<div>Background: The excessive usage of chemical fertilizers and the negligence on soil health regarding the conservation and use of organic sources of nutrients have not only caused the exhaustion of soil nutrient reserves but also resulted in soil health problems which is not conducive to achieving consistent increase in agricultural production. The beneficial influence of organic matter on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil is well known, the full appreciation of the same remains which is unfortunately ignored in modern agriculture. The regular recycling of organic wastes in the soil is the most efficient method of maintaining optimum nutrient reserves of soil and nutrient uptake by the plant. The Present Study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient status of soil under integrated usage of organic and inorganic sources. 
 
Methods: A field experiment entitled &ldquo;Nutrient Management Interventions in Rice-Ragi Sequence&rdquo; was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 on sandy loam soil of the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla. The seven treatments consisted of T1: 100% RDF (100-60-40 kg N-P-K ha-1); T2: 100% RDF + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T3: 125% RDF+Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T4: 75% RDF + Poultrymanure&nbsp; @ 0.82 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 50 kg ha-1; T5: 75% RDF + FYM @ 5.0 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T6:50% RDF + Poultrymanure @ 1.6 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 and T7: 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1. The experiment was laidout in randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated thrice during kharif rice and in rabi each kharif treatment was subdivided into four sub treatments (S1: Nofertilizer, S2: 100% RDF, S3:75% RDF and S4:50% RDF) and hence, The split plot design was adopted in rabi. Total No.of plots per each replication in the rabi was 28 (7x4=28).&nbsp; 
 
Result: Nutrient content and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc have increased significantly with the fertility levels and organics. 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc contents and uptakes in grain and straw of rice. In no till rabi ragi, N, P, K, Zn and calcium content and uptake in grain and straw were found to be significantly superior with 100% RDF (S2) to the rest of the treatments in both the years and in pooled data.</div>

Effect of Nutrient Management Interventions on Nutrient Uptake of Rice-zero Till Ragi under Coastal Lands

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;">An experiment was conducted during at Varanasi to find out the effect of residue management with Trichoderma application and weed management practices (W1- - Control, W2 &nbsp;-Hand weeding at 30 &amp; 45 DAS, W3 - Isoproturon + 2,4-D (1.0 + 0.5 kg ha-1) at 30 DAS, W4 &nbsp;- Fenoxaprop 120 g ha-1 fb Metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 ) on growth, yield attributes and yield of wheat(Triticum aestvium L.) with weed density, WCE and net returns. The residue retention with Trichoderma application produced significantly higher crop growth, yield attributes, grain and straw yield as compared to residue retention alone and residue removal. Among the weedicide option fenoxaprop fb metsulfuron treatment was found most effective in controlling weed population and produced significantly higher grain (3355.06 and &nbsp;3722.27 kg-1 ha) and straw yields (5050.23 and 5332.77 kg-1 ha) and higher weed control efficiency (74.19 &amp; 75.07 %). Out of herbicides, Isoproturon + 2, 4-D gave the highest net return as compared to fenoxaprop fb metsulfuron followed by hand weeding twice.</div>

Performance of zero-till wheat (Triticum aestvium L.) with residue and weed management techniques under rice-wheat cropping system

<div>Background: Continuous rice cultivation has a negative effect on sustainable rice production. Crop rotation can increase the yield and soil quality. This study aimed to provide information on the morpho-physiological fingerprints of rice cultivars in different crop rotation systems. 
 
Methods: Twelve rice cultivars were evaluated in terms of their morpho-physiological in three crop rotation systems, i.e., rice-rice-rice, maize-maize-rice (M-M-R) and vegetable-vegetable-rice, at the Agrotechnology Innovation Center, Universitas Gadjah Mada at Berbah District, Sleman Regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from December 2020 to June 2021. 
 
Result: The results revealed an interaction between rice cultivars and the crop rotation system, with the effects observed on the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in the leaf tissue (NC, PC and KC, respectively), crop growth rate, total dry weight per clump, empty grain per clump (EG) and grain weight per clump (GWC). The increase in NC, PC and KC positively affected the increase in GWC. The GM 8 cultivar in the M-M-R crop rotation system showed lowest EG of 3% and highest GWC of 133.90 g clump-1.</div>

Studies on Morpho-physiological Fingerprints of Rice Cultivars in Rice Crop in Rice-Rice-Rice, Maize-Maize-Rice and Vegetable-Vegetable-Rice Cropping Systems

<div>Background: After harvesting of kharif crops, lack of sufficient soil moisture availability limit the cultivation of rabi crops in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. So a huge area remains fallow during the rabi season mainly because of infrastructure to harvest and to utilize the bountiful rains of the monsoon. So, agronomic measures to conserve the soil moisture are very suitable for the region because of their low cost and capability to reduce soil erosion. In this region, maize stalk are not used as fodder for animals and are usually burnt or kept outside the field. Similarly, during rainy season, there is plenty of water hyacinth and paddy straw found around cultivated areas. Retention of crop residues and weed biomass on the soil surface in combination with zero tillage initiates process that lead to improve soil quality and overall enhancement of resource use efficiency. 
 
