<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted at Central Farm Unit situated in Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam during Rabi 2011-12 to evaluate the effect of spacing (120&times;30cm, 120&times;20 cm, 90&times;30 cm and 90&times;20 cm) and fertilizer levels (12.5:25:12.5, 18.75:37.5:18.75, 25:50:25, 31.25:62.5:31.25 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha and control) on yield attributes of Dhaincha. The results revealed that spacing adopted with 120&times;30 cm significantly recorded higher number of pods/plant (53.7), pod length (19.94 cm), number of seeds/pod (28.52) and seed yield (585 kg/ha) of Dhaincha. In respect of different fertilizer levels, application NPK @ 31.25:62.5:31.25 kg/ha perceived higher yield attributes (number of pods/plant (48.8), pod length (17.98), number of seeds/ pod (29.28) and seed yield (609 kg/ha). Combination of spacing (120&times;30 cm) with fertilizer levels of 31.25:62.5:31.25 kg/ha significantly recorded higher seed yield of 705 kg/ha.</div>

Effect of spacing and fertilizer level on yield attributes of Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

<div>Background: The present investigation is an attempt to study the effect of different harvesting and threshing methods on germination and seedling vigour of dhaincha. The use of a combine harvester to harvest dhaincha will be an effective alternative method that has not been widely tried. However, work on different methods of harvesting and threshing of dhaincha is limited. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate the impact of various harvesting and threshing methods on germination and seedling vigour of dhaincha. 
 
Methods: This study was conducted at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The dhaincha crop was harvested and threshed using four different methods viz., manual harvesting and manual threshing, manual harvesting and threshing by tractor treading, manual harvesting and mechanical threshing&nbsp;and harvesting and threshing by combine harvester. The resultant seeds were tested for mechanical damage and germination potential. The experiment was laid in completely randomized block design. Germination was tested by roll towel method using 100 seeds in four replications. Germination percentage, root and shoot length were measured in seven days after sowing from ten randomly selected seedlings in each replication. For the estimation of dry matter production, ten seedlings were selected at random and kept in a hot air oven maintained at 85oC for 24 hours after measuring their root and shoot length and vigour index was calculated. Mechanical damage to seeds was observed by ferric chloride test. Seed recovery per cent was calculated based on the 100 kgs of dhaincha seeds were cleaned and graded treatment wise using cleaner cum grader and the seeds retained on the bottom sieve were weighed and expressed as per cent of total quantity of seed. 
 
Result: The results revealed that the significant difference was found among the different harvesting and threshing methods. The seeds harvested and threshed by manual method recorded 85 per cent germination followed by seeds harvested manually and threshed by mechanical threshing (84 per cent) and seeds harvested manually and threshed by tractor treading (80.5 per cent). The lowest germination of 80.0 per cent was recorded by combine harvesting. From this study, it could be inferred that combine harvester is a modern method for harvesting of dhaincha that saves time and labour when compared to all other methods.</div>

Harvesting and Threshing Methods on Seed Quality of&nbsp;Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

A field study was conducted to evaluate the topping and nutrient management techniques on dhaincha during rabi 2011-12. Experiment was laid out in split-plot design by assigning topping practices (45, 60, 75 DAS and without topping) in main plots and nutrient sources (NPK, NPS, NKS, NPKS and without nutrients) in sub plots. The treatments were replicated thrice. The results revealed that topping on 45 DAS has registered more number of branches (10.2), dry matter production (6934 kg ha-1) at harvest stage. With fertilizer application of NPK and Sulphur significantly recorded the higher number of pods plant-1 (51.30), number of seeds plant-1 (28.90), test grain weight (19.90 g) and seed yield (599 kg ha-1) which was comparable with application of NPK alone. On the basis of economics, application of NPK recorded higher net return and B: C ratio followed by application of NPKS which was comparable with each other when topping was done on 45 DAS.

Influence of topping and nutrient management practices on growth&nbsp;and seed yield of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

Background: Direct wet seeding offers the advantage of faster and easier sowing, reduced labour and less drudgery, 7-10 days earlier crop maturity, more efficient water use and higher tolerance to water deficit, less methane emission, and often higher profit in areas with assured water supply. There is a possibility of intercropping green manures during early growth stage of rice with less interference on the crop growth, which also smothering the weed growth to enhance the productivity of wet direct seeded rice. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2019 and 2020 at the Department of Rice, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to study the time of sowing and method of sowing under wet direct seeded rice. The experimental trial was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments comprising of time of sowing in main plot viz., normal sowing time in first fortnight of July and delayed sowing time in second fortnight of July. In sub-plot, method of sowing viz., broadcasting method, line sowing method, paddy drum seeder method, paddy + dhaincha drum seeder method and direct planting method.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that, sowing of wet direct seeded rice during first fortnight of July month by using Paddy + Dhaincha drum seeder method recorded higher grain yield of 5707 kg/ha which resulted 33 per cent higher yield than that of broadcasting method.

