<div>Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important cereal crop and its demand is increasing due to its versatile use but the productivity in India is still low. The basic requirement for improving the crop productivity is soil fertility and it is highly related with soil organic matter. Due to unavailability of organic manure and their higher cost, cheaper the organic source available at farm should be explored to meet the requirement. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at College Agronomy Farm, B.A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand during summer-kharif seasons of years 2017 and 2018 to examine the impact of legume crop residue and nitrogen levels on maize crop. Experiment comprised of three legume crops grown in summer season viz., green gram, groundnut and cluster bean, two residue management treatments viz., residue removal and incorporation and three nitrogen levels in kharif maize viz., 100%, 75% and 50% recommended dose of nitrogen. 
 
Result: Results indicated that cluster bean-maize sequence provided the highest leaf area and leaf area index at 60 days after sowing, chlorophyll content and dry matter production at 30 and 60 days after sowing and crop growth rate for of maize crop. Incorporation of legume residues also had significant effect on plant height, dry matter production and chlorophyll content; leaf area and leaf area index at 60 days after sowing and crop growth rate and absolute growth rate of maize crop. Application of 100% RDN beneficially affected all the growth parameter and indices. Overall, summer legume cropping with their residue incorporation and higher nitrogen levels favourably impacts on various growth parameters and growth indices of maize crop.</div>

<div>Effect of Legume Crop Residues and Nitrogen Management on Growth Parameters and Growth Indices of Maize (Zea mays L.)</div>

Background: Agricultural production faces challenges, such as soil depletion, declining yields and climate variability, necessitating sustainable practices. Conservation agriculture (CA) improves soil health, ecosystem conservation and resource efficiency but is underutilized in cereal-based systems in South Asia. Incorporating legumes, such as green gram into cropping systems enhances nitrogen turnover and soil health. This study examines the effects of CA practices and residual nitrogen on green gram performance and soil health in a wheat-green gram-maize cropping system. 
 
Methods: A two-year field study (Rabi 2021-Kharif 2023) was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, on sandy loam soil. The experiment was conducted using a split plot design and replicated thrice. Main plot treatments comprised of three crop establishment methods: conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage with residue retention (ZT+R) and permanent raised beds with residue retention (PB+R), whereas subplot treatments consist seven nitrogen management (NM) strategies for wheat and maize (varying RDN levels with prilled urea or nano-urea). No nitrogen was applied to the green gram, relying on the residual nitrogen from the wheat, as phosphorus and potassium were applied as per recommendation. 
 
Result: Permanent raised beds with residue retention (PB+R) significantly improved plant height, biomass, LAI, yield and nitrogen uptake compared with conventional tillage (CT) and zero tillage with residue retention (ZT+R). Nitrogen management with 100% RDN enhanced the nitrogen uptake, chlorophyll content and protein content. PB+R with 100% RDN recorded significantly highest green gram yield (0.85 t ha-1) and nitrogen uptake, attributed to improved root proliferation, water conservation and nutrient acquisition. permanent raised beds with residue retention along with 100% RDN also recorded the highest net returns and BC ratio.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Effect of Establishment Methods and Residual Nitrogen on Moongbean in Wheat based Cropping Systems

Background: Cereal-legume cropping system is considered to be one of the better alternatives for sustaining soil fertility and increasing the yield. At present maize-groundnut cropping system is gaining importance under both rainfed and irrigated situations. Maize, being an exhaustive and weed-sensitive crop, is supplied with large doses of fertilizers and new herbicide molecules.Since maize is exhaustive and weed sensitive crop, there was a usage of excessive fertilizers and new herbicides. There is a need to assess the carry over effect of fertilizers and new generation herbicides in leguminous crops like groundnut. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 on sandy loam soils of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Maize hybrid DHM -117 was sown and maintained with general cultivation practices except for nitrogen and weed management methods was raised after harvest of maize in undisturbed layout to study the residual effect of different nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in maize. 
 
Result: Residual effect of nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in preceding maize did not exert any significant influence on germination percentage, phytotoxicity and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) values but efficacy of herbicide residue found to be significant with weed management practices. Growth parameters, yield attributes pod yield, haulm yield and economics were higher in groundnut with brown manuring, which was however, in parity with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of topramezone 30 g ha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of tembotrione 120 g ha-1 and lower with unweeded check and it was remained in parity with application of parthenium water extract15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of parthenium water extract 15 lha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 in the order of ascent.&nbsp; None of their interaction effects were found to be significant during both the years of study and in pooled mean.

