Background: Cotton production is labour intensive in almost all the developing countries where it is picked by hand. However, due to acute labour shortage in recent times, mechanized harvesting is gaining momentum. Mechanized harvesting requires the application of defoliants, which reduces the cost of labour used for picking cotton and maximum cotton can be picked in a single pick (one picking) and providing timely sowing of next crop. So, farmers can get benefit of two crops instead of one single long duration cotton crop. Researchers have conducted various studies on defoliation in cotton using different chemicals and different defoliation methods. However, in India their usage could not be exploited much due to their limited availability. 
 
Methods: A field experiment entitled &ldquo;Studies on defoliants in high density planting cotton-greengram sequence&rdquo; was conducted during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 on clay soils at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. Crop diversification of cotton with pulses (Greengram) is an alternative cropping system for monocropping of cotton to get higher returns and high land use efficiency.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: Total cotton equivalent yield was highest with dropp ultra @ 250 ml ha-1 (D1) which was on par with Etherel @ 3000 ppm (D3) in 2018 and in pooled data. 80% boll opening recorded maximum total cotton equivalent yield, which was on par with node above cracked boll. Land use efficiency and production use efficiency were highest in late sown (80% boll opening) plots. The highest net returns and returns per rupee investment were noticed with application of defoliant dropp ultra @ 250 ml ha-1 (D1) and at 80% boll opening.

Crop Diversification of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) based Cropping System for High Resource Use Efficiency

National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of India comprising Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) is entrusted with development of high yielding, high quality and climate resilient varieties suited to different agro climatic conditions of the country along with matching production and protection technologies has taken several initiatives through its 26 and 30 commodity/theme based research institutes and crop specific All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and All India Network Projects &nbsp;to enhance productivity of different crops. The present paper discusses the genesis of AICRPs in field crops, their organization set up and operation, variety release &amp; notification mechanisms, outputs and outcomes. Multi-disciplinary and multi-location approach and success of first All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project established in 1957, led to establishment of 21 crop based All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects (AICCIPs) and 2 All India Network&nbsp;&nbsp; Projects (AINPs) beginning with wheat (1961) and rice (1965). Later on, AICCIP was rechristened as All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP). The AICRPs served as platform for analysing G x E interaction leading to identification of stable potential genotypes and played an important role in the development of 4,365 varieties of field crops along with efficient crop management technologies suitable for diverse agro-climatic conditions. Of these, during XII plan (2012-16), 698 varieties comprising 396 of cereals, 108 of oilseeds, 91 of pulses, 49 of fibres, 31 of forages&nbsp; and 23 of sugarcane were developed. Development of high yielding, stress (biotic and abiotic) tolerant, location specific varieties with matching production/protection technologies, enhanced availability of quality seed, their adoption coupled with enabling policies, excellent service support and innovative farmers resulted into spectacular increase in cereals, pulses and oilseeds production since the inception of AICRPs and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU). Food production rose from 69.86 million tonnes (1956-57) to 252.22 million tonnes (2015-16) and oilseed production from 8.56 million tonnes (1965) to 25.9 million tonnes (2015-16), increase was 261 % and 202.5%, respectively, a testimony to the spectacular success of AICRPs and VCU system in India.

All India Coordinated Research Projects and Value for Cultivation and Use in field crops in India: Genesis, Outputs and Outcomes&nbsp;

Background: This paper investigates the horticulture crop value chain in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. It focuses on the different approaches to marketing used in Vidarbha and makes note of the fact that just 1 out of 10 farmers choose the farm-to-table model. 
 
