Background: In the face of quickly shifting weather patterns, sustainable agricultural production is essential. The Green Revolution in India led to intensive farming which led to loss of soil biota and degradation of organic matter content resulted in lower soil quality. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A four-year study (2016 to 2019) was taken up at Regional Agricultural Research station, Tirupati andhra Pradesh, India by growing 6 leguminous crops such as Pillipesara, Rice bean, Sunhemp, Green gram, Horse gram and Cowpea during summer under rainfed condition as a preceding crop and incorporated before sowing of Kharif groundnut. FYM was also tested as one of the treatments for comparison. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Results revealed that the choice of green manure crop significantly influenced groundnut yields. Growing and incorporating cowpea before Kharif groundnut resulted higher yields (1744 kg/ha) followed by green gram (1699 kg/ha) compared to fallow (1478 kg/ha). Microbial analysis at the end of the experiment revealed that highest fungal population (28.3 x 104 cfu/g) and actinomycet population (24 x 104 cfu/g) was observed in sunhemp followed by cowpea (27 x 104 cfu/g of soil) and (19.7 x 104 cfu/g) compared to fallow (7 x104 cfu/g) and (4.7 x 104 cfu/g). The highest bacterial population (33.3 x 106 cfu/g) was observed with green gram followed by horse gram (26.7 x 106 cfu/g) and cowpea (26.3 x 106 cfu/g). The highest organic carbon content (0.5 per cent) was observed with sunhemp followed by horse gram and cowpea (0.49 per cent) compared to fallow (0.45 per cent). Leguminous crops act as cover crops during summer in maintaining the soil temperature and protecting the soil biota and as green manure crops in enriching the soil during kharif.

Role of Summer Legumes in Sustaining the Rainfed Groundnut Productivity

<div>Background: The field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 experimental farm of Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.), India. The experiment comprised of ten treatments (maize-wheat, maize-wheat + gobhi sarson, dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean, sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean, maize + soybean chickpea + linseed, rice-wheat + gram, hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid), hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem, babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean and okra-turnip-tomato) which was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was conducted during October 2018-October 2019 (Kharif and Rabi seasons) at an elevation of 1100 m amsl at a latitude of 32&deg;04&rsquo;N and longitude of 76&deg;35&rsquo; E at Bhadiarkar Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK HPKV, Palampur, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The soil of the experimental area falls in the order of Alfisols with Paleudalf as the great group as per the Udic Moisture Regime. During kharif and rabi season the crop varieties were applied with the recommended dose of N, P2O5 and K2O (kg ha-1). The source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash. 
 
Result: In terms of food for human consumption, highest yield was obtained under the okra-turnip-tomato cropping sequence followed by dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean and sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean. While in terms of fodder yield, highest was obtained under hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid) cropping sequence followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem. Highest maize grain equivalent yield was obtained with okra-turnip-tomato crop sequence. All other treatments remained superior in comparison to the maize-wheat crop sequence. Maize + soybean-chickpea + linseed emerged to be the best treatment with the highest benefit cost ratio. The treatment comprising okra-turnip-tomato sequence also proved to be the second-best treatment followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid). Sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean recorded the highest uptake of the available nutrients from soil which was followed by babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean. There was net loss of available nutrients although the loss was less in the sequences with multiple crops during the year. The treatments had no significant effect on the pH and organic carbon content of the soil.</div>

​Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India

<div>Background: Direct seeded rice is very much prone for weed infestation in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The aim of this trial is to find out appropriate option for improving rice 
growth and yields besides increasing nutrient uptake. 
 
Methods: A field investigation was conducted during the Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Rice variety MTU-7029 was sown with Sesbania and sunhemp cover crop bispyribac Na 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS and 2, 4 -D 0.5 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS were applied to find out best weed control practice for enhancing growth, yields and nutrient uptake in direct seeded rice. 
 
Result: Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS markedly improved plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, chlorophyll content. Consequently, Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS influenced statistically grain and straw yields. Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS recorded significantly lower nutrients (NPK and Zn) depletion by weeds and higher nutrients (NPK and Zn) uptake as compared to hand weeding at 15 and 35 DAS in rice.</div>

Impact of Mulch, Cover Crop and Herbicides on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

<div>Background: In India, agriculture and animal husbandry are inextricably linked and are essential for livelihood security. Despite the fact that India has the world&rsquo;s largest livestock population, feed and fodder supply is under huge strain, especially as area accessible for fodder cultivation has been shrinking. During the months of March-May and November-February are known as lean periods of fodder production, the supply of green fodder is limited throughout the year in a rainfed condition. Fodder crops develop swiftly and cover the ground surface quickly, even in low-rainfall conditions, producing a significant amount of green fodder while also providing vegetative cover over the land, resulting in resource conserving&nbsp; as well as increased productivity. In this context, the current study was conducted to evaluate various fodder crops, assess their productivity and quality and make appropriate recommendations for semi-arid tropics of India. 
 
