Browsing by Author "Sunil Kumar Verma"

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Agronomic management: irrigation scheduling, mulching and integrated nutrient management influences growth, yields, quality, and economics of summer groundnut in a subtropical condition of India
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2024) Avinash Chandra Maurya; Sunil Kumar Verma; Sushil Kumar; Shashi Shekhar; Sukumar Taria; Badre Alam; Ashok Yadav; Tej Ram Banjara
In changing climate scenarios, practically sound and suitable agronomic management options are of utmost need for sustainable crop production. An experiment involving three irrigation scheduling, two mulching, and four integrated nutrient management (INM) treatments was undertaken for consecutive two years at the Research Farm of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India in a split-split plot design with three replicates. This study evaluated the effect of irrigation scheduling, mulching, and INM on the performance of summer groundnut under sub-tropical conditions. Irrigation scheduling, mulching, and INM had a significant influence on growth and developmental parameters, yield attributes, yields, shelling (%), harvest index, quality parameters, and economics. Scheduling irrigation at lower cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) hugely benefited crops through increased pod yield (8.3%) haulm yield (5%), kernel yield (8.4%), oil yield (8.6%), and net returns (12.7%) over higher CPE (100 mm). The use of paddy straw mulch enhanced pod yield, haulm yield, kernel yield, oil yield, and net returns by 8.2, 3.6, 8.3, 9.0, and 13.2%, respectively as compared to dust mulch. Among INM, 75% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) + 25% N (FYM) + 60 kg S (gypsum) adjudged significantly better and recorded higher biological yield (16%), net returns (39%), and B:C ratio (16.2%) than 100% RDN. It is concluded that scheduling irrigation at 60 mm CPE along with paddy straw mulch and 75% RDN + 25% N (FYM) + 60 kg S (gypsum) can be adopted for better yield and economics of summer groundnut under sub-tropical conditions. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Bio-fortification of minerals in crops: current scenario and future prospects for sustainable agriculture and human health
(Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2022) Durgesh Kumar Jaiswal; Ram Krishna; Gowardhan Kumar Chouhan; Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira; Avinash Bapurao Ade; Satya Prakash; Sunil Kumar Verma; Ram Prasad; Janardan Yadav; Jay Prakash Verma
Minerals are the key factor determining human beings’ optimum growth and development. The deficiencies of minerals and vitamins hinder the human normal growth and development and economic status. In the 21st century, macro and micronutrient deficiencies are significant challenges to improving the nutritional value of foods at the socio-economic level. Bio-fortification is a simple strategy to improve the nutritional value of the human diet. Several bio-fortification strategies, including traditional breeding, transgenic, agronomic, and modernized agriculture practices, were employed to biofortify crops to meet nutritional needs. However, these strategies are also lacking sustainability due to the specific crop species and micronutrients, provision of long-term monitoring and assistance, long term high cost of special chemical fertilizers, losses of crop yield due to chemical fertilizers-induced alterations of plant metabolism, environmental and health impact originating from incorporation new minerals elements like Se and Cu. Therefore, microbial bio-fortification can promote human health and agriculture sustainability. This review highlights; the phyto-availability of micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca, Se, I, & Cu) for human diets; availability of micronutrients value in a stable in the edible part of plants; plant uptakes of micronutrients from the soil system; & strategies of crops fortification and its importance. At present, microbial bio-fortification should be emphasized by exploring the macro and micronutrients regulatory mechanisms through plant-microbe interaction with specific soil systems and climate change. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
