<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: Nutrient management and cropping sequence are two important factors which affect soybean grain equivalent yield and system productivity of soybean based crop sequence. System productivity is one the important part of the successful crop production. A field experiment was conducted at Akola to check effect of levels of nutrient management on soybean grain equivalent yield and system productivity of soybean-onion and soybean-potato cropping system. Agronomic crop is combined with the high daily used vegetable crop to check feasibility of combination to increase the system productivity of crop sequence. 
 
Methods: At the research farm of the Department of Agronomy, Dr. P. D. K. V., Akola (MS), the current experiment, titled &ldquo;effect of nutrient management levels on growth, yield attributes, soybean grain equivalent yield and system productivity of soybean based cropping sequence,&rdquo; was carried out in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Three replications and a split plot design were used to set up the experiment. The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics of Soybean in (kharif) and onion or potato crops (rabi) was collected at regular intervals which was analyzed statistically in RBD (randomized block design) and SPD (split plot design). 
 
Result: Among the cropping sequences soybean-onion cropping sequence recorded significantly higher soybean grain equivalent yield, system productivity as compared to soybean-potato crop sequence. Application of 100% RDF + FYM 5 t ha-1 + Biofertilizer applied to kharif soybean and 125% RDF to rabi sequence crops (onion and potato) recorded significantly higher soybean grain equivalent yield, system productivity than rest of the combinations and found statistically similar with treatment combination of 75% RDF + FYM 5 t ha-1 + Biofertilizer applied to kharif soybean and 100% RDF to rabi sequence crops (onion and potato).

Effect of Nutrient Management Levels on Soybean Grain Equivalent Yield (Sgey) and Total System Productivity (Tsp) of Soybean based Cropping Sequence

<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: Long term regular practice of soybean-chickpea and soybean-wheat system in the growing region is posing severe problems before the growers such as low productivity, profitability and monetary net return use efficiency due to delayed sowing of wheat and low market value of produce as well as poor economic&nbsp; viability of this cropping system. 
 
Methods: A field trial was laid out during monsoon (rainy), winter and late winter seasons of the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 to evaluate the productivity, cost benefit and sustainability of soybean based crop sequences under Vertisols for Malwa Plateau at the experimental field of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh in Central India. In 16 cropping sequences, soybean was sequenced with feasible winter crops viz. wheat, chickpea, garlic, onion, potato and garden pea with inclusion of garlic, onion in late winter and assessed in randomized block design with four replications.&nbsp; 
 
Results: Soybean (JS 93-05) - potato (Kufri jyoti) - onion (AFLR) cropping sequence registered the highest soybean equivalent yield (17731 kg/ha) with maximum gross returns (₹ 4,83,207/ha), net returns (₹ 3,62,170/ha), benefit: cost ratio (4.0) and monetary return use efficiency (per day return) (1156.01). Next highest soybean equivalent yield (10443 kg/ha) with maximum gross returns ₹ 2,83,337/ha, net returns ₹ 2,07,562/ha, benefit: cost ratio 3.74 and monetary return use efficiency (879.81) was recorded in soybean (JS 93-05) - onion (AFLR) cropping sequence than existing cropping sequences (soybean-wheat and soybean-chick pea).</div>

Productivity, Profitability and Monetary Net Return Use Efficiency of Need based Soybean (Glycine max) Cropping Systems under Vertisols in Malwa Plateau of India

<div>Background: In soybean growing areas, the agro-climatic conditions of mansoon season favours more to grow only soybean during kharif season even in assured irrigation water supply 
circumstances. But there is a magnificent opportunity to put back wheat during rabi season by adopting the diversification towards other crops which are having higher water productivity. 
 
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 of water productivity of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] based cropping systems under Vertisols in Malwa Plateau of Madhya Pradesh, India. In 16 cropping sequences, soybean was sequenced with feasible winter crops viz. 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. 
 
