A field experiment was conducted during the three consecutive seasons from 2006-08 on clay loam soil of Sugarcane Research Station, Buralikson, Assam to study the effect of different herbicides along with other cultural practices of weed management of sugarcane. The experimental field &nbsp;was laid out in randomized block design with three replication with the following &nbsp;ten treatments viz. T1: control, T2: 3 hoeings (1st , 4th and 7th week), T3: Atrazine@ 2kg a.i/ha + 2,4-D @ 1kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation, T4: atrazine @ 2 kg a.i/ha + &nbsp;1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation, &nbsp;T5: metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha + 2,4-D @1 kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation, T6: metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha + 1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation , &nbsp;T7: glycel-41@ 0.4 kg a.i/ha at 3rd week stage, T8: glycel-41@ 0.4 kg a.i/ha at 3rd week + 1 hoeing at 60 days after ratoon initiation, T9: trash mulching in alternate rows + hoeing during 1st and 6th week, T10: trash mulching in all rows. Result revealed that all the weed management practices had a significant effect on growth and yield of sugarcane over control. Out of all treatments, pre-emergence spraying of metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha followed by spraying of 2, 4-D @1 kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation recorded lesser number of weeds and weed dry weight with higher weed control efficiency (80.38%). The same treatment also recorded the higher cane yield (79.6 t/ha) which is followed by pre-emergence spraying of metribuzine @ 1 kg a.i/ha with 1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation.

Effect of weed management practices on Sugarcane ratoon

A field experiment in banana was carried out at the Banana Research Station, Jalgaon during 2009-2013.The objective of the study was to determine the proper time of keeping follower as a ratoon crop in plant crop system that would maximize the yield of commercially grown banana cv. Grand Naine. The treatments applied were keeping followers after 7, 8, 9,10,11,12 and 13 months after planting of plant crop. The result indicated that, the treatment of keeping follower 10 months after planting of plant crop was found better in respect to growth and yield of banana and was recommended for cultivation of Grand Naine banana under plant crop + 1 st ratoon crop system in Maharashtra state.

Studies on ratooning in Musa spp. cultivar &lsquo;Grandnaine&rsquo;

<div style="text-align: justify;">Field experiment was conducted in coastal alluvium soil of eastern India during late rabi of 2009-10 and 2010-11 in split split-plot design with three dates of sowing for rice-ratoon i.e. 20 June, 5 and 20 July followed by green gram cv. PDM-139 (Samrat) &nbsp;i.e. 2 January, 17 January and 1 February in main plots, three systems of cultivation of the preceding rice-ratoon i.e. ratoons of rice under best management practices (BMP), system of rice intensification (SRI) and modified SRI (MSRI) in sub plots and two genotypes of rice-ratoon i.e. HR Ajay and HYV Tapaswini in sub sub-plots. Green gram was grown under residual soil nutrient and the crop sown on 2 January recorded the highest seed yield of 0.703 t ha-1 (REY of 2.933 t ha-1) and this was followed by sowing on 17 January and 1 February. The seed yield of green gram followed diminishing trend under SRI-ratoon, MSRI-ratoon and BMP-ratoon, respectively. &nbsp;</div>

Influence of system of cultivation and genotypes of preceding rice-ratoon on growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) sown at varying dates in coastal alluvium soil of eastern India&nbsp;

Background: Ratooning in pigeon pea is one of the unexplored options for increasing the production and income through more number of crops per year under adequate supply of inputs. Dearth of knowledge on the ratooning, its yield and economics in pigeon pea on which the current study aimed at providing the basic idea of its suitability for cultivation.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiment investigated during October 2020- February 2021 at University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. The experiment was conducted with 2 levels of irrigation, 3 levels of fertigation and 2 levels of mulching under split-split plot design.&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
Result: The experimentation of ratoon pigeon pea with varied levels of inputs revealed that ratooning was found to be an economically feasible option with higher returns and lower cost of cultivation. The study comprehensively covers and states the adaptability of the practice in terms of yield and economics.