Co-Implementation of Tillage, Precision Nitrogen, and Water Management Enhances Water Productivity, Economic Returns, and Energy-Use Efficiency of Direct-Seeded Rice
(MDPI, 2022) Vijay Pratap; Anchal Dass; Shiva Dhar; Subhash Babu; Vinod Kumar Singh; Raj Singh; Prameela Krishnan; Susama Sudhishri; Arti Bhatia; Sarvendra Kumar; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Renu Singh; Pramod Kumar; Susheel Kumar Sarkar; Sunil Kumar Verma; Kavita Kumari; Aye Aye San
The sustainability of conventional rice (Oryza sativa L.) production systems is often questioned due to the over-mining of groundwater and environmental degradation. This has led to the development of cost-effective, resource-efficient, and environmentally clean rice production systems by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) use. Hence, a 2-year field study (2019 and 2020) was conducted at the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to assess the effect of precision N and water management strategies on growth, land, and water productivity, as well as energy-use efficiency in scented direct-seeded rice (DSR). Two crop establishment methods, conventional-till DSR (CT-DSR) and zero-till DSR (ZT-DSR) along with three irrigation scenarios (assured irrigation (irrigation after 72 h of the drying of surface water), irrigation at 20% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), and 40% DASM+Si (80 kg ha−1)) were assigned to the main plots; three N management options, a 100% recommended dose of N (RDN): 150 kg ha−1; Nutrient Expert® (NE®)+leaf color chart (LCC) and NE®+soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meter-based N management were allocated to sub-plots in a three-time replicated split-plot design. The CT-DSR produced 1.4, 11.8, and 89.4, and 2.4, 18.8, and 152.8% more grain yields, net returns, and net energy in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over ZT-DSR. However, ZT-DSR recorded 8.3 and 10.7% higher water productivity (WP) than CT-DSR. Assured irrigation resulted in 10.6, 16.1 16.9, and 8.1 and 12.3, 21.8 20.6, and 6.7% higher grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over irrigation at 20% DASM. Further, NE®+SPAD meter-based N management saved 27.1% N and recorded 9.6, 18.3, 16.8, and 8.3, and 8.8, 21.7, 19.9, and 10.7% greater grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP over RDN in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Thus, the study suggested that the NE®+SPAD-based N application is beneficial over RDN for productivity, resource-use efficiency, and N-saving (~32 kg ha−1) both in CA-based and conventionally cultivated DSR. This study also suggests irrigating DSR after 72 h of the drying of surface water; however, under obviously limited water supplies, irrigation can be delayed until 20% DASM, thus saving two irrigations, which can be diverted to additional DSR areas. © 2022 by the authors.
Crop water use, nutrient content and uptake as influenced by irrigation and nitrogen management in potato (Solanum tuberosum) - Maize (Zea mays) cropping system
(2012) Sunil Kumar Verma; L.K. Idnani
Field experiment was conducted in two consecutive rabi and summer seasons at IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of methods and regimes of irrigation and levels of nitrogen on water use, nutrient content and uptake in potato-maize cropping system. Significant improvement in crop height, yield attributes, yield, nutrients uptake, consumptive use, rate of water use and soil moisture extraction were with conventional furrow irrigation, irrigation at 60 mm CPE and with integrated nitrogen supply of 120 kg N (urea) + 30 kg N (FYM)/ha . Higher nitrogen dose reduced the specific gravity of potato. The highest water-use efficiency (364.5 kg/ha-cm) was recorded with irrigation at 100 mm CPE. Irrigation methods or regimes used in potato had no effect on succeeding maize. While, application of 120 kg N (urea) + 30 kg N (FYM)/ha recorded significantly higher grain (1.57 tonnes/ha) and stover (6.41 tonnes/ha) yields and nutrients uptake; application 150 kg N/ha through urea was at par.
