<div>A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Imphal, Manipur, to study the performance of intercropping chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) with linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) czernj. &amp; cosson] under 2 varying preceding kharif lowland rice (Oryza sativa L) crop durations and also to evaluate the system productivity and profitability. Planting of medium duration rice variety enhanced growth and yield of rabi crops resulting in increase in system productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY) and production efficiency (PE) &nbsp;by 5.4 %, and 14.5%, respectively over planting of late duration rice variety. Seed and biological yields of chickpea, lentil, Indian mustard and linseed were higher in sole cropping than in intercropping systems. Indian mustard and linseed were found dominant and aggressive as compared to chickpea and lentil. Chickpea and Indian mustard intercropping under 4:2 ratio proved more remunerative and recorded higher yield advantage than either of chickpea and linseed or lentil and Indian mustard intercropping as judged by REY (9.7 tonnes/ha), crop productivity (39.9 kg/ha/ day) and &nbsp;net return (` 81,168/ha). Land equivalent ratio (LER) of chickpea with Indian mustard (1.10) remained at par with intercropping chickpea with linseed (1.17), however, lentil intercropped with Indian mustard had less than unity LER of 0.87.</div>

<div>Enhancing Pulse Productivity under Rice Based Production System Through Chickpea and Lentil Based Intercropping Systems in North East India</div>

<div>Background: Most of the shepherds in Telangana follow extensive rearing system, thereby intake of nutrients by the animal is minimal while grazing. In this context, Azolla, an unconventional feed with high protein and nutritive value may meet the nutritional demand of sheep and help in gaining optimum body weight at an early age in grazing system of management. Therefore, the present study was aimed to study the changes in haematological and blood biochemical parameters of lambs with azolla meal supplementation under grazing based production system. 
 
Methods: Eighteen weaner ram lambs were divided in to three experimental groups i.e., T1, T2 and T3 with six lambs in each group, such that average group weights were uniform. T1 group was control with no azolla supplementation while in T2 and T3, azolla was supplemented at the rate of 10 and 20% of dry matter intake, respectively. Duration of experimental feeding was 120 days. The mean haematological and blood biochemical studies were done by collecting the blood samples before the start, in the middle and at the end of the experiment. 
 
Result: The haematological parameters like PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC showed no significant difference between the groups. The mean total protein at the end of the experiment was significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher in T3 group as compared to T2 and T1 groups. The mean albumin value in the middle and at the end of the experiment was non significantly higher in T3 group followed by T2 and T1 group. The mean BUN value at the end of the experiment was non significantly lower in T3 group followed by T2 and T1 group.</div>

<div>Effect of Azolla (pinnata) Supplementation on the Haematological and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Deccani Ram Lambs Reared under Grazing Based Production System</div>

<div>Background: Conservation agriculture (CA), an agricultural production system with optimum inputs, high returns and sustainability while conserving environment is primarily required for command areas and rainfed uplands. CA helps to improve and conserve soil health through crop rotation, mulching, minimum field traffic and mechanical soil disturbance etc and conserve water to achieve economically and ecologically sustainable crop production. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted for two years during 2019-21 to evaluate the influence of conservation agricultural practices on the system productivity, production efficiency and energy use under legume based cropping system in a command area. Treatments comprised of four cropping systems as Groundnut - foxtail millet (C1), Groundnut - barnyard millet (C2), Daincha - foxtail millet (C3) and Daincha - barn yard millet (C4) in main plots and foliar application of organics, 3% panchagavya, 1% PPFM and 0.1% humic acid formed subplots. 
 
Result: System productivity in terms of Groundnut equivalent yield (GEY) was significantly higher (8395 kg/ha) in the Groundnut - Barnyard millet cropping system with foliar application of PPFM 1% in CA system than that of conventional method. The production efficiency was maximum in Groundnut - barnyard millet system (34.41 kg/ha/day) and Groundnut - foxtail millet recorded the highest energy use efficiency (6.8%) which shows that maximum energy was effectively utilized under the system. Daincha - foxtail millet system had highest energy productivity of 0.91 kg M/J. Thus, the conservation tillage based Groundnut - barnyard millet system recorded more system productivity, highest resource use efficiency (both production and land use efficiency) and the highest energy use efficiency.</div>

​Conservation Agriculture Practices: Impact on Productivity, Energy Utilisation and Profitability of Legume-based Cropping System

