The eastern sub-Himalayan plain of India is a popular potato growing belt in which vast scope exists to introduce processing grade cultivars. The selection and introduction of a better quality processing grade cultivar in this region may pave the way for the processing industries. Keeping these in the backdrop, this study was conducted at Instructional Farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India under eastern sub-Himalayan plains during winter seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 in which seven processing type potato cultivars (Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Chipsona-4, Kufri Frysona, Kufri Himsona, Kufri Surya and Kufri Chandramukhi) were evaluated in terms of different quality parameters pre-requisite for chips processing viz., dry matter content, specific gravity, starch content, chips colour score, crispiness and hardness of chips through randomised complete block design (RCBD). The study revealed wide variation in all quality parameters amongst the cultivars. Cultivar ‘Kufri Frysona’ showed the highest specific gravity (1.121) as well as dry matter content (23.35%) followed by ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’. The cultivar ‘Kufri Frysona’ showed the highest starch content (28.52%) too. Chips prepared from ‘Kufri Chipsona-1’ were recorded to be crispier with a relatively lower value of deformation before the first break and less hardness value. All processing type potato cultivar reflected the chips colour score <3 (evaluated, based on 1–10 scale, 10 being the darkest and least desirable) though ‘Kufri Frysona’ had the lowest chips colour score (1.50) signifying its superiority for the region. ‘Kufri Frysona’ cultivation could be recommended in this agro-climatic region particularly for chips manufacturing potato industries.

The present study was conducted in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal, India, to evaluate 21 potato cultivars (including table- and processing-type) and assess their suitability in terms of improved physiological responses, yield performances, stability and profitability. A significant difference in various growth attributes, i.e., plant height, number of stems per plant, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter (DM) accumulation, and crop growth rate (CGR), was noted amongst different cultivars. Significant variation was also observed in net photosynthesis rate (NPR), transpiration rate (TR), and stomatal conductance rate (SCR) recorded at various stages of growth. Amongst all the cultivars, ‘Kufri Chipsona-4’ showed the highest SCR at both 60 and 80 days after planting (DAP), while ‘Kufri Pokhraj’ had the highest NPR at both 60 and 80 DAP. However, the highest TR was achieved with ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’and ‘Kufri Surya’ at 60 and 80 DAP, respectively. ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and ‘Kufri Himsona’ achieved the maximum and minimum tuber bulking rate (TBR) values at initial growth stages (upto 60 days), respectively; however, ‘Kufri Arun’ and ‘Kufri Surya’ had significantly higher TBRs during the later part of growth (after 60 days to maturity), leading to higher tuber yields amongst the medium maturing cultivars. Among the 21 cultivars, ‘Kufri Arun’ showed the maximum total tuber yield (35.52 t/ha), followed by ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ (33.54 t/ha) with higher marketable grade tubers. In terms of production economics, ‘Kufri Arun’ achieved the maximum net return (USD 2137.4) and B:C (benefit:cost) ratio (2.17), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal. The early maturing ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and processing variety ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’ also showed their suitability in terms of net returns and B:C ratio. The heat-tolerant variety ‘Kufri Surya’ also achieved a tuber yield of 31 tha⁻¹ with satisfying net return (USD 1596.9) and B:C ratio (1.88), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in this region under terminal heat stress. However, the stability analysis showed that the cultivars ‘Kufri Khyati’ and ‘HPS II/67’ were the most stable in terms of additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI), respectively.

An experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during 2001–2003 to study the effect of levels of fertility and straw mulch on a rapeseed (Brassica campestris var yellow sarson)–greengram (Vigna radiata)–rice (Oryza sativa) cropping system under a rainfed upland ecosystem. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design having 14 treatment combinations of organic and inorganic nutrients along with straw mulch in three replicates. The results revealed that conjunctive use of organic and inorganic nutrients as well as paddy straw mulch resulted higher yield in both rapeseed and greengram, and the residual effects of different levels of fertilization and mulching also gave rise to higher grain yield in the succeeding rice crop. The uptake of nutrients, by the cropping system as a whole, to the tune of 204.29 and 183.00 kg ha⁻¹ of N, 72.84 and 74.07 kg ha⁻¹ of P and 179.95 and 175.41 kg ha⁻¹ of K took place, with the treatment receiving 10 t ha⁻¹ of farmyard manure (FYM) applied (to rapeseed) along with 50% recommended dose (RD) of NPK to all the crops in the sequence in two consecutive years, respectively. The same treatment resulted in a higher percentage of porosity vis-à-vis lower bulk density. Soil physico-chemical properties were superior in mulch-treated plots compared with no mulch treatment. Application of organic and inorganic nutrients along with proper moisture conservation practices can enhance the yields maintaining a good soil health.