Diversified cropping modules designed for soil restoration, CO2 sequestration, and generating carbon credits
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2024) Ram Swaroop Meena; Gourisankar Pradhan; Nalani; Sandeep Kumar; Ambuj Kumar Singh; Sunil Kumar Verma; Krishan Kant Mina; Sunil Kumar; R.K. Chaturvedi
This study aimed to know the potential of different cropping modules (CMs) that started on the degraded land representing 4450 km2 of the Vindhyan region of India. The objective of the study was to know (i) the higher carbon dioxide (CO2) biosequestration, (ii) enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, and (iii) generate carbon (C) credit to the additional income as a climate currency to the farmers. The experiment was carried out on 4–13 years (2010–2022) old practiced CMs viz; (1) Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) + bajra (Pennisetum glaucum), 13-year; (2) Guava (Psidium guajava) + phalsa (Grewia asiatica), 4-year; (3) Teak (Tectona grandis) + wheat (Triticum aestivum), 10-year; (4) Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), 13-year; (5) Pasture land, 13-year, and (6) Rice (Oryza sativa),13-year. Soil samples were collected from two depths (0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m) under 82.7 and 83.33 East longitude and 23.52 and 25.32 North latitudes. Results showed that the mean data of depths pH and electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 4.4–8.1 and 0.10–0.77 dS m−1, respectively. Furthermore, the mean data of both depths' bulk density (ρb) varied between 1.3 and 1.5 Megagram (Mg) m−3. The mean data of both depths available soil organic C (ASOC) (7.25 g kg−1) and SOC stock (14.43 Mg ha−1) in the pasture land-based CMs found 137.7% and 111.0% more over rice-based CMs (3.05 g kg−1 and 6.84 Mg ha−1), respectively. The maximum permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C), microbial biomass C in soil (MBCS), and total organic C (TOC) stock based on mean data of both depths were 798.2 mg kg−1, 92.6 μg g−1, and 46.3 Mg ha−1 found in pasture land-based CMs. Regarding mean data of both depths, the recalcitrant index (RI) and lability index (LI) ranged about 0.4–0.9 and 1.7–2.0, respectively. Moreover, the highest total CO2 biosequestration (124.7 Mg ha−1), C credit (US$ 6233 ha−1), and the social cost (US$ 10,720 ha−1) were observed in eucalyptus + bajra-based CMs. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA) study, the principal component 1 (PC1) and PC2 explained 74.6 and 16.6% variability on various parameters, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between ASOC and MBCS was 0.74. The hypothesis of this study was to create agricultural CMs that would restore degraded land levels of SOC fraction, enhance the CO2 biosequestration, and generate C-credit for farmers as a climate currency for additional income. Furthermore, it will fulfil the net zero emission goal and bring down neutral land degradation. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Effect of irrigation schedule and herbicides application on growth and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in semi-arid environment
(Indian Society of Agronomy, 2022) K. Lakra; Ram Pyare; Puneet Kumar Singh; Sunil Kumar Verma; Rajiv Kumar Singh; Pravin Kumar Upadhyay; Vishal Tyagi
A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2017–18 and 2018–19 at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to study the influence of irrigation scheduling and weed-management practices on growth and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 4 irrigation scheduling in main plot and 8 weed-management practices in subplots. Results revealed that, application of 5 irrigations at crown root initiation (CRI) + jointing + boot-ing+ flowering + milking stage resulted in the maximum plant height (79.9 cm at harvest), crop dry-matter accumulation (385.1 g/running m at harvest), number of leaves [230/running m at 80 days after sowing (DAS)], leaf area index (2.60 at 60 DAS), crop growth rate (4.09 g/m2 /day between 40-80 DAS), relative growth rate (2.66 g/g/day between 40-80 DAS), net assimilation rate (0.59 g/cm2 /day between 40-80 DAS) and the biological yield (6,899 kg/ha) over irrigation at CRI and active tillering stage and irrigation at CRI + jointing + booting, and it was statisti-cally at par with irrigation at CRI + active tillering + booting + flowering stage. Among herbicidal treatments, significantly maximum value of crop-growth parameters and biological yield (7007 kg/ha) was recorded with the application of carfentrazone ethyl 20% + sulfosulfuron 25% WG @ 100 g a.i./ha at 35 days after sowing (DAS) followed by clodinafop-propargyl 15% + metsulfuron methyl 1% @ 400 g a.i./ha 35 DAS compared to the other herbicidal treatments. But hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS showed superiority to herbicidal treatments during both the years. © 2022, Indian Society of Agronomy. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of biomethane potential of codigested sheep manure and kitchen refuse