Methods: The trials were conducted for consecutive two years (2017-18 and 2018-19) in split plot design with three main plot treatments as cropping system after Maize, viz, i) Maize-chickpea (CS1) ii) Maize-lentil (CS2) iii) Maize-lathyrus (CS3); with five sub-plot treatments as mulching i) No-mulching (Residue Removal) (M0) ii) In-situ Maize stalk mulching (M1) iii) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Water hyacinth (5 t/ha) (M2) iv) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Paddy straw (5 t/ha) (M3) v) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Water hyacinth (2.5 t/ha) + Paddy straw (2.5 t/ha) (M4) but the individual rabi crop&rsquo;s data were analyzed in randomized block design (RBD) as the individual crops have different growth characteristics. 
 
Result: Experiments result revealed that mulching with M3- In-situ maize stalk mulch + Paddy straw (5 t/ha) is the best practice for growing pulses under zero-till condition after Maize in Maize-legume cropping system. Growing of pulses in different cropping system under zero-till condition not only will increase the cropping intensity and production of pulses in the country but also will increase the fertility of the soil.</div>

<div>Performance of Zero-till Bio-mulching on Different Pulses under Maize-legume Sequence</div>

Background: Farmers&rsquo; conventional tillage and residue removal practices in rice-maize-greengram systems in India are input-intensive, costly and soil degradative. A number of soil quality issues have emerged due to continuous cropping and burning of residues threatening the sustainability of rice based cropping systems for the last more than four decades. Nevertheless, the in-situ or in-field decomposition of crop residue using microbial inoculum is rarely studied. This necessitated the use of microbial consortia developed by a combination of potent strains of fungi which can perform harmoniously for rapid decomposition of crop residues. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during 2020-21 and 2021-22 with eight residue-management treatments and three fertility levels to zero till maize at college farm, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU using strip plot design and the residual effect on the succeeding greengram was studied. 
 
Result: Greengram growth and yield were significantly higher under residual effect of incorporation of residues treated with microbial consortia consisting of Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus awamori and Phanerocheate spp. along with 300:100:100 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O (125% RDF) and P supplied in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) under zero tillage during summer, 2021 and 2022. Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production and yield attributes like number of pods plant-1, pod length and number of seeds pod-1 in greengram were higher under residue incorporated plots compared to residue burning, removal and retention plots with 125% RDF.

Residual Effects of Microbial Treated Paddy Residues Applied to Zero Till Maize on Growth and Yield of Summer Greengram

<div>The present experimentation was undertaken during pre-kharif season of 2013 and 2014 to study the varietal performance of cowpea in rice-wheat cropping system at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibai, Cooch Behar, West Bengal after harvesting of wheat under zero tillage conditions and before rice sowing. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications by using eighteen varieties of cowpea. The result of pooled data revealed that all the growth, yield parameters and quality parameters varied significantly with respect to different varieties of cowpea. The longest and lowest vine length was noticed in Lafa Sundari Bangla (112.10 cm) and VU-5 (32.64 cm), minimum and maximum days for flowering, first harvesting and last harvesting was recorded in Kaberee and Pusa Phalguni Gold. Variety Girija and Deshi Lafa produced longest pod (45.40 cm), highest individual pod weight (14.29g). &nbsp;For number of pods per plant Triguna (31.07) was found highest which was statistically at par with Kanak (30.70), Kashi Kanchan (29.33). Maximum yield of 18.51 t/ha was obtained from Kashi Kanchan followed by Triguna (17.07 tonnes/ ha) and Kanak (16.69 tonnes/ha). Lafa Sundari Bangala recorded with highest beta carotene content (1037 IU/100g fresh pod), ascorbic acid content (20.17 mg/100g fresh pod) as well as highest protein content of 4.69 per cent. Hence, it is concluded that the cowpea variety Kashi Kanchan, Triguna and Kanak may be recommended for commercial cultivation in rice-wheat cropping system under terai zone of West Bengal as they produced higher yield (34.52 %, 24.06 % and 21.29 %, respectively) over the check variety Lafa Sundari Bangla.</div>