Result: The maximum soybean equivalent yield (17731 kg/ha), net monetary returns (₹ 362170/ha), profitability (4.0), consumptive use (150.20 cm/ha) of water and productivity of water (367.35 kg/ha/cm) was recorded in crop sequence T15 - soybean (JS 93-05) - potato (Kufri jyoti) - onion (AFLR) while the minimum soybean equivalent yield (4279 kg/ha), consumptive use of water (60.09 cm/ha), water productivity (115.17 kg/ha/cm) and profitability (2.81) was noted in existing crop sequence i.e. T3 - soybean (JS 95-60) - chickpea (JG-130) desi.</div>

Assessment of Water Productivity of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] based Cropping Systems under Vertisols in Malwa Plateau of Madhya Pradesh, India

<div>Background: Inclusion of high value vegetable crops like onion and potato in soybean based crop sequence may help to improve the productivity and profitability on sustainable basis. Nutrient management and cropping sequence are two important factors which affect productivity and profitability of crop. As such, information on soybean followed by onion and potato is lacking and it will be very useful for exploring the productivity and profitability of soybean followed by high value vegetable crop sequence.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics, gross monetary returns and net monetary returns of Soybean (kharif) and Onion or Potato (rabi) was collected at regular interval in 2017-18, 2018-19 at Agronomy Farm, Dr. PDKV, Akola which was analyzed statistically in RBD (Randomized Block Design) and SPD (Split Plot Design).</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Result: S1- soybean-onion recorded more production efficiency than S2- soybean-potato. S1- soybean-onion reported greater economic efficiency than S2- soybean-potato. Soybean crop supplied with IN3 (100% RDN applied with FYM@ 5 t per ha and biofertilizer) registered highest production efficiency and economic efficiency than IN1 ( 50% RDN applied with FYM5 t per ha and biofertilizer) to soybean and found at par with IN2 (75% RDN applied with FYM5 t per ha and biofertilizer) to soybean. Rabi crop (onion/potato) supplied with F3&nbsp; (125% RDF) level registered significantly greater production and economic efficiency than lower levels of recommended dose nutrient.</div>

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management Levels on Soybean and its Residual Effect on Production Efficiency and Economic Efficiency under Soybean-Onion and Soybean-Potato Cropping System

Background: Nutrient management and cropping sequence are two important factors which affect productivity and profitability of crop. Profitability is one the important part of the successful crop production. Soybean fixes atmospheric nitrogen in soil and partially fulfills the nitrogen requirement of succeeding crops. There is a need for a suitable substitute crop or cropping systems after soybean to improve the soil fertility and productivity to maximize the profitability. The plains of Maharashtra are well suited for onion and potato cultivation. There is scope for increasing the area, production and productivity of onion and potato crop. Majority of farmers in Maharashtra following soybean-wheat and soybean-chickpea crop sequence while in present investigation soybean is grown in sequence with vegetable crop such as onion and potato which could help to increase profitability through higher net return and B: C ratio.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Six combinations of two crop sequences (soybean-onion and soybean-potato) and three levels of nutrient management viz., 50% RDF+FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N1), 75 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N2) and 100 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N3) were the main plot treatments in kharif season replicated three times in randomized block design. During rabi season each main plot treatment of nutrient management level was split into three sub plot treatments with three levels of recommended dose of fertilizer viz., 75% RDF (F1), 100% RDF (F2) and 125% RDF (F3) to rabi season crops resulting in eighteen treatment combinations replicated three times in split plot design. The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics, economics of soybean (kharif) and onion or potato (rabi) was collected at regular interval in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20&nbsp; at Agronomy Farm, Dr. PDKV, Akola which was analyzed statistically in SPD (split plot design). 
 
Result: Soybean-onion crop sequence registered higher profitability in terms of GMR, NMR and B: C in comparison with soybean - potato crop sequence. Soybean crop supplied with 100%&nbsp; RDN+ 5 t FYM ha-1&nbsp;+ Biofertilizer (Rhizobium japonicum+ PSB+ Tricoderma viridi) recorded highest GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all year experimentation. Rabi crops treated with 125% RDF recorded GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all years of experimentation.

Impact of Levels of Nutrient Management on Economics of Soybean-onion and Soybean-potato Cropping System

<div style="text-align: justify;">Continuous adoption of Pearl millet-Wheat cropping system led to reduction in productivity which put a serious threat to its sustainability in semi-arid eastern plain zone of Rajasthan, India. Crop diversification with wider choice with a variety of crops is being promoted as an alternative to profit maximization with enhanced soil fertility status. Therefore, a long term experiment was initiated to evaluate the production potential, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and economics of nine Pearl millet based cropping systems. Result revealed that system productivity in terms of pearl millet equivalent yield (PMEY) was highest (30488 kg ha-1) with groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion crop rotation. Moreover, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion recorded the highest SYI and land use efficiency (0.65 and 73.97%) followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley sequence (0.63 and 65.75%). The groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion also generated highest number of man days/ha/year (405). The highest values of organic carbon were found under green gram-mustard-pearl millet-lentil and cluster bean-pea-pearl millet-lentil. The maximum value of available P was recorded with cluster bean-mustard-green gram-garden cress followed by the groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion sequence. Available K decreased significantly from their initial values in all the cropping systems except groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion crop rotation. Among the various systems, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion realized the highest net returns ( 213000 ha-1), followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley ( 163254 ha-1). Overall, it can be concluded that under the semi-arid agro climatic conditions of Rajasthan, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion, followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley, were more productive, sustainable, resource use efficient and remunerative than other cropping systems.</div>