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Puneet Kumar Singh; Haragobinda Srichandan; Sanjay Kumar Ojha; Ritesh Pattnaik; Sunil Kumar Verma; Sreyasi Pal; Jagriti Singh; Snehasish Mishra
A study on the biomethanation potential of codigested sheep manure (SM) and kitchen refuse (KR) was carried out. Both the substrates varied in their C:N ratio, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents, although they had very similar moisture and volatile solid (VS) contents. Anaerobic codigestion to balance the C:N ratio thereby making the process more efficient to help enhance biomethanation is a universally accepted strategy. Various combinations (80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80) were used for biogas production alongside pure SM (100:0) and KR (0:100) to arrive at an efficient ratio using the digested slurry from an active biodigestor as the microbial inoculum. A 40-day experiment was set at 40 °C and pH 7.0 initial conditions, and the effect of the codigestion on the pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and the C:N ratio was evaluated. It was observed that the biogas and methane generation were maximal at SM:KR::40:60 combination with 7.0–7.5 pH, 23.3 C:N ratio, and a balanced VFA production and utilisation. The maximum cumulative biogas and methane generated were 2575 mL and 1660 mL, and the calculated biogas and methane generation based on the VS content were 209.35 and 135.13 mL/g VS. Based on the results obtained from the study, it is suggested that sheep manure and kitchen refuse codigestion could help enhance biogas production at 40:60 combination. Although reports on codigestion of other such biogasifiable substrates exist, similar studies could be tried for numerous other nonconventional organic biogasifiable substrates to validate their biomethanation potentials and enhancements. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Herbicide and irrigation management options in conventionally-tilled wheat: deciphering water and energy budgeting, and grain and monetary output in north-Indian plains
(Nature Research, 2025) Sunil Kumar Verma; Chandra Bhushan; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot; Richa Chaudhary; Ramawatar Narayan Meena; Sanjeev K. Kashyap; Vijay Sai Pratap; Peeyush Kumar Jaysawal; Sukhchain B. Singh; Ram Kumar Singh; Deepak Kumar Yadav
In South Asia, declining water tables due to increased irrigation and labor shortages for manual weeding pose significant challenges for wheat production. Additionally, herbicide resistance, often resulting from poor management practices, further complicates weed problems. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of traditional irrigation regimens (IRs) and herbicide application on wheat crops. The findings showed that when irrigation was applied at 100 mm CPE (IR4), and at 40 mm CPE (IR1), different combinations of herbicide to weed managment were tested. In comparison to the other treatments, application of irrigation at 40 mm cumulative pan evaporation (IR1) along with the Pendimethalin1000 g ha−1 (pre-em) in combination with clodinafop-propargyl 10% + metribuzin 22% + sulfosulfuron 4.2% at a rate of 1125 g ha−1 at 30 DAS (WM1) produced the best results in terms of crop yields, economic returns, relative water content, consumptive use, rate of water use, water use efficiency, water productivity, energy input–output, energy returns, energy productivity, energy intensity, specific energy, energy efficiency, maximum field capacity, available soil water, and soil profile moisture extraction pattern. The only exceptions were Pendimethalin1000g ha−1 (pre-em) combined with carfentrazone ethyl 20% + sulfosulfuron 25%WG), at the rate of 100 g ha−1 at 30 DAS (WM2) and the weed-free treatment (WM5), where the differences were not statistically significant. The yield of wheat grain (14.26 kg ha−1) and straw (14.41 kg ha−1) decreased as the unit dry matter production of weeds increased. The study recommends exploring additional weed control strategies and irrigation management options in future improve wheat yields in conventionally-tilled systems. © The Author(s) 2024.