Economic Feasibility of Ratoon Pigeon Pea under Different Levels of Irrigation, Fertilizers and Mulching

Monocropping of sugarcane is highly profitable to the farmers and sugar industry as it reduces the production cost by 30-40 %. But productivity of sugarcane under multiratooning is declined by 30-50 % every year due to alteration of soil physical properties and soil biology which leads to reduction in cane population per hectare. All such alterations correlate with drastic reduction in ratoon cane yield as compared to plant cane. Multiratooning of sugarcane cultivation can alter on soil health. Hence, the present study was formulated to study the effect of sugarcane monocropping on soil physical and chemical properties in different textural classess of popular sugarcane growing areas of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Three major soil types (sandy loam, red loam and clay loam) from popular sugarcane growing areas of Visakhapatnam district were collected by using GPS and Most popularly grown sugarcane cultivar for monocropping i.e 87A298 was selected in all these three sites. Results revealed that the soil physical properties under monocropping were negatively influenced with increasing frequency of ratooning in all the textural classes. However more influence was observed under clay loam soils compared to sandy loams. The data on soil fertility status in different ratoons indicated that the available macro nutrient status and soil organic carbon content was more in all the surface soils compared to subsurface soils and it was highest in clay loam soils followed by red loam soils and sandy loams. Among different ratoons relatively highest nutrient status was recorded than succeeding ratoons. With in different textural classes clay loam soils exhibited highest micronutrient status followed by red loams and sandy loam soils. With in the different ratoons there was not much variation in available micro nutrient status. However all the surface soils exhibited higher status than corresponding subsurface soils. Irrespective of the ratooning micronutrient status was more in clay loam soils and low in sandy loam soils.

Effect of sugarcane monocropping on soil physical and chemical properties in texturally varied soils

<div style="text-align: justify;">Sugarcane an important cash crop suffers from several fungal, bacterial, phytoplasmal and viral diseases. Of the fungal diseases, smut had been a major constraint to sugarcane production in most of the sugarcane growing tracts of the country. The disease is caused by fungus Sporisoriumscitamineum (Syn: Ustilago scitaminea).Primary transmission of the disease takes place trough infected setts. Earlier this disease was kept under control through heat therapy (Aerated steam therapy /moist hot air treatment) of seed canes by the sugar mills and sugarcane research centers. However, since last couple of years, sett treatment practice has been stopped and smut incidence increased by many folds. To know the current scenario of sugarcane diseases in the subtropical region, authors surveyed the reserved areas of 44 sugar mills in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttrakhand states during 2010-2019 crop seasons regularly. In Haryana, smut prevails as major disease in most of the sugar mills and its incidence is increasing rapidly. The disease incidence ranged from 1.0 to 40.0% in ratoons and traces to 9.0% in plant crops of varieties viz. Co 0238, Co 89003, CoH 116, CoH 119, CoH 150, CoH 152, CoH 156, CoH 160, CoJ 85, CoJ 88 and CoS 8436. In Shahabad area most of the fields of variety CoH 160 had severe smut incidence i.e. up to 40.0% in ratoon and 9.0% on plant crops. Similarly in the varieties Co 0238, Co 89003 and CoJ 88 cultivated under Punjab, traces to 11.0% incidence in ratoon and up to 5.0% in plant crops was found. Further, in western UP occurrence of smut was moderate to 6.5% in ratoon and traces to 1.5% in plant crops of cultivated varieties. The maximum disease incidence (T-2.5%) was noted in Harinagar (Bihar) on variety CoSe98231, whereas, under Laksar (Uttrakhand) it observed to a tune of 4.5% and 6.0% on varieties CoSe 03234 and CoSe 01434, respectively. In the light of observations recoded over the period, advisories were issued regularly to the sugar mills for its prevention and farmers of the state have adopted smut management practices i.e. roguing of smut whips followed by spray of Propiconazole 25EC @ 0.1%. Farmers and sugar mill officials of the state have been advised to adopt seed cane treatment practices with Sett Treatment Device, recently developed by ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore to combat this disease. The Haryana sugar Federation is also advised to promote sett treatment practice in the state. Since last four years all the Co-operative sugar mills have been running tractor driven sett treatment units for seed cane treatment at farmer fields to manage sett borne diseases. Since smut has emerged as a serious disease, sugar industry should take up the disease management in a systematic way to sustain sugarcane cultivation in the region and also to prevent buildup of disease epidemics.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Current status and management of sugarcanesmut disease in North India</div>

