Efficient use of available resources in agricultural production is important to minimize carbon footprint considering the state of climate change. In this context, the current research was conducted to identify carbon and energy-efficient fodder cropping systems for sustainable livestock production. Annual monocropping, perennial monocropping, annual cereal + legume intercropping and perennial cereal + legume intercropping systems were evaluated by employing a randomized complete block design with three replications under field conditions. The lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) monocropping system recorded significantly lower carbon input (274 kg-CE ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and showed higher carbon indices viz., carbon sustainability index (165.8), the carbon efficiency ratio (166.8) and carbon efficiency (347.5 kg kg-CE⁻¹) over other systems. However, higher green fodder biomass led to statistically higher carbon output (78,542 kg-CE ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in the Bajra–Napier hybrid (Pennisetum glaucum × Pennisetum purpureum) + lucerne perennial system. Similar to carbon input, lower input energy requirement (16,106 MJ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and nutrient energy ratio (25.7) were estimated with the lucerne perennial system. However, significantly higher energy output (376,345 and 357,011 MJ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and energy indices viz., energy use efficiency (13.3 and 12.2), energy productivity (5.8 and 5.3 kg MJ⁻¹), net energy (327,811 and 347,961 MJ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and energy use efficiency (12.3 and 11.2) were recorded with Bajra–Napier hybrid + legume [lucerne and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)] cropping systems, respectively. However, these systems were on par with the lucerne monocropping system. Additionally, Bajra–Napier hybrid + legume [cowpea, sesbania (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.) and lucerne] cropping systems also showed higher human energy profitability. Concerning various inputs’ contribution to total carbon and energy input, chemical fertilizers were identified as the major contributors (73 and 47%), followed by farmyard manure (20 and 22%) used to cultivate crops, respectively, across the cropping systems. Extensive use of indirect (82%) and non-renewable energy sources (69%) was noticed compared to direct (18%) and renewable energy sources (31%). Overall, perennial monocropping and cereal + legume cropping systems performed well in terms of carbon and energy efficiency. However, in green biomass production and carbon and energy efficiency, Bajra–Napier hybrid + legume (lucerne and cowpea) cropping systems were identified as the best systems for climate-smart livestock feed production.

Field experiment was conducted during kharif 2010 and 2011 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru to study the effect of customized fertilizers on the productivity of finger millet. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with different customized fertilizer treatments replicated thrice. The composition of customized fertilizer grade was 20:17:11:3:0.4% of N:P₂O₅:K₂O:S:Zn. Application of 150% customized fertilizer recorded higher plant height (102.5 cm), number of tillers/hill (7.11), total dry matter accumulation (100.41 g/hill), ears/hill (6.21) and test weight (3.65 g) compared to absolute control, 50, 75, 100 and 125% customized dose. Application of 150% customized fertilizer dose recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield (3279 and 4510 kg/ha, respectively) compared to other treatments but it was on par with application of 100 and 125% customized fertilizer application. Application of 125% customized fertilizer dose recorded higher net returns and B: C ratio.

The efficacy of a post-emergence herbicides in managing weeds in blackgram was evaluated during summer and rainy (Kharif) seasons of 2016 at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK, Bangalore, India. The experiments were laid in RCBD with three replications comprising of nine treatments. Major weed species observed were: Cyperus rotundus, Eleuisine indica, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Borreria articularis, Echinochloa colona, Commelina benghalensis, Euphorbia geniculata, Phyllanthus niruri. The post-emergence application (PoE) of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC (206.25 + 100 g/ha) has attained significantly higher seed and haulm yield of blackgram (1305 and 2088 kg/ha, respectively) in summer 2016 and (1519 and 2253 kg/ha, respectively) in Kharif 2016, followed by sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC (165 + 80 and 123.75 + 60 g/ha) (1192 and 1808 kg/ha, respectively) in summer 2016 and (1425 and 2095 kg/ha, respectively) in Kharif 2016. Similarly the weed control efficiency in summer and kharif 2016 was higher with sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl (330 + 160 g/ha) PoE (93.20 and 91.0%, respectively) and it was followed by sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl (206.25 + 100 g/ha) PoE (89.51 and 90.24%, respectively) when compared to weedy check. The increased yield was mainly due to a significant reduction in weed density and biomass, without any phytotoxicity to succeeding finger millet crop under semi-arid Alfisols.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the bio-efficacy and phyto-toxicity of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC as post-emergence against weed flora in groundnut during Kharif (rainy season) 2015 and summer 2016 at UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Different post-emergence herbicides were applied at 22 days after sowing (DAS) and compared with two rounds of hand weeding at 20 and 45 DAS. The results revealed that sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC (206.25 + 80 g/ha) recorded higher pod (1.44 and 1.65 t/ha) and haulm yield (1.59 and 1.89 t/ha) in 2015 and 2016. Higher economic yield under this treatment was attributed to the reduced weed density, weed dry weight, weed index and higher weed control efficiency and higher herbicide efficiency index. Post-emergence application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC was found non-phytotoxic to groundnut as well as succeeding crop (finger millet).