypes belonging to different clusters separated by high estimated statistical distance may be used in the hybridization programme for developing high green biomass yielding sunnhemp varieties. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat with thirty sunnhemp genotypes to know the extent of genetic diversity by D2 analysis in a randomized block design during late Kharif 2017. 
 
Result: The analysis was conducted for D2 analysis and was concluded from D2 analysis that, the characters viz., days to 50% flowering, fresh weight of root nodules per plant, fresh weight of plant, root nodules per plant, leaf length, root length, dry weight of root nodules per plant, C: N ratio, internodes per plant, plant height and stem diameter contributed towards the genetic divergence. Traits like primary branches per plant and leaf area didn&rsquo;t contribute towards genetic divergence. The thirty genotypes were grouped into seven clusters following Tocher&rsquo;s method (Rao, 1952). The cluster III was largest having eleven genotypes. Cluster IV and cluster II was second largest which contained seven and five genotypes respectively. Cluster I and cluster V contained three and two genotypes respectively Cluster VI and VII had only one genotype. The intra cluster distance was more in cluster III and the inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster V and cluster VII.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Genetic Divergence in Sunnhemp [Crotalaria juncea (L.)]</div>

<div>Background: Sunnhemp is an important bast fibre crop suitable for diversified uses. Recently, its cultivation has started expanding considerably throughout the world particularly for its potential usage in sustainable farming and in reducing use of synthetic fertilizers from agricultural system. Seed production and fibre production are mutually exclusive in sunnhemp because of different photo-period requirements for these purposes and destructive fibre extraction process. The major limitation in sunnhemp popularization cultivation is availability of seed. In this context, present study was undertaken to identify proper sowing time and suitable cultivars, and find correlation of seed yield with weather parameters for Telangana state of India.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Three dates of sowing and six cultivars were tested in split-plot design over two years i.e., 2019-20 and 2020-21. Pooled data over two years were analyzed for important seed yield related traits.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The analysis of variance revealed significant influences of sowing dates, cultivars and their interaction on majority of the traits. Among three sowing dates, 2nd week of September was the best suited for seed yield and related traits. The cultivar SUIN 037 recorded maximum seed yield followed by SUIN 053. Among different combinations of treatment, the cultivars SUIN 037 and SH 4 sown during 2nd week of September resulted in maximum and comparable seed yield. The correlation and regression studies showed that the weather parameters had significant influences on yield attributes of sunnhemp.</div>

Assessment of Seed Yielding Potential of Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) under Southern Plateau Zone of India

Background: Legume is an essential alternative approach in the organic agricultural system to produce ecologically safe nitrogen (N),&nbsp;while restoring soil health in an appropriate mode to supply nutrients for subsequent crops. The experimental study was conducted in the summer (March) 2024 at Tamil Nadu rice research institute, Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu to study the residual effect of Sunnhemp varieties either alone or incorporation along with rice stubbles and their impact on nutrient availability of soil, soil organic carbon and yield attributes of succeeding rice in sunnhemp-rice cropping system. 
 
Methods: The field trial was set up in a split-plot design with fivefold replication during the summer of 2024, with the main plot consisting of two Sunnhemp varieties (V1&nbsp;- ADT 1, V2&nbsp;- CO 1) and the subplot comprising of Rice residues (W1&nbsp;- Without residues, W2&nbsp;- With residues). The treated Sunnhemp varieties were ADT 1 and CO 1; the succeeding rice variety was ADT 57. 
 
Result: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the two varieties in terms of nutrient release pattern. The residual effect of Sunnhemp variety (ADT 1) with residues (V1W2) contributed sustained release of nitrogen (143.4 kg/ha), phosphorus (22.9 kg/ha) and potassium (56.4 kg/ha). The increase in soil organic carbon from the initial level was also 0.036% throughout the crop growth, which has greatly influenced the growth and yield attributes and eventually resulted in the highest grain and straw yield of the succeeding rice crop.

Residual Management of Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) Varieties in Releasing Soil Nutrients and Their Impact on Succeeding Rice Crop