Methods: Field experiments were carried out for three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 at the Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu andhra Pradesh, India, which is located between 14&deg;41&#39;N Latitude and 77&deg;40&#39;E Longitude and an altitude of 350 m. above mean sea level, which falls under the Semi-Arid Tropics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments (fodder crops) and three replications. The treatments comprised of different fodder crops viz., fodder sorghum, fodder maize, fodder bajra, clusterbean, fodder cowpea, field bean, brown top millet, horse gram and sunhemp. 
 
Result: The current study concludes that fodder bajra, fodder sorghum and fodder maize are potential forage cereals because they can produce more quantity and quality fodder while also ensuring net monetary returns and fodder cowpea and sunhemp are the next best suitable forage legumes under late-sown conditions in the semi-arid tropics of India.</div>

Productivity and Quality of Fodder Crops under Late-sown Conditions in Semi-arid Tropics of India

<div>Background: Weeds are widely reported as a key constraint in organic agriculture. Soybean-chickpea is important cropping sequence adopted in Maharashtra State under irrigated condition. Weed management is a serious problem in both the crop and it mostly controlled through chemical weed control. Today, widespread use of herbicides has resulted in purporated environmental and health problem as well as residual problems to succeeding crops. Now a days residue free food requirement is high. In organic farming cultural and mechanical methods are necessary to break the weed cycle. So, keeping this point in view present investigation was carried out to evaluate organic weed management practices on growth, yield and weed control in soybean-chickpea sequence under irrigated condition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Kharif and rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19. The present investigation consisted of ten weed management practices viz. two hand weeding at 20-25 and 45-50 DAS, one hoeing 20-25 DAS + one hand weeding at 45-50 DAS, soybean + sunhemp incorporation after 35-40 DAS in kharif season and chickpea + safflower (2:1) in rabi season,&nbsp;stale seed bed + reduced spacing + 2 tonne of wheat straw + one hand weeding at 25&nbsp;DAS, soil mulch at the time of sowing + one hand pulling at 25 DAS, incorporation of neem cake 1.5 tonne/ ha 15 days before sowing + one hand weeding at 25 DAS, soil solarization with 25 &mu; polythene mulch during summer + one hand weeding&nbsp;at 25 DAS, mulching with straw, weed free and weedy check. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The higher values of growth attributes was recorded by weed free treatment which was on par with two hand weeding at 20-25 and 45-50 DAS and soil solarization with 25 &mu; polythene mulch during summer + one hand weeding at 25 DAS and significantly superior over rest of the treatments during both the year study. Application of stale seed bed with reduced spacing and 2 tonne of wheat straw along with one hand weeding 25 DAS recorded higher soybean equivalent yield followed by soybean + sunhemp incorporation (35-45DAS) in kharif and chickpea + safflower (2:1) in rabi season during both the year. The lower weed density, dry weight and highest weed control efficiency at 40 days after sowing for both monocot and dicot weeds was recorded by weed free treatment followed by soil solarization with 25 &mu; polythene mulch during summer + one hand weeding at 25 DAS in soybean and chickpea during both the year.</div>

<div>Evaluation of Organic Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Weed Control Efficiency in Soybean-chickpea Sequence under Irrigated Condition &nbsp;</div>

<div>Energy dynamics of the weed control options adopted in rainfed cotton was valuated in a study conducted at College farm, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, Telangana State during kharif, 2017 in red and black soils. Three doses of Diuron (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 kg ha-1), pendimethalin 38.7% CS at 677 g ha-1 as PE followed by sequential application of pyrithiobac sodium 10% EC 62.5 g ha-1 + quizalofop p ethyl 5% EC 50 g ha-1, intercropping of cotton with green manure crop (Sunhemp), mechanical weeding thrice at 20, 40 and 60 DAS (weed free), polymulch and unweeded control were thQAe treatments included in RBD design which was replicated thrice. The energy balance studies were determined by using direct and indirect energy. The results indicated that the maximum energy input was required for polymulch in both the soils. Highest kapas energy output (EOk) was observed in polymulch and mechanical weeding which was followed by diuron 1.0 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoEin red soil, whereas in black soils, diuron 0.75 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE followed polymulch and mechanical weeding treatments. EUE of both kapas and total output was significantly higher in diuron 1.0 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE in red soil. While in black soil, significantly highest EUE of kapas and total output was recorded in diuron 0.75 kg ha-1PE fbpyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE.</div>

Role of Summer Legumes in Sustaining the Rainfed Groundnut Productivity

​Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India

Impact of Mulch, Cover Crop and Herbicides on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Productivity and Quality of Fodder Crops under Late-sown Conditions in Semi-arid Tropics of India

Evaluation of Organic Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Weed Control Efficiency in Soybean-chickpea Sequence under Irrigated Condition

Energy Balance Studies of Weed Control Practices in Rainfed Cotton

Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India