A field experiment on green pea (Pisum Sativum L.) was conducted under drip irrigation to determine the irrigation schedule based on real-time soil moisture measurements with irrigation treatments (main plots) and fertilizer treatments (sub-plots) in a split-plot design with three replications. Main plots consisted of fourirrigation levels at different matric potential ranges (I₁: −20 kPa; I₂: −30 kPa; I₃: −35 kPa; and I₄: −40 kPa), while the sub-plots consisted of three fertigation levels (F₁: 120%, F₂: 100% and F₃: 80%) of recommended dose of fertilizers (40:60:50 kg/ha of NPK). The tensiometer with digital pressure transducer transferred the soil matric potential data to the irrigation controller, which activated the solenoid valves for irrigation. Observations were collected on plant growth parameters, pod yield, and quality parameters. Descriptive statistics of different plant growth parameters were made. The higher SMP threshold (−20 kPa) and lower SMP threshold (−40 kPa) greatly reduced the yield and water-use efficiency. Considering the results, real-time soil moisture-based irrigation at the soil matric potential threshold level of −30 kPa with 120% of recommended dose of fertilizers through fertigation was recommended for attaining maximum green pea pod yield and water-use efficiency under semi-arid Inceptisols.

The study attempts to assess the determinants of adoption of precision farming and its profitability, based on primary data from Kerala. Logit regression, farm business analysis, data envelopment analysis and Garret's Ranking were employed to analyze the data. Farm size, level of education and attitude of farmers towards risk orientation were the factors which positively and significantly influenced the adoption of precision farm technologies. Precision farming was found to be generating impressively higher returns in comparison to traditional farms and were technically and allocative efficient. Constraints to its adoption identified include rainfall, lack of expertise and credit facilities, etc.

A field experiment was conducted on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) for assessing the sustainability of yield with optimum irrigation schedule based on soil moisture depletion. Four irrigation treatments: Irrigation at I₁:20%, I₂:30%, I₃:40% and I₄:50% of soil moisture depletion rate in main plots and three fertilizer treatments: Fertigation at F₁:100%, F₂:80% and F₃:60% of recommended NPK (100:25:40 kg/ha) in subplots were tested. Soil matric potential was recorded continuously using electronic tensiometers. The soil moisture characteristics curve was derived for various soil matric potential value sand the soil water content. The irrigation controller triggered solenoid valves for irrigation when soil moisture depletion reached a prespecified level in each treatment. Soil moisture depletion values were significantly predicted based on a regression model calibrated for each treatment over the crop growing period. The model gave minimum prediction error (PE) for I₁, followed by I₂, I₃ and I₄, respectively. Plant growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced by the soil moisture availability under each treatment. It is recommended that irrigation be scheduled at 20% soil moisture depletion rate together with 100% NPK fertilizer application for attaining sustainable yield of okra (12.3 t/ha), apart from maximum WUE (3.5 kg/m³) and plant growth parameters under semiarid inceptisols.

The study has assessed the socio economic impact of the Naturally Ventilated Polyhosues (NVPH) in the Haryana state. The relevant data were collected from the 80 NVPH farmers from two districts. The study is comparing three cropping system which are more commonly practiced in the state like cucumber-cucumber, capsicum-cucumber, and three time cucumber for calculation of its economic viability. Impressive Net Present Worth, Benefit Cost ratio and Internal Rate of Return suggested that the establishment of polyhouses to be economically viable under the current scheme of subsidy. Major constraints to the farming includes higher seed cost, high occurrence of biotic stresses, low produce price scarcity in skilled labour, and lengthy technical procedures.