<div>Performance of cowpea varieties under zero tillage conditions in rice-wheat cropping system</div>

Background: This study evaluates the benefit of zero tillage over conventional tillage for cultivating field pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties in rice fallow system (RFS) during winter season of 2023 at Hengbung, Manipur. The study is conducted to compare the productivity of the two varieties V1-Aman (IPF 5-19), V2-Prakash (IPFD 1-10) with tillage practices, W1-zero tillage and W2-conventional tillage. Soil analysis after harvest is recorded for studying the residual effect. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The experimental design adopted is split plot design where the field pea variety, V1&nbsp;and V2&nbsp;is assigned in subplots and the tillage practices, W1&nbsp;and W2&nbsp;is assigned in the mainplots. The study involves four treatments (T) which are T1@V1W1, T2@V1W2, T3@ V2W1&nbsp;and T4@ V2W2 in 1hectare experimental farm at FGI, Hengbung in RFS replicated five times. The data for agronomic parameters were recorded and Soil chemical analysis for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were recorded to study the residual effect. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The recorded agronomic parameters and their residual effect on soil nutrient indicates that zero tillage demonstrated better performance over conventional tillage with both the varieties. There is significant difference between the two varieties and also the nutrient released in soil after harvest where V1&nbsp;shows better performance in yield and nutrient release over V2&nbsp;and within the same varieties the treatment T1 and T3 shows better performance. The overall findings suggest that zero tillage significantly enhances the crop output of field pea cultivation in RFS.

Residual impact of Zero Tillage and Conventional Tillage on the Productivity of Field Pea Variety Aman (IPF 5-19) and Prakash (IPFD 1-10) under Rice Fallow System

<div>Background: Field experiments/ On Farm Trial (OFT) were conducted at Farmers field in village Hasanchak and Agwanpur under the ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barh, Patna during the winter season (Rabi). The basic aim of experiment was to find out the effective method of weed control in Zero- tilled wheat through the application of herbicide.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid in Randomized Block design (RBD) in 2014-2015, replicated 4 times (Farmers field) with 5 treatments viz., 2,4-D, ethyl ester 2.00 kg ha-1 at 25 days after sowing (DAS) fb one hand weeding (Conventional tillage-Farmer practices) at 55 DAS, Sulfosulfuron 75% WP 25 g ha-1, Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 20 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, Sulfosuluron 75% WP + Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 40 g ha-1 at 25 DAS and control (Unweeded).&nbsp; 
 
Result: Sulfosuluron 75% WP + Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 40 g ha-1 at 25 days after sowing provided effective control of grassy and broadleaf weeds and recorded less dry weight and highest (91%) weed control efficiency (WCE). Herbicide Sulfosulfuron 75% WP 25 g ha-1 and Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 20 g ha-1 controlled only grassy and broadleaf weeds, respectively. 2,4-D, ethyl ester 2.00 kg ha-1 fb one hand weeding (Conventional tillage-Farmer practices) recorded higher weed dry weight and less weed control efficiency (WCE). Significantly higher grain yield (4280 kg ha-1) was recorded under Sulfosuluron 75% WP + Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 40 g ha-1 at 25 days after sowing followed by Metsulfuron 20% WP 20 g ha-1, Sulfosulfuron 75% WP 25 g ha-1, 2,4-D, 2.00 kg ha-1 fb one hand weeding (Farmer practices). Significantly higher net return (Rs. 48145 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.93) were recorded under Sulfosuluron 75% WP + Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 40 g ha-1 at 25 days after sowing.</div>

Efficacy of Herbicides on Weed Control in Zero-tilled Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Eastern Indo-gangetic Plains

Zero Tillage (ZT) has been considered as a proven technology to increase the farm income, but its adoption in the semi-arid part of western India is still uncertain. This paper examines the ZT diffusion pattern (including the reasons for non- and dis-adoption and constraints in adoption of the technology) and estimates the farm-level impacts of the ZT technology. &nbsp;The most pronounced impact of ZT is at the cost-saving compartment. However, since ZT wheat farmers could sow the crop much earlier than their conventional counterparts results in gaining 8 percent increase in yield. &nbsp;Determinants of adoption were attempted employing a multinomial logit model. &nbsp;Ownership of ZT drill, cropping pattern and household factors were influencing ZT adoption. Although a number of constraints for continuous adoption of ZT, including uncongenial field situation (excess moisture, undulated plots, small landholding etc.) and difficulty to manage previous/kharif crop (pearl millet, cotton) residues. The ZT technology was also found to be effective in reducing the farmer dependency on external inputs and ensures sustainable production of wheat.