Influence of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on growth, yield and quality of mungbean (Vigna radiata)
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 2020) Ram Swaroop Meena; Tarun Verma; Sunil Kumar Verma; Ajeet Singh; Sunil Kumar; D.S. Gurjar
The study concluded that response of organic manures and fertilizers application of 125% RDF+ Zn+ Fe+ pressmud improved the growth parameters, yield attributes, yields and quality of seed found best treatment combination, and also in terms of net return and B: C ratio. It is concluded that the appHcation of better combination of the organic and inorganic sources of the nutrients helps to the farmers, to get the economically better mungbean yield and enhance the soil fertility in the rice-wheat cropping system belt of India. Demand of the country to sustain the rice-wheat cropping system and food security can be achieved through the application of organic manures and fertilizer with diversification of crop with pulse based cropping system © 2020 Indian Council of Agricultural Research. All rights reserved.
Influence of tillage and herbicide strategies on weed dynamics and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance in saline soils of Northern India
(Horizon e-Publishing Group, 2025) Mohammad Vaheed; Chandra Bhushan; Sunil Kumar Verma; Sukhchain B. Singh; Sudhir Kumar S. Rajpoot; Sidra Qidwai; Sameer Shrivastava
A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2019-20 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, to assess the effects of tillage and herbicide combinations on weed dynamics, crop growth and wheat yield under saline soil conditions. The study involved 15 treatment combinations arranged in a split-plot design (SPD) with three replications. The main plots included three tillage operations: T0-zero tillage (ZT), T1-minimum tillage (MT) and T2-conventional tillage (CT). The sub-plots consisted of five weed management treatments: pendimethalin 1.5 kg active ingredient/ha (pre-emergence), pendimethalin 1.0 kg active ingredient/ha (pre-emergence) followed by sulfosulfuron (SFS) at 0.025 kg active ingredient/ha (post-emergence), SFS + metsulfuron-methyl (MSM) at 0.032 kg active ingredient/ha (post-emergence), a weedy check and a weed-free control. The results revealed that ZT significantly reduced weed density and dry weight while enhancing weed control efficiency (WCE) compared to MT and CT. Among the herbicide treatments, the sequential application of pendimethalin (1.0 kg active ingredient/ha) followed by SFS (0.025 kg active ingredient/ha) was the most effective in suppressing weed growth and improving WCE and enhancing crop growth and yield. This treatment was statistically on par with the SFS + MSM application. The combination of ZT with pendimethalin followed by SFS (T0W2) recorded the lowest weed infestation and the highest values for plant height, dry matter accumulation, tillers per m row length and grain yield. This was closely followed by the ZT combined with SFS + MSM treatment (T0W3), highlighting the synergistic benefits of conservation tillage and sequential herbicide application. © The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/)
Interaction effect of irrigation scheduling, mulching and integrated nutrient management on summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields under subtropical conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh
(Applied and Natural Science Foundation, 2019) Avinash Chandra Maurya; Sunil Kumar Verma; Sushil Kumar; Kairovin Lakra
The study aimed to evaluate the interaction effect of irrigation scheduling, mulching and integrated nutrient management on yields of summer groundnut under sub-tropical conditions. An experiment of summer groundnut involving three irrigation scheduling, two mulching and four integrated nutrient management treatments was undertaken for consecutive two years at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India in a split-plot design with three replications Treatments significantly influenced pod, kernel, haulm, and biological yield of groundnut. Irrigation scheduling at 60 CPE (cumulative pan evaporation) with paddy straw mulch and 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + 25% N through farmyard manure (FYM)] + 60 kg S through gypsum recorded highest pod (3611 kg ha-1 ), kernel (2254 kg ha-1 ), haulm (5185 kg ha-1 ), and biological yield (8743 kg ha-1 ). Further this treatment combination was found better for increasing summer groundnut yields under subtropical conditions. © 2019, Applied and Natural Science Foundation. All rights reserved.