A field experiment was carried out during winter seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal with the objective of identifying weed management options with various preand post-emergence herbicides in zero-till maize in rice-maize cropping system. Three pre-emergence herbicides, viz. pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha, atrazine 1.0 kg/ha and control in main plots and six post-emergence treatments, viz. atrazine (0.5 kg/ha), tembotrione (120 g/ha), halosulfuron (90 g/ha), tembotrione (120 g/ha) + atrazine (0.5 kg/ha), halosulfuron(90 g/ha) + atrazine (0.5 kg/ha) and control in sub-plots were evaluated in a split-plot design. Results revealed that both pendimethalin and atrazine reduced the grassy weed population to a significant extent and among the pre-emergence herbicides, atrazine resulted in maximum reduction in grass weed population (69% reduction over the weedy check) at 20 days after seeding (DAS). Among the post-emergence herbicides, mixture of tembotrione + atrazine was more effective in controlling all classes of weed flora at 40 and 60 DAS. Tembotrione alone also showed a good control of grasses and broad-leaved weeds. Atrazine as pre-emergence followed by (fb) tembotrione + atrazine as post-emergence had significantly lower weed biomass (2.9 and 7.5 g/m² at 40 and 60 DAS, respectively) and this combination reduced the weed dry matter to the tune of 98.7 and 97.9% at 40 and 60 DAS, respectively which ultimately resulted in significantly higher grain yields (11.57 t/ha) with maximum net returns (` 74210/ha) and B: C ratio (2.73). A strong negative correlation between weed biomass at 60 DAS and maize grain yield clearly suggested that weed biomass accounted for 55% variation in grain yield of zero-till maize.

Declining agricultural land availability and stagnating or declining productivity of several food production systems have become a significant challenge to humanity. Feeding the increasing population in this situation has put tremendous pressure on our food system. Such circumstances have created several environmental and agro-ecological degradation and sustainability concerns. To sustain agricultural production for the near future, agriculturists have to think in integrated and interconnected ways to use the resources more efficiently, conserve resources, and reduce the environmental footprints of the system. One such integrated approach is the food-energy-water nexus. With today’s cutting-edge agronomic management strategies, the nexus approach can show the path to sustainability for food production systems. Soil health has been identified as central to the sustainability of agricultural systems, as it is at the center of the food-energy-water nexus, reshaping it. Practices that holistically manage soil health are thus very much a prerequisite for developing a sustainable system. New technologies like precision farming, drones, nanotechnology, residue recycling, etc., may be conjunct with traditional techniques of soil water conservation, organic farming, integrated crop management, etc., to create better and sustainable agroecosystems that can feed the world. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

No-till mechanized-transplanted rice was evaluated for different combinations of pre- and post-emergence herbicides to determine feasible, economically viable weed management options to control complex weed flora in rice fields. All pre-emergence herbicides significantly reduced the population of grassy weeds; of these, pendimethalin resulted in the greatest reductions (83%) at 15 days after transplanting (DAT). Among five post-emergence herbicide treatments, the combination of bispyribac-sodium (10%SP) + pyrazosulfuron (10%WP) was found to be the most effective in controlling all weed flora at both 35 and 55 DAT. The sequential application of pendimethalin (pre-emergence) followed bispyribac-sodium + pyrazosulfuron (post-emergence) resulted in significantly higher rice grain yield (4.4 t-ha⁻¹) and relative gross-margin (417 USD-ha⁻¹) than all other treatments. A strong negative correlation was observed between rice grain yield and weed biomass, and a strong positive correlation between rice grain yield and weed control efficiency. Our findings demonstrate the potential to combine pre- and post-emergence herbicides in no-till mechanized-transplanted rice; these findings have applications globally in regions where rice is established by no-till or mechanized transplanting.