Methods: A survey was conducted in order to gather the primary data employing a simple random sampling method. The survey was undertaken in four districts viz., Nagpur, Amravati, Bhandara and Wardha. The crops under investigation were banana, mango, lemon, orange/mandarin, tomato, potato and onion.&nbsp; 
 
Result: It was recorded that the projected amount of produce wasted was the highest at the retail level for tomato, potato, banana and mango crops, at the farm level for lemon and orange and at the wholesale level for onion. Moreover, the harvested crops are not properly stored until delivered due to lack of storage facilities. Farmers received less price due to low quality of produce and exploitation by the middlemen. At the farm level, it was recorded that 15-36% of the yield is lost due to pests/predators, unprecedented weather conditions and improper management. The supply chain faces several issues, including the scarcity of high-quality seeds, a lack of irrigation resources, unfavourable weather that ruins the produce, post-harvest losses, lack of storage facilities, price seasonality and market volatility. Numerous vertical coordination problems in the value chain could be resolved by the adoption of horticulture cooperatives and the creation of FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations).

Value Chain Assessment of Horticultural Crops in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

<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: Cluster bean was cultivated as a catch crop without external fertilization, solely to recharge the soil fertility and to harvest the residual nutrient after maize crop; clusterbean had been included as a succeeding crop. Doubling the fertilizer for maize would leave more residues. Even though maize is an exhaustive crop, since the nutrient uptake was need based, the excess fertilizers were effectively utilized by cluster bean.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field research was carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore under irrigated conditions. Experimental trials were adopted to estimate the effect of high density with nutrient management practices on maize which influences the performance of succeeding cluster bean under maize-cluster bean cropping sequence during Rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 by using cultivar Pusa Naubahar. No separate treatments were adapted to cluster bean crop.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results of cluster bean sown after the high density of 1,33,333 plants ha-1 maize with nutrient level of 200 per cent RDF produced taller plants, higher drymatter production (636 and 607 kg/ha), increased yield attributes, higher yield (6.58 and 6.81 t/ha) and better economics (B:C ratio -1.87 and 1.94) in both the seasons. Post-harvest available nutrient status revealed that the higher population by closer spacing with increased fertilizer levels (T7) maintained its superiority during both the years. Moreover, this proved to be the most viable practice for production and residual nutrient uptake, by including pulse (cluster bean) as succeeding crop and soil health was effectively maintained by fixing atmospheric nitrogen by cluster bean.</div>

Effect of Maize High Density Planting on Cluster Bean Performance under Maize-cluster Bean Cropping Sequence

Background: One of the most valuable crops is black gram, which has a high nutritional value, a short growing season and is suitable for many different farming systems. This study aims to evaluate the high harvest index urdbean varieties using path analysis in various crop spacing under rainfed conditions in Tamil Nadu. 
 
Methods: The experiments was carried out during three consecutive years (2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 20218-2019) of Kharif season at Agricultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Virinjipuram, Tamil Nadu. The experiments was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The pooled results of three years revealed that the urdbean variety VBN (Bg) 6 had the maximum seed yield of 691 kg ha-1, whereas MDU 1 had the lowest seed yield of 536 kg ha-1. When compared to other crop spacing, 20 cm x 10 cm had the maximum seed output of 683 kg ha-1. The ideal plant spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm enhanced seed production by 38.0 percent and harvest index by 16 per cent when compared to the advised crop spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm.&nbsp;

Evaluation of High Harvest Index Urdbean (Vigna mungo L.)&nbsp; Varieties using Path Analysis in Various Crop Spacing under Rainfed Conditions in Tamil Nadu

Background: Enhancing productivity while conserving soil and resources is a pre-requisite for achieving sustainable intensification of agro-ecosystems. Diversification by integrating legumes with millets for such high-intensity systems not only offers a potential of improving soil fertility by fixing nitrogen and residue addition but overall enhances proper balance in nutrient cycling, ensures efficient use of land enhancing year-round productivity under irrigated conditions. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu under irrigated conditions to evaluate high intensity legume-millet-millet cropping sequences. The study consisted of twelve cropping sequences laid down in a randomized block design with three replications, covering a complete annual cycle from rabi to kharif. Legume crop (Pea) was grown as common rabi crop across all treatments, followed by three millets foxtail millet, proso millet and pearl millet in the summer season and four millets finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet and kodo millet during kharif. 
 