<div>Background: An intensive cropping system involving legume and vegetable crops not only highly productive and profitable but should also be stable over time and maintains soil health in present scenario. So, keeping this point in view the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the productivity, profitability and sustainability of legume entailing different ultra high intensity rice based cropping system models under irrigated sub-tropics.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, SKUAST-Jammu, Main Campus, Chatha for two consecutive years from kharif 2019 to summer season of 2021. The experiment consisting of five legume entailing rice based cropping system models of cropping intensity varying from 300-600% viz. T1: Rice (Basmati-370) - Wheat (HD-3086) - Cowpea (Lobia Super-60) having 300% cropping intensity, T2: Rice (Basmati-564) - Potato (Kufri Badshah) - Wheat (Raj-3765) - Mixed fodder (Maize+Cowpea+Charri in 2:2:1 ratio) having 400% cropping intensity, T3: Rice (SJR-129) - Knol khol (G-40) - Potato (Kufri Sindhuri) - Green gram (IPM 02-3) having 400% cropping intensity, T4: Rice (Pusa-1121) - Radish (CR-45) - Green onion (Nasik Red) - French bean (Anupama) - Okra (Seli special) having 500% cropping intensity in relay cropping from fourth crop onwards and T5: Rice (IET-1410) - Fenugreek (JF-07) - Knol khol (G-40) - Green onion (Nasik Red) - Dry onion (Selection-1) - Black gram (Pant U-19) having 600% cropping intensity in relay cropping from third crop onwards was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. 
 
Result: The results obtained under two years research study revealed that treatment T4 recorded significantly highest basmati-370 rice equivalent system productivity followed by treatment T5. Further, treatment T4 also recorded highest system cost of cultivation, system gross returns and system net returns. System soil fertility status in terms of available NPK after completion of second crop cycle was significantly affected. Among different cropping systems, significantly higher available nitrogen and phosphorus were recorded in treatment T5 system which was at par with treatment T4.</div>

Performance of Diversified Legume Entailing Ultra High Intensity Rice based Cropping System Models for Higher Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability

<div>Background: Intercropping is an effective tool to enhance productivity, biodiversity and stability of the fragile agro-ecosystem. In the era of shrinking resources, intercropping based on pulse crops like soybean can play an important role in crop diversification as well as agricultural sustainability. But, the information on soybean based intercropping systems is limited and needs to be explored for north-west India. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the effect of different soybean based intercropping systems under different planting patterns on productivity, profitability and energetics. Soybean crop was planted as sole as well as in intercropping systems viz., soybean (45 cm) + mung bean &nbsp;(1:1), soybean (45 cm) + cowpea fodder (1:1), soybean (45 cm) + groundnut &nbsp;(1:1), soybean (45 cm) + maize fodder (1:1) , soybean (60 cm) + &nbsp;mash (1:1), soybean (60 cm) + &nbsp;mung bean &nbsp;(1:2), soybean (60 cm) + &nbsp;cowpea fodder (1:2), soybean (60 cm) + &nbsp;groundnut (1:2), soybean (60 cm) + &nbsp;maize fodder (1:2) and soybean (60 cm) + maize (grain) (1:1).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The pooled results over two years elucidated that soybean equivalent yield was affected significantly by different intercropping systems. Soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) produced the highest soybean equivalent yield and it was significantly better than all other systems except soybean (60 cm) + groundnut in 1:2 row ratio. Similar trend was followed by production efficiency. Both, soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) and soybean (60cm) + groundnut (1:2) systems produced significantly higher energy productivity as compared to sole soybean. The highest gross (Rs. 98185 /ha) and net returns (Rs. 56122/ha) were obtained in soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) intercropping system whereas the highest benefit cost ratio was obtained in soybean (60 cm) + maize fodder (1:2) system.</div>

<div>Energetics, Productivity and Profitability of Soybean (Glycine max)-Based Intercropping Systems under Different Planting Patterns</div>

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2011-12 at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh to study the production potential and economics of groundnut based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with thirteen treatments comprising of six intercrops viz., pearl millet, black gram, soybean, cotton, castor and pigeon pea with groundnut in the replacement series of 2:1 row proportion and their sole crops replicated thrice. The productivity in terms of groundnut pod equivalent yield was significantly higher with groundnut + pigeon pea followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton than sole groundnut and other intercropping systems. The biological efficiency in terms of LER, LEC, ATER and CPR were also significantly recorded maximum values and indicated a modest aggressivity and CR and gave a good value for the product of RCC with groundnut + pigeon pea followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton. &nbsp;The economics of the systems also indicates that groundnut + pigeon pea was most profitable system in terms of gross return, net return, MAI, B: C ratio and MER followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton.&nbsp;

Enhancing productivity of groundnut based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions of Gujarat

<div>Background: Large area under soybean is spread over Central India. Due to short growing season, soybean fits well in a number of cropping systems and is well suited for intercropping with a number of crops resulting in better land equivalent ratio and helps in the risk aversion due to climatic uncertainties in rainfed conditions. It has increased more cropping intensity and B:C ratio (profitability). All domestic demands of the farmers pertaining to agricultural produce could not be possible to fulfill by growing crops in existing soybean-wheat/gram cropping systems. 
 