Effect of Time and Method of Sowing in Wet Direct Seeded Rice

Background: Weed infestation causes serious problem in the corn production and due to limiting land area different planting patterns are required to be adopted to meet the corn demand. A field trail was conducted during spring 2023 and 2024 on agricultural farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab on &ldquo;The effect of planting patterns and weed control treatments on weed biomass, growth and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.). 
 
Methods: The study was laid out in split plot design with 3 planting methods i.e. flat planting with single row, flat sowing with paired row and ridge planting as main plots and five weed control treatments that is atrazine + pendimethalin f. b. straw mulching (6t ha-1), pendimethalin + intercropping cowpea f. b. earthing up and straw mulching, inter. dhaincha f. b. earthing up + straw mulching, two hand weeding and unweeded (control) in sub plots with four replications. Variety PMH10 was used is recommended for the spring season under Punjab conditions. 
 
Result: The results indicated that among the planting patterns, the ridge planting produced significantly higher grain yield during both the years as compared to flat sowing with single row and paired row which was due to better growth parameters in ridge sowing. However, the weed biomass was found significantly less in the ridge planting compared to flat planting. Among subplot treatments, the higher grain yield was obtained in treatments that are pendimethalin + intercropping of cowpea f. b. earthing up + straw mulching and intercropping dhaincha f. b. earthing up + straw mulching which were statistically at par with one another during 2023 and 2024 and both treatments were found to be significantly better than all other treatments. The grain yield was significantly less in the unweeded (control) treatment as compared to other treatments. The weed density and biomass was significantly less in the treatments in which mulching was used as compared to two hand weeding and the control treatments.

Effect of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Treatments on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize

<div>Background: The field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 experimental farm of Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.), India. The experiment comprised of ten treatments (maize-wheat, maize-wheat + gobhi sarson, dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean, sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean, maize + soybean chickpea + linseed, rice-wheat + gram, hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid), hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem, babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean and okra-turnip-tomato) which was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was conducted during October 2018-October 2019 (Kharif and Rabi seasons) at an elevation of 1100 m amsl at a latitude of 32&deg;04&rsquo;N and longitude of 76&deg;35&rsquo; E at Bhadiarkar Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK HPKV, Palampur, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The soil of the experimental area falls in the order of Alfisols with Paleudalf as the great group as per the Udic Moisture Regime. During kharif and rabi season the crop varieties were applied with the recommended dose of N, P2O5 and K2O (kg ha-1). The source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash. 
 
Result: In terms of food for human consumption, highest yield was obtained under the okra-turnip-tomato cropping sequence followed by dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean and sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean. While in terms of fodder yield, highest was obtained under hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid) cropping sequence followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem. Highest maize grain equivalent yield was obtained with okra-turnip-tomato crop sequence. All other treatments remained superior in comparison to the maize-wheat crop sequence. Maize + soybean-chickpea + linseed emerged to be the best treatment with the highest benefit cost ratio. The treatment comprising okra-turnip-tomato sequence also proved to be the second-best treatment followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid). Sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean recorded the highest uptake of the available nutrients from soil which was followed by babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean. There was net loss of available nutrients although the loss was less in the sequences with multiple crops during the year. The treatments had no significant effect on the pH and organic carbon content of the soil.</div>

​Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was carried out during kharif, 2012 to summer, 2013 under rainfed condition in the organic block of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to find out the effect of different green manuring practices and other organic sources of nutrient on productivity of scented (joha) rice and their residual effect on linseed crop. Results revealed that though green manuring practice had no significant effect on yield and yield attributes of both scented (joha) rice and succeeding relayed linseed crop but higher values were recorded with the incorporation of dhaincha as in-situ green manuring in respect of all the yield attributes and yield of both the main and succeeding crops. Among various organic sources of nutrient, application of enriched compost produced the highest yield in both scented rice as well as linseed crop. The increase in grain yield of scented rice with enriched compost over the other sources of organic nutrient and control treatment ranged from 7.33 to 30.04 per cent. The corresponding increase in case of linseed crop ranged from 29.1 to 39.8 per cent which reflected better residual effects of both the sources of nutrient on linseed crop. The residual available nutrient contents in soil after harvest of linseed crop showed similar trends and increased all the major nutrients over their initial status.</div>

Influence of green manuring and organic sources of nutrient application on scented rice (Oryza sativa) - linseed (Linum usitatissimum) cropping system

Background: Considering the importance of organic farming and growing demand for organically produced foods, field studies were conducted for 14 kharif years (2007 to 2020) on a black clayey vertisol soil at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, India to study the influence of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity, grain quality, soil health and economic returns of super fine rice variety BPT-5204.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in non replicated two block design with each block of an area of 2000 m2&nbsp;each. The organic plot was green manured with Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) and FYM @ 10 t ha-1, Castor cake and Neem cake were applied @ 500 kg ha-1 as basal dose of manure and topdressing of vermicompost was added as a nutrient sources. In in-organic plot, 100% RDF (240:80:80 kg NPK ha-1) was applied. 
 