<div style="text-align: justify;">Commercial prospects of sunnhemp inspired present study to understand geographical distribution pattern(s) and to scale agro-morphological diversity spectrum of forty-four sunnhemp accessions naturalized across diverse habitats of India. Field experiment revealed broad spectrum diversity for all the 11 agro-morphological traits. Wider range of plant height (110.50 to 173.17 cm), number of pods per plant (35.33 to 143.00), seeds per pod (6.33-15.17g) and seed yield per plant (8.27-29.43g) highlighted the adequacy of present genetic resources to improve sunnhemp for diversified applications. Principal component analysis of the agro-morphological characters identified the first PC with 1109.6 eigen value explaining 61.70% of total variation followed by PC-II (22.9%) and PC-III (11.1%). In PC-I significant contribution was made by traits like NLP, NPP and PH. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis grouped all accessions into four distinct seed producing clusters irrespective of their origin. Cluster wise mean values suggested that cluster-II is the best with outstanding trait values for majority of traits. DIVA-GIS based analysis identified accessions from Rajasthan, Western Gujarat and Jharkhand with high diversity index for number of leaves/plant. But, accessions from North West Jharkhand and Maharashtra with highest diversity index for seed yield/plant.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">DIVA-GIS based insight into geographical distribution and diversity spectrum of Indian sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) accessions suitable for diversified applications</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The soil nematodes can affect the crops in various ways. The plant-parasitic nematodes can lead to severe yield losses. The extent of crop yield loss depends on the susceptibility of the variety or host tolerance, population density of the nematode and various environmental variables. However, no tool is available for the prediction of nematode population buildup in soil therefore it has been difficult to issue advisories for timely management of these pathogens. Here we developed a method to accurately predict the nematode population buildup in soil for its timely management.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Nematode population index of a plant-parasitic nematode Tylenchorynchus was taken from two crops i.e. mung bean and crotalaria. The model was developed considering various weather variables to predict the population of the Tylenchorynchus in the fields of mung bean and crotalaria. Weather parameters such as maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and sunshine hours were considered for developing the model for Tylenchorynchus population prediction. Stepwise regression method was applied to predict the nematode population.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The regression analysis between estimated and observed values of Tylenchorynchus population gave the R2 value as 0.98 for mung bean and 0.87 for crotalaria. Well timed prediction can help the growers to apply the required management practices to make it beneficial economically. This method can be extended to predict the population buildup of other serious nematode pests of crops.</div>

<div>Prediction of Nematode Population Dynamics using Weather Variables in Leguminous Crops</div>

Background: The integration of green manuring and nitrogen fertilization is a sustainable approach to enhance soil fertility and improve crop quality. Specifically, in crops like Basmati rice, these practices are known to influence critical parameters such as protein content and the availability of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This study aims to evaluate the effects of various green manuring crops and nitrogen application levels on both soil nutrient status and grain quality of Basmati rice. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during the 2023 kharif season at the Agricultural Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, using a split-plot design. Four main plots were used: M0&nbsp;(Control, no green manuring), M1&nbsp;(Sesbania aculeata), M2&nbsp;(Crotalaria juncea) and M3&nbsp;(Vigna unguiculata), along with four nitrogen levels as sub-plots: N1&nbsp;(0 kg ha-1), N2&nbsp;(15 kg ha-1), N3&nbsp;(30 kg ha-1) and N4&nbsp;(45 kg ha-1). Key parameters such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability in the soil, alongside protein, nitrogen content in the rice grains, were assessed to figure out the impact of these treatments. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The application of green manures, particularly in Sesbania aculeata (M1), resulted in significant improvements in both the protein content of Basmati rice grains and the availability of essential nutrients in the soil. The treatments involving Vigna unguiculata (M3) and Crotalaria juncea (M2) also had positive effects, through to a lesser degree. Among the nitrogen levels, the highest protein content and nutrient availability were observed at 45 kg ha-1&nbsp;nitrogen application followed by 30 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N3), 15 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N2), whereas the control treatment with 0 kg ha-1&nbsp;(N1), with no nutrient input, exhibited the lowest values. These findings underline the critical role of integrating green manuring and nitrogen fertilization to enhance both soil fertility and basmati rice quality. 
&nbsp;

Synergistic Effects of Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Fertility and Grain Quality of Basmati Rice

Background: Nitrogen is a vital macronutrient critical for plant tissues and development, making a substantial contribution to the synthesis of proteins, chlorophyll and other essential cellular components. Green manuring, combined with varying nitrogen levels, provides an integrated approach to enhancing soil health and enhancing nutrient cycling. This study evaluates the influence of green manuring and various amounts of nitrogen were studied on the basmati rice for crop production, concerning on growth, grain yield. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted during the kharif season 2023 at LPU, Punjab. A split-plot experimental design was used, with three replications for each treatment. The experimental treatments include four main plots: M0: Control (no green manuring), M1: Sesbania aculeata, M2: Crotalaria juncea, M3: Vigna unguiculata and four sub plots: N1: 0 kg ha-1, N2: 15 kg ha-1, N3: 30 kg ha-1, N4: 45 kg ha-1. 
&nbsp; 
Result: A significantly greater plant height (cm), number of tillers m-2, dry matter accumulation (q ha-1), number of effective tillers plant-1, number of grains panicle-1, length of panicle (cm) and grain yield (q ha-1) was recorded (39.7 q ha-1)under the execution of S. aculeata and with the 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (45 kg ha-1). The findings suggest that incorporating green manuring accompanied by optimal nitrogen levels enhances soil fertility, stimulating plant growth, increases basmati rice yield. These practices are fundamental for sustainable crop production and should be integrated into holistic nutrient management to ensure long-term agricultural productivity.