Residual Effect of Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices in Maize on Succeeding Groundnut

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of concentrate at different levels to sweet sorghum bagasse leaf residue (SSBLR) silage on nutrient utilization in growing lambs in a metabolism trial conducted after 120days of feeding. &nbsp;Sixteen growing Nellore ram lambs (18.3&plusmn;0.8) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary groups (4 in each group) &nbsp;and were inducted into metabolic cages five days prior to collection for acclimatization followed by a seven day collection period. The four dietary groups were SSBLR silage fed ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate mixture (CP 17% and ME 2.53 Mcal/kg DM) at 0.0 (R-I), 0.75 (R-II), 1.0 (R-III) and 1.25 (R-IV) per cent of their live Weight. Significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher total DMI (g/kg w0.75) was noticed in concentrate supplemented groups. The organic matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibility was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in lambs fed R-IV ration than those fed R-I ration. No significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter, ether extract and cell wall constituents was observed among the rations. The digestible crude protein (%) (P&lt;0.01) and metabolizable energy (Mcal/kg) values increased (P&gt;0.0) with increase in level of concentrate in the diet. Negative and lower (P&lt;0.01) nitrogen balance (g/d) was noticed in R-I ration. The N balance linearly increased with increase in level of concentrate supplementation. The study indicated feeding of sole SSBLR silage couldn&rsquo;t meet the nutrient requirements and Supplementation of concentrate mixture (0.75-1.25%) to SSBLR silage improved the nutrient &nbsp;digestibility and nitrogen balance in growing lambs.

Effect of supplementation of concentrate to sweet sorghum bagasse with leaf residue silage on nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance in native sheep

Background: After rice harvest, the majority of farmers in Manipur leave their land fallow without planting anything, despite the fact that it has a great deal of potential for growing a second crop in the rabi season with the remaining moisture and nutrients. One of the most crucial options for Manipur&rsquo;s farmers is green pea, which not only boosts their revenue but also makes use of the nutrients and residual moisture in the soil. The current fertilizer&nbsp; application system ignores the carryover effect of the manure or fertilizer applied to the&nbsp; previous crop and instead bases its decisions on the nutritional requirements of the specific crop. Applying organic sources of nutrients to the previous crop greatly benefits the following crop. In light of the aforementioned considerations, an experiment was set up to determine whether the foliar application of nano fertlizers and organic source of nitrogen in the previous kharif rice crop had any lasting effects on the productivity of the following green pea crop. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the kharif and rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Hiyanglam Mayai Leikai in the Kakching district of Manipur, in order to research the residual effect of foliar application of nano fertlizers and organic source of nitrogen on the productivity and economics of zero tilled green pea in rice- green pea cropping sequence. A factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications was used to set up the experiment. 
 
Result: The pooled data showed that vermicompost @100% RDN had the highest growth and yield characterictics over the vermicompost @ 75% RDN and 50% RDN. The&nbsp; combinations of nano NPK @ 1.5% + 100% RDN through vermicompost resulted in the&nbsp; highest increase growth and yield attributing characters of green pea and lowest was observed&nbsp; in the control + @ 50% RDN treated plot.

Residual Effect of Foliar Application of Nano Fertlizers and Organic Source of Nitrogen on the Productivity and Economics of Zero Tilled Green Pea in Rice-green Pea Cropping Sequence

<div style="text-align: justify;">Continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in IGP deplete soil fertility and crop productivity. In order to maintain or enhance the sustainability of this system use of crop residues and biological formulation of microbes will be play an important role in this areas. Field experiment was conducted in rabi seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at New Delhi, India to study the effect of microbial inoculated rice residue and N management on growth, productivity and economics of wheat under rice&ndash;wheat cropping system (RWCS). After rice harvest in both years, wheat variety &ldquo;HD-2967&rdquo; was grown on the same layout with applied treatments. Results of this experiment revealed that composting inoculated (CI) paddy straw mulch were recorded significantly higher effective tiller, spike length, spike weight, 1,000-grain weight(test weight) and yield during both the years. However, 100% RDN + Azotobacter (Liquid) was found maximum with regard to all yield and yield attributes characteristics. On economic comparison application of composting inoculated PSM with 100% RDN + Azotobacter gave maximum gross return and net returns.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Growth, productivity and profitability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under rice&ndash;wheat cropping system as influenced by of in-situ microbial inoculated rice residue and nitrogen management</div>

<div>Background:&nbsp;Roughages with an appropriate particle size are required to maintain the optimum rumen health, fermentation and nutrient digestibility. In this regard, the present study was conducted in sheep to determine the optimum particle size for preparation of complete feed blocks.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Twenty-one adult Deccani rams (19.45&plusmn;0.80 kg) of 2-3 yrs age were used in a complete randomized design to assess the effect of particle size (PS) of sorghum stover (SS) on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial nitrogen supply. Rams were divided into 3 groups consisting of 7 animals each and fed complete feed blocks containing 8 mm (SSCFB-8), 12 mm (SSCFB-12) and 16 mm (SSCFB-16) particle sizes of the stover. Rumen liquor was collected using stomach tube from each animal at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding to assess rumen fermentation pattern.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Mean rumen pH was increased (P&lt;0.001) with increased PS of the SS in the CFBs and the rams fed SSCFB-12 and SSCFB-16 diets were shown highest (P&lt;0.001) pH values. Average ammonia nitrogen concentrations were lower (P&lt;0.01) in rams fed SSCFB-16 diet compared to those fed SSCFB-12 or SSCFB-8 diets. The average total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration was decreased with increase in PS of SS in the feed blocks. The rams fed SSCFB-8 diet had shown higher (P&lt;0.05) TVFA mean values than those fed SSCFB-12 or SSCFB-16 diets. Microbialnitrogen (g/day, g/kg W0.75) and protein supply (g/day, g/kg W0.75 and g/kg DOMI) was not affected by the PS of sorghum stover in complete feed blocks.Based on the results of the current study the SS ground to 8 mm can be considered as optimum for sheep fed SS based diets.</div>