Crop diversification of predominant Pearl millet based cropping system for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency and profitability in Semi-Arid Rajasthan

<div>Background: Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries in the world. To meet up the increasing food demand there&rsquo;s no alternative to increase the cropping intensity through high yielding and short duration crop varieties. Currently, cropping system of Bangladesh is mostly rice based which is also the staple food. Therefore, farmers which follow rice-rice based cropping patterns are gaining less profit day by day. Contrary, intensive rice culture is depleting soil properties gradually. Thus, to preserve soil health and increase profit pulse and oil seed based cropping patterns are crucial for sustaining a cropping pattern. This study was undertaken to find out a cropping pattern with higher yield and profit in the context of Magura district. 
 
Methods: Five cropping patterns, CP1 = Transplanted Aman rice (cv. Binadhan-7)- Mustard (cv. Binasarisha-9)- Boro rice (cv. Binadhan-14); CP2 = T.Aman (cv. Binadhan-16)-Mustard (cv. Binasarisha-10)- Boro (cv. Binadhan-14); CP3 = T.Aman (cv. Binadhan-17) -Mustard (cv. Binasarisha-10)- Boro (cv. Binadhan-14); CP4 = T.Aman (cv. Binadhan-17)-&nbsp;Lentil (cv. Binamasur-8)- Sesame (cv. Binatil-3) and &nbsp;CP5 (Control) -&nbsp;Aman (cv. Shorna) &ndash; Boro (cv. Heera) - fallow were assessed to identify the most suitable and profitable pattern as well as to enhance the cropping intensity by adding a pulse or oil seed crop between two rice crops. The investigation was conducted at farmer&rsquo;s field of Magura during 2018-19. Block farming method was followed for experiment set up.&nbsp; 
 
Result: It was revealed that, maximum rice equivalent yield (REY) was obtained from CP1 (14.46 t/ha) followed by CP4 (13.52 t/ha), CP3 (13.35 t/ha), CP2 (13.09 t/ha) and CP5 (11.33 t/ha) during one year crop cycle. Highest gross margin (Tk. 1,90,189) and MBCR (1.83) was obtained from the cropping pattern CP4 and the lowest gross margin (Tk. 69,271) and MBCR (1.24) was found with the pattern CP5. Based on the above results it can be suggested that, Aman rice-Lentil-Sesame pattern i.e. CP4 may be a best choice for the farmers of Magura region for the maximum utilization of their land and gaining more profit compared to the other studied cropping patterns.</div>

<div>Yield and Profitability Analysis of Pulse and Oil Seed Based Cropping Patterns against Aman- Boro- Fallow Cropping Systems in Magura</div>

<div>Background: Small millets and pulses are world&rsquo;s renowned crops for their nutritional significance. Being an underutilized species; rainfed farmers solely depend on them for their livelihood; which would be enhanced in a planned and efficient cropping system. The current study aimed to the identify suitable inter and sequential crops for rainfed little millet. 
 
Methods: In this study, four cropping patterns with two different row proportions for intercropping [viz., (4:1), (6:1)] were used with little millet as a main crop. The cropping systems include - little millet + pigeonpea [(4:1), (6:1)] followed by a sequential horsegram; little millet + pigeonpea followed by moth bean and little millet + lablab [(4:1), (6:1)] followed by Horsegram and little millet + lablab followed by mothbean.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among them; a higher grain equivalent yield was observed in little millet + pigeonpea (6:1); followed by horsegram. However, higher dry matter, grain weight and higher individual crop yield was obtained in little millet + pigeonpea (6:1) followed by mothbean. Although individual mono cropping yields of these crops were higher; the pattern with little millet - pigeonpea (6:1) followed by horsegram could be recommended as a methodology to aid higher economic returns in shorter period.</div>