Optimizing nutrient management strategies is crucial for enhancing the growth, yield, and nutritional quality of fodder maize (Zea mays) while minimizing environmental impacts. This study investigated the effects of innovative nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) management approaches on fodder maize production. Different combinations of nitrogen fertilizers, including conventional urea and nano-urea, were applied in conjunction with targeted foliar sprays of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) and nano-zinc. The experiment was carried out in a Factorial Randomized Block design with four nitrogen management strategies (control N, 100% recommended nitrogen dose RDN through urea, 50% RDN through urea + two sprays of nano-urea at six and ten leaves stages, and 33.33% RDN through urea + two sprays of nano-urea at six and ten leaves stage) and four zinc management strategies (control Zn, soil application of ZnSO₄, foliar application of ZnSO₄, and foliar application of nano-Zn) which were replicated thrice. The study revealed that applying 50% of RDN through urea, along with dual foliar sprays of nano-urea, achieved comparable productivity to the 100% RDN through urea only. Among