Legumes for Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling: An Organic Approach
(Springer Singapore, 2019) Sandeep Kumar; Ram Swaroop Meena; Rahul Datta; Sunil Kumar Verma; Gulab Singh Yadav; Gourisankar Pradhan; Ali Molaei; G. K. M. Mustafizur Rahman; H.A. Mashuk
Food security, land degradation, eliminating the threats of climate change, soil sustainability, and crop productivity are the critical challenges in the coming years. Therefore, the sustainability of the agricultural production system is becoming a central component in enhancing food security and environmental sustainability. Legume crops could play a significant role in this perspective by carrying out numerous services in keeping with principles of sustainability. Incorporating legume crops into crop rotation is essential for implementing and integrating the conservation and improvement of soil health, quality, and fertility with diverse aspects of crop and livestock production into the natural farming systems. The source of nutrition to subsequent crops to maintain a continuous nitrogen (N) supply chain greatly varies with regard to the inclusion of legumes in the cropping system. The crop rotation, including pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), improved the total N content in the uppermost soil strata by around 100 μg g 1 soils, in comparison. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020.
Phenophase-based nitrogen and zinc scheduling for agronomic zinc biofortification and indices of wheat (Triticum aestivum)
(Indian Society of Agronomy, 2017) Arup Layek; Saroj Kumar Prasad; Manoj Kumar Singh; Sunil Kumar Verma; Rajendra Prasad Meena
A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2012–13 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to access nitrogen and zinc management on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phenophase (Zadoks scale) to increase yield, grain zinc content (agronomic biofortification) and agronomic indices of wheat. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (factorial) with 4 nitrogen scheduling [0 kg N/ha, 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) at sowing + 50% RDN at Z20, 50% RDN at sowing + 25% RDN at Z20 + 25% RDN at Z30 and 50% RDN at sowing + 25% RDN at Z20 + 25% RDN at Z37 ) and 4 zinc scheduling (0 kg Zn/ha, 0.5% Zn-EDTA spray at Z45, 0.25% Zn-EDTA spray at Z45 + 0.25% Zn-EDTA spray at Z60 and 0.25% Zn-EDTA spray at Z45 + 0.25% Zn-EDTA spray at Z73 ). Nitrogen scheduling (50% RDN at sowing + 50% RDN at Z20) and zinc scheduling (0.5% Zn-EDTA spray at Z45) recorded significantly higher effective tillers, 1,000-grain weight, yield, zinc uptake, partial factor productivity (PEP), agronomic efficiency (AE) and recovery efficiency (RE) over the other treatments. Nitrogen and zinc management also positively interacted and recorded higher effective tillers, grain yield, and nitrogen and zinc uptake with N1 × Zn1; however, the maximum grain zinc content (52.30 mg/kg) was recorded with N3 × Zn2 combination. © 2018, Indian Society of Agronomy. All rights reserved.