<div>Background: This study is meant to examine the energy requirement and energy input- output of different cropping sequences&nbsp;.The crucial objective to conduct experiment to understand energy efficiency using inputs and outputs which were disbursed in cropping sequences. Hence, it is need of the hour to identify the most remunerative and cost effective cropping sequence with high energy efficient for UGP of India.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Methods: This study was carried out at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, during 2017-2021.The divergent cropping sequences viz.&nbsp;sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (CS1); rice-wheat-dhaincha (CS2); pigeonpea +maize-chickpea-okra (CS3); maize-berseem-black gram (CS4); sorghum-mustard-green gram (CS5) and Napier+cowpea/berseem (CS6) were compared in reference to curtail higher energy inputs&nbsp; through selected alternate cropping sequences. The obtained energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by using energy conversion factors. 
 
&nbsp;</div>

<div>Result: Maximum inputs energy consumed by sugarcane crop alone (33.14x103 MJ ha-1). Results shown that irrigation, seed, fertilizers and diesel required higher energy for the completion of cultural operations. However, higher inputs energy was used in irrigation followed by seed and fertilizers, respectively. In regard to per cent energy intake through inputs, the highest energy spent was for irrigation (35.30 MJ ha-1) and fertilizer (23.80 MJ ha-1).The wheat equivalent yield was higher in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (125.58 t ha-1). Maximum output energy was with above system (596.70&times;103 MJ ha-1). Highest net energy returns was counted with sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (549.37x103 MJ ha-1), energy ratio (12.60) and energy profitability (11.60). Indeed, energy efficiency was highest in same system (1657.50) followed by maize-berseem-black gram (1421.96).</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

Energy Budgeting of Different Cropping Sequences in the Indian Upper Gangetic Plains

A promising midlate maturing sugarcane variety, CoBln 04174 was developed at Sugarcane Research Station, Buralikson, Assam from the general collection of C 79180 through clonal selection. The variety was tested in the AICRP trial under different discipline and on farm trials of different agro climatic zones of Assam. &nbsp;The variety CoBln 04174 recorded an average cane &nbsp;yield of 65.54t/ha and sugar yield of 7.63 t/ha with an improvement of &nbsp;4.58% &nbsp;for cane yield and 3.52% CCS yield over the best standard CoSe 92423 across the centres in two plant crop and one ratoon crop. &nbsp;Besides this, the variety CoBln 04174 recorded average cane yield of 70.4 t/ha which is 22.26% higher over the best standard CoP 9301 (57.58t/ha) in the trials conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Buralikson. The variety was moderately susceptible to red rot but moderately resistant to borer insect of sugarcane. The variety CoBln 04174 has been identified for release in North Eastern Zone.

CoBln 04174: A promising high yielding variety for north east under rainfed upland condition

Background: Cotton, a perennial crop, can greatly benefit from pruning, which assists in rejuvenating aged plants and enhancing yields comparable to those of the primary crop. However, research on pruning (ratooning) cotton remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of pruning and drip fertigation on yield and yield characteristics of ELS cotton CO14.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in a farmer&#39;s field in Nallur village, Bhavanisagar block, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India, using a split-plot design replicated thrice. Main plots received fertigation treatments (M1-75% NPK, M2-100% NPK, M3-125% NPK, M4-STCR), while subplots were designated for different pruning techniques (S1-15 cm, S2-30 cm, S3-45 cm). 
 