Methods: A field trial was conducted during rainy, winter and late winter seasons of the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the research farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhar, M.P. to assess comparative studies of soybean (Glycine max L.) based cropping systems for sustainable production in Malwa Plateau of Central India. There were altogether16 treatments comprising of soybean sequenced with wheat, chick pea, garlic, onion, potato and garden pea with inclusion of garlic, onion in late winter and assessed in randomized block design with four replications. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Soybean (JS 93-05) - potato (Kufri jyoti) - onion (AFLR) cropping sequence recorded the highest system productivity 177.31 q/ha) in terms of soybean equivalent yield with greater production efficiency (56.55 kg/ha/day), land use efficiency (85.89%) and sustainable yield index (0.91) while existing crop sequence viz. T3- soybean (JS 95-60) - chickpea (JG-130) recorded minimum soybean equivalent yield (42.79 q/ha) with production efficiency (22.93 kg/ha/day), use efficiency of land (56.30%) and sustainable yield index (0.50).</div>

Comparative Studies of Soybean (Glycine max L.) based Cropping Systems for Sustainable Production in Malwa Plateau of Central India

<div>Background: Rainwater harvesting is commonly practiced in areas, where the rainfall is insufficient for crop growing. Due to the intermittent nature of run-off events, it is necessary to store the maximum possible amount of rainwater during the rainy season so that it may be used as irrigation to enhance the crop productivity and farm income under soybean based cropping system. 
 
Methods: A study was carried out during 2018-2019 in Indore district of Malwa region. Rainwater harvesting tanks at on station (42&times;21&times;2.4m) and on farm (15&times;11&times;4m) were constructed for irrigation water availability. Provision of water harvesting tank increased the irrigation water availability (1781m3 and 630m3 respectively) and stored water was managed through various irrigation systems viz. rain gun, drip and flood. 
 
Result: It was resulted that the provision of water harvesting tanks enhanced the crop productivity and farm income under soybean based cropping system. Availability of irrigation encouraged the farmers to diversify the cropping pattern (soybean-chickpea, soybean -wheat). It is also clear from the study that even with smaller storage tank and through conjunctive use of ground (1164.2m3) and surface water (596m3), multiple crops (Soybean, potato, sweet corn, chickpea, onion, garlic etc.) can be grown. Soybean-Chickpea cropping system at station gave the net return of 70976 Rs/ha with B: C ratio of 3.15. Soybean-Wheat cropping system at farm gave the net return of 119000 Rs/ha with B:C ratio of 3.38.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Crop Productivity Enhancement under Soybean Based Cropping System through Harvested Rain Water in Malwa Region</div>

Background: The continuing adoption of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) and indiscriminate use of inorganic fertiliser has led to a decrease in soil fertility, an increase in multiple micronutrient deficiencies, a decrease in the water table and excessive greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the Indo Gangetic Plains. Adoption of crop diversification strategies, including legumes in cropping systems with integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources, could be a viable option for achieving higher fodder tonnage and sustainable crop production in aforesaid ecologies. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the kharif, rabi and summer seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 in a split-plot design comprising four cropping systems (CS) i.e., rice-wheat, rice-berseem, pearl millet-oats-moong bean and maize-cowpea-wheat in main plots; and four nutrient management (NM) practices i.e., 100% RDF (recommended dose of fertiliser), 100% RDF + cow urine (foliar spray), 100% RDF + PGPR (seed treatments) and 75% RDF + cow urine + PGPR were assigned in sub-plots with three replications of each treatment.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Investigations revealed that the significantly highest system productivity, net returns and higher nutrient availability were obtained under the rice-berseem cropping system with 100% RDF + PGPR treatment. The magnitude of increment in system productivity of the rice&ndash;berseem cropping system was 35.06, 57.87 and 87.29% over rice-wheat, maize-cowpea-wheat and pearl millet-oats-moong bean cropping system, respectively. The legume-based cropping system has strengthened and sustained crop productivity and profitability. The results of the present work confirmed that the adoption of legume-based crop diversification has significantly alleviated the crop yield of dairy-based farming systems.

Productivity and Profitability of Diversified Legume-based Cropping Systems in the Indo-gangetic Plains of India as Influenced by Nutrient Management

<div>Backround: Pigeon pea is suitable for intercropping with different crops like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea for increasing production, proper land utilization and maintaining soil fertility. The initial slow growth rate and deep root system of pigeon pea offers a good scope for intercropping with fast growing early maturing and shallow rooted crops. Abiotic stresses of dry land farming can be alleviated by effective moisture conservation practices. Considering these points an experiment was conducted to evaluate comparative performance of the pigeon pea based intercropping system with short durational legumes like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea under different land configurations. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at experimental farm of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, V.N.M.KV, Parbhani during kharif season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the production potential of pigeon pea based intercropping systems under various land configurations. The present investigation consisted of 12 treatment combinations comprising of three land configurations in main plot and four intercropping systems in sub plots. 
 
Result: Yield attributes and yield of intercrops was influenced significantly by different land configurations. In case of intercrops mean seed yield, mean number of pods plant-1, weight of pods plant-1, weight of seed plant-1, number seeds pod-1 and number of seeds plant-1 found to be higher in broad bed furrow than ridges furrow and flatbed method. Similarly, higher seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, harvest index of pigeon pea and pigeon pea equivalent yield was recorded with Broad bed furrows followed ridges and furrow system. Among the intercropping systems, pigeon pea + green gram intercropping systems recorded maximum seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, harvest index of pigeon pea and pigeon pea equivalent yield than other intercropping systems.&nbsp;</div>