Rumen Fermentation and Microbial Nitrogen Supply in Native Sheep Fed Crop Residue based Densified Feed Blocks Varying in Particle Size of Roughage

Background:&nbsp;Nitrogen plays a crucial role in growth cycling and development, thereby influencing the plant growth and productivity. Understanding the interactions between nitrogen uptake with different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizers could provide a valuable insight for optimizing tomato production. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of nitrogen uptake on tomato production under different nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation regimes.

Methods:&nbsp;The field experiment was carried out during 2022-2023 in split plot design with two irrigation main plots treatments and five different nitrogen fertilizer subplot treatments. Irrigation treatments consisted of 0.6 and 0.8 IW/CPE ratio and the nitrogen fertilizer treatments comprised of conventional urea, neem coated urea, ammonium sulfate, nano-urea and vermicompost.

Result: A higher nitrogen uptake was observed in the treatment combination of 0.6 and 0.8 IW/CPE ratio with vermicompost and nano-urea fertilizer applied treatments. Additionally, optimal irrigation conditions positively influenced nitrogen uptake and subsequent tomato fruit yield. This finding emphasizes the importance of considering nitrogen uptake when determining nitrogen fertilizer rates and irrigation management strategies for tomato production.

Effect of Irrigation Regimes and Nitrogenous Fertilization on Nitrogen Uptake in Tomato

Background: To work out the residual effect of rice residue, FYM and fertilizers on summer moong (Vigna radiate L.) in Rice-potato-summer moong cropping system. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The present study was carried out at research farm, department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with two factors. Factor A contains&nbsp; five nutrient management treatments in potato (Rice residue+ 125 % NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue+ 100%&nbsp; NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue+ 75 % NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue + 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and Without rice residue + 100% NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM) and factor B contains three&nbsp; nitrogen levels in&nbsp; summer moong&nbsp; (0 kg ha-1&nbsp;N, 6.25 kg ha-1&nbsp;N and 12.5 kg ha-1&nbsp;N ). 
&nbsp; 
Result: The plant height, branches, dry matter accumulation, LAI and chlorophyll content index were significantly affected with the treatments applied to preceding potato crop. The application of rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM to potato crop resulted significantly higher plant height, branches, dry matter accumulation, LAI and chlorophyll content index of moong crop as compared to rice residue+ 75% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM and rice residue+ 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100 % NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM. The significantly higher biometric parameters were observed with 12.5 kg ha-1&nbsp;N which was significantly higher than the 0 and 6.25 5 kg ha-1 N. The application of rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM to potato crop resulted significantly higher yield and yield attributing characters as compared to rice residue+ 75% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM and rice residue+ 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100% NPK 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM. The application of higher dose of nitrogen @ 12 kg ha-1&nbsp;also significantly increased the yield and yield attributing characters as compared to lower doses of summer moong. The nutrients uptake ( N,P and K) was also maximum with rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM which was at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100% NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while significantly higher than other treatment. The application of higher dose of nitrogen @ 12 kgha-1&nbsp;in summer moong also significantly increased the nutrient uptake and protein content as compared to lower doses.

Residual Effect of Rice Residue, Fym and Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Summer Moong (Vigna radiata L.) in Rice-Potato-Summer Moong Cropping System

Background: One of the main reasons for India&rsquo;s decreased food production is the depletion of soil fertility. The primary causes of soil deterioration are lack of awareness among farmers and lack of land use regulations. By limiting the erosion and enhancing the nutrients available to the crops, conservation agriculture increases the organic matter content of the soil and contributes to the improvement of field conditions. But compared to conventional agriculture, the practise of conservation agriculture is less advanced. And also there is a dearth of research on the use of crop residues for the management of soil fertility. So this study was undertaken in order to examine the impacts of crop residue, inorganic fertilizers and cropping system as a component of an integrated crop residues and fertility management system on nutrient uptake and net returns of greengram. 
 
Methods: The experiment consists of strip plot design and was carried out during 2020-21 and 2021-22 under zero till conditions at college farm, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU to study the effect of previous crop residues and fertility levels on succeeding greengram.&nbsp; 
 
Result: According to the data, greengram absorbed more nutrients at various growing stages. The residual effect of incorporation of residues treated with microbial consortia composed of Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus awamori and Phanerocheate spp. along with 300:100:100 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O (125% RDF) and phosphorous supplied in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) resulted in significantly higher financial returns. In greengram, residue incorporated plots outperformed residue burning, removal and retention plots with 125% RDF in terms of nutrient uptake, as well as monetary returns like gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio. In a similar vein, yield in residue-incorporated plots was higher than it was in residue-removal and in-situ burning plots during summer, 2021 and 2022.

Effect of Legume Crop Residues and Nitrogen Management on Growth Parameters and Growth Indices of Maize (Zea mays L.)