Result: Findings showed that drip fertigation with M3-125% NPK resulted in highest plant height (109.35 and 113.06), LAI (4.06 and 4.02), higher counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (19.73 and14.46), squares plant-1 (128.00 and108.27), bolls plant-1 (59.44 and 45.98), boll setting percentage (46.66 and 42.51), yield (28.56 and 19.34 q/ha) and HI (0.46 and 0.43) in main crop and pruned crop. Concerning pruning techniques, cotton pruned at S3-45 cm height exhibited significantly greater counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (13.76), squares plant-1 (103.44), flowers plant-1 (16.66), bolls plant-1 (36.88), boll setting percentage (35.35), yield (16.87 q/ha) and HI (0.40). Interaction analysis between main and subplot treatments revealed that 125% fertigation with 45 cm pruning height led to significantly higher counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (15.60) and flowers plant-1 (18.58). Thus, it is recommended to implement fertigation at 125% NPK+pruning at a 45 cm cut height to attain superior yields and yield characteristics.

Optimizing Growth and Yield of Cotton: Exploring Pruning and Drip Fertigation Techniques on ELS Cotton CO14

<div>Background: In a region of Karnataka, India with a varied type climate PPSMV infection on pigeonpea occurs in a severe form and considered as green plague and one of the most devastating diseases as it appear in severe form resulting in reduction of 100% yield loss transmitted by vector eriophyid mite Aceriacajani Channabasavanna. However, not much systematic and strategic research work being carried out on epidemiology. In spite of various control measures, Sterility Mosaic Disease has continued to be major constraint in pigeonpea production. A lot of variation exists among the genetic background of different varieties in different regions. These variations render it difficult to evolve a common management strategy to control SMD epidemics. Therefore, it is necessary to know the severity of disease and factors associated with disease development which helps in devising suitable management practices. 
 
Methods: To study the influence of sowing dates on SMD and vector population under field conditions. A total of twelve sets of sowings were made at different time interval starting from first week of January 2012 to December, 2012. The SMD disease incidence and mite population were recorded in each treatment at fifteen days interval. Under artificial environment, pigeonpea seedlings of variety ICP8863 were raised. Inoculation of virus was done at different stage of plant growth viz., 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days after sowing. The observation on terminal disease incidence was recorded at 90 DAS to study the impact of host age on SMD. The eight pigeonpea varieties were sown near the SMD infected plot so as to facilitate the movement of vector population under natural conditions to study the reaction of pigeonpea varieties to SMD. Naturally grown weeds present in and around the sterility mosaic screening nursery were collected at weekly interval to see the presence of mites. In a glass house experiment, twenty-three cultivated species of economic importance and three Nicotiana species were sown three replications to see the alternate host for the virus. 
 
Results: The fluctuation in disease incidence and mite population was recorded throughout the year and early stage of crop growth recorded less disease incidence with lower mite population and gradual increase was recorded at later stage of crop growth period. The maximum disease incidence and mite population was recorded in crop sown during month of June and July where mean temperature was 24 to 26oC, RH 67 to 71% and rainfall of 2.13mm. The disease incidence recorded at different months of sowing had a significant positive correlation with mite population. Pigeonpea plants inoculated up to age of 30 days showed complete sterility with 100% disease incidence. The Resistant genotypes recorded less per cent disease incidence and symptom development at 60DAS. Whereas susceptible variety recorded maximum diseases incidence at early stage of crop growth and showed complete sterility. PPSMV and its vector survived on the ratooned pigeonpea plants and its wild relatives Atylosiascaraboeides during off season.</div>

Effect of weed management practices on Sugarcane ratoon

Studies on ratooning in Musa spp. cultivar ‘Grandnaine’

Influence of system of cultivation and genotypes of preceding rice-ratoon on growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) sown at varying dates in coastal alluvium soil of eastern India

Economic Feasibility of Ratoon Pigeon Pea under Different Levels of Irrigation, Fertilizers and Mulching

Effect of sugarcane monocropping on soil physical and chemical properties in texturally varied soils

Current status and management of sugarcanesmut disease in North India

Energy Budgeting of Different Cropping Sequences in the Indian Upper Gangetic Plains

CoBln 04174: A promising high yielding variety for north east under rainfed upland condition

Optimizing Growth and Yield of Cotton: Exploring Pruning and Drip Fertigation Techniques on ELS Cotton CO14

Epidemiological Factors Influencing the Development of Pigeonpea Sterility Mosaic Virus Disease in Pigeonpea