Result: Productivity of pea remained statistically unaffected during both years. During the summer season, cropping sequences involving pearl millet recorded significantly higher yields followed by foxtail millet. While among the kharif crops, finger millet outperformed other millet crops in sequence in terms of productivity. Overall, cropping systems integrating foxtail or pearl millet during summer and finger millet during kharif achieved the significantly higher system productivity (14,533.92 and 14,582.74 kg ha-1&nbsp;in the first and second year, respectively) and profitability in terms of benefit : cost ratio of 2.62 and 2.38. Hence, the inclusion of pea-foxtail/pearl millet-finger millet proved to be most productive and economical viable option for irrigated conditions. 
&nbsp;

Performance of Diversified Legume-based High-intensity Cropping Sequence on Productivity and Profitability

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of incorporating high value fodder on the productive performance of experimental Prim Holstein cows in lactation.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: This supplementary feed ration is composed of a mixture of green grass silage and meadow hay. The effect of this incorporation on milk production and cheesemaking quality was studied on a batch of twenty-five high-lactation cows in experimental stalls. 
 
Result: Physico-chemical analysis showed that concentrate and hay are energy-dense feeds, with the highest dry matter and crude cellulose content However, the fodder ration is richer in crude protein and minerals. Evaluation of the chemical composition of milk in the high-lactation phase revealed a significant difference between the experimental batch and the control batch in terms of protein, dry matter and urea content, but no difference was observed in terms of fat, lactose and mineral content. Analysis of production performance data clearly showsed that the fodder ration significantly improved milk production and technological milk quality. The use of green fodder remainsed effective in improving milk production performance and the cheese-making quality of the milk. Technological milk coagulation times have been optimized to ensure the correct orientation of the targeted cheese matrices.

Effect of the Incorporation of a High Food Value Fodder Ration on the Cheesemaking Quality of Milk

<div>Marigold (Tagetes spp.) is one of the most popular flower crop commercially exploited for multipurpose use. Apart from great demand of marigold flowers, the plants use in phytoremediation and allelopathic effect has been greatly exploited. Marigolds can be used against plant parasitic nematodes as a cover crop in rotation, as an intercrop, or as a crop residue amendment. Successful use of marigold as trap crop is well on record whereas its use as potential natural herbicide needs to be explored. Essential oils obtained from marigold possess antibacterial and antifungal properties and are widely used in perfumery industries, as insect repellent and as flavor component. Its extracts can be explored as alternative natural insecticides towards the stored products. Use of marigold for its medicinal value for curing various diseases has been well documented. Carotenoids extracted from flowers are being used commercially in pharmaceuticals. Marigold extract also finds application in coloring foods and various dairy products. Marigold petals are used as additives for poultry feed, as they provide bright colors in egg yolks, skin and fatty tissues and also as emulsifying gum. Silver and gold nanoparticles have been synthesized from marigold for antimicrobial activity. This review paper discusses the research undertaken for various uses of marigold plant worldwide.</div>

​​Marigold (Tagetes spp.): A Diverse Crop with Multipurpose Value for Health and Environment: A Review

<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>

Crop Diversification of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) based Cropping System for High Resource Use Efficiency

All India Coordinated Research Projects and Value for Cultivation and Use in field crops in India: Genesis, Outputs and Outcomes

Value Chain Assessment of Horticultural Crops in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

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

Effect of Maize High Density Planting on Cluster Bean Performance under Maize-cluster Bean Cropping Sequence

Evaluation of High Harvest Index Urdbean (Vigna mungo L.) Varieties using Path Analysis in Various Crop Spacing under Rainfed Conditions in Tamil Nadu

Performance of Diversified Legume-based High-intensity Cropping Sequence on Productivity and Profitability

Effect of the Incorporation of a High Food Value Fodder Ration on the Cheesemaking Quality of Milk

Marigold (Tagetes spp.): A Diverse Crop with Multipurpose Value for Health and Environment: A Review

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