Result: The pooled mean grain yield of paddy grown in vertisols under K.C. Canal ayacut under organic farming treatment was 4.04 t/ha while it was 5.6 t ha-1 under control (Inorganic/Conventional farming) and the straw yield also was 5.07 t ha-1 under organic farming and 7.96 t ha-1 under control. The average yield increase in in organic plot was 27% and for straw it was 35%. The organic carbon status was highest in organic plot (0.60%) when compared to the inorganic plot (0.36%).

Effect of Fourteen Years of Long Term Organic and Inorganic Fertilization on Productivity, Soil Quality and Grain Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Background: Monocropping of rice, widely practiced in many regions of India, has resulted in declining yield and soil health degradation due to continuous nutrient depletion, disrupted nutrient cycling and adverse changes in soil physicochemical properties. This unsustainable practice also reduces biodiversity and increases the vulnerability of food production systems to biotic and abiotic stresses. In view of these constraints, crop diversification through the inclusion of legumes and the adoption of sustainable production strategies are essential. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in a Split-Plot Design (SPD) with three replications. Main plots included sole rice and rice + dhaincha, while sub-plots had six nutrient management treatments combining inorganic fertilizers, Enriched Farm Yard Manure (EFYM), vermicompost, AM fungi and foliar nutrients. 
 
Result: The results revealed that incorporation of daincha (M2) along with half dose of recommended nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer + quarter dose of recommended nitrogen from enriched farmyard manure + quarter dose of recommended nitrogen from vermicompost + AM fungi and foliar nutrients of 0.5% urea, 1% FeSO4&nbsp;and 0.5% ZnSO4&nbsp;(S6) increased the system productivity by 42.5%, system profitability by 49.0%compared to application of inorganic fertilizer alone. This integrated approach enhances yield, boosts productivity and profitability and ensures environmental sustainability in aerobic rice-blackgram cropping system. The aerobic rice-blackgram cropping system offers a sustainable alternative to traditional rice cultivation, addressing issues like climate resilience and declining soil fertility. 
&nbsp;

Decoding Resource Efficient Strategies to Enhance Ecosystem Services in Aerobic Rice-blackgram Cropping System

<div>Background: The decomposition rate of biomass depends significantly on soil properties and on the design of the machine used for incorporation. Well-chopped biomass, incorporated in a productive zone with uniform mixing, gives better results instead of placing longer stalks on or near the field surface. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: In the field experiments conducted during 2017 and 2018, interaction of soil and biomass, placed at various depths in sandy loam soil, was studied 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 days after incorporation (DAI). Further, mechanical incorporation of green manure crop with innovative two-bottom combined tillage machine, namely biomass incorporator, was studied at different levels of soil type, plant height, forward speed and rotor speed. 
 
Result: The depth range of 70-140 mm was found most appropriate for incorporation to achieve a higher decomposition rate. Plant stem of 50 days old dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) crop decomposed by 13.0, 31.5, 29.25, 24.25 and 22.05% at depth range 0-70 (D1), 70-140 (D2), 140-210 (D3), 210-280 (D4) and 280-350 (D5) mm, respectively 10 DAI. About 55% of the biomass, incorporated at depth range D2, got decomposed 40 DAI. The average depth of placement of biomass with biomass incorporator ranged between 92 and 131 mm. The soil pulverization index and crop mixing index with the machine varied from 3.58 to 30.65 mm and 93.62 to 98.05%, respectively. The surface profile coefficient with the machine ranged between 24.2 and 50.6 mm. The efficient mixing of the biomass into the soil with thorough coverage of pulverized soil was achieved with rational field undulation.</div>

Effect of spacing and fertilizer level on yield attributes of Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

Harvesting and Threshing Methods on Seed Quality of Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

Influence of topping and nutrient management practices on growth and seed yield of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

Effect of Time and Method of Sowing in Wet Direct Seeded Rice

Effect of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Treatments on Growth and Yield of Spring Maize

Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India

Influence of green manuring and organic sources of nutrient application on scented rice (Oryza sativa) - linseed (Linum usitatissimum) cropping system

Effect of Fourteen Years of Long Term Organic and Inorganic Fertilization on Productivity, Soil Quality and Grain Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Decoding Resource Efficient Strategies to Enhance Ecosystem Services in Aerobic Rice-blackgram Cropping System

Performance Indices of a Combined Tillage Machine for the Incorporation of Leguminous Green Manure at Appropriate Depth