Precision nitrogen and water management in double zero -till wheat: effects on photosynthetic parameters, productivity, nutrient-use efficiency and N2O emission
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Vijay Sai Pratap; Anchal Dass; Prameela Krishnan; Susama Sudhishri; Anil Kumar Choudhary; Arti Bhatia; Dinesh Jinger; Sunil Kumar Verma; Arjun K. Singh; Aye Aye San; Kadagonda Nithinkumar; K. S. Sachin; Kavita Kumari; Rahul Sadhukhan; S. Dasaratha Kumar; Venkatesh Paramesha; Teekam Singh; Ramanjit Kaur; Shiv Poojan Yadav
Context: Conventional tillage (CT), excessive irrigation, and indiscriminate nitrogen (N) use in wheat farming degrade soil and water resources in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), threatening the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system. Objectives: A two-year study (2019–21) in north-west IGP was conducted to assess the integration of zero-tillage (ZT) with precision water and N management for sustainability, nutrient efficiency, and environmental performance. Methods: The study tested two crop establishment methods (ZT-wheat and double ZT-wheat) and three irrigation regimes–25%, 50%, and 75% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), with silicon applied at 75% DASM–alongside three N strategies: 100% recommended N dose (RDN), NutrientExpert® (NE®) + Leaf Color Chart (LCC), and NE® + SPAD-based N management, using a split-plot design. Results and Conclusion: Double ZT-wheat performed better over conventional ZT, showed superior growth (higher dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate), 3.5% greater interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and 6.7–9.9% increases in grain/straw yields, and resource-use efficiency. Irrigation at 25% DASM increased photosynthetic activity, intercepted 18.3% more PAR, and yielded 9.23% higher grain over 50% DASM, though delaying irrigation to 50% DASM conserved water without significant yield loss. NE® + SPAD-based N management saved 40 kg N ha–1 while enhancing productivity and efficiency, and combining ZT with 75% DASM + silicon and NE® + LCC significantly reduced N2O emissions, thus suggested for implementation in the wheat growing regions. Significance: The current study findings promote precision N-water strategies, and double ZT to enhance productivity, resource conservation, and environmental sustainability in the IGP’s wheat systems addressing important sustainable development goals concerning agriculture. © © 2025 Pratap, Dass, Krishnan, Sudhishri, Choudhary, Bhatia, Jinger, Verma, Singh, San, Nithinkumar, Sachin, Kumari, Sadhukhan, Kumar, Paramesha, Singh, Kaur and Yadav.
Understanding Farmer Perceptions of Trees on Farms to Increase Adoption of Agroforestry in Uttar Pradesh
(Indian Society of Extension Education, 2025) Himanshi Singh; Devendra Kumar; Sunil Kumar Verma; R. K. Doharey; Abhinav Singh
A structured survey was administered in 2024-25 in Ayodhya district across various landholding categories to understand the perception of farmers about agroforestry practices that hold a significant potential in improving rural livelihoods and environmental resilience. A sample of 180 farmers was drawn using multistage random sampling. Correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between socio-economic parameters and farmers’ perception of agroforestry practices. The results revealed that approximately 77 per cent of the sampled population have been practicing agroforestry, with boundary plantations being the most preferred (45%) among all. Analysis of socio-demographic variables showed a significant correlation with farmers’ perceptions. Education, land ownership, training, and knowledge were positively associated with favourable perceptions, while age showed a negative correlation. Major barriers identified during the survey included a lack of technical knowledge, insufficient extension services, and market uncertainties. The results indicated that despite recognizing multiple benefits of agroforestry systems, farmers require better institutional support, access to quality planting materials, and market linkages to expand adoption. Targeted interventions focusing on training programs, extension services, and credit facilities could bridge the gap between positive perceptions and actual implementation of diverse agroforestry practices in the region. © 2025, Indian Society of Extension Education. All rights reserved.
Weed management for enhancing yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Eastern India
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 2020) Ravi Prakash Singh; Sunil Kumar Verma; Sushil Kumar
Weed menace is very prominent in wheat sown after the harvesting of rice in rice-wheat cropping system. An experiment involving four crop establishment methods and six weed management practices was undertaken in a split-plot design with three replications at the Research Farm of Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The residue-based crop establishment methods were found most effective in minimising density and dry weight of weeds. Besides minimising weeds, the residue-based crop establishment methods also proved better for yield attributes, yield and gross returns. Among different herbicidal treatments, the mix application of mesosulfuron+ iodosulfuron adjudged superior recorded lowest density and dry weight of weeds with highest yield attributes, grain and straw yield (3854 and 5592 kg/ha) and economics attributes. Based on the obtained results, it is said in the conclusion that residue-based crop establishment methods and mix application of mesosulfliron+iodosulfuron was best in managing weed and enhancing yield and economics of wheat in the eastern India. © 2020 Indian Council of Agricultural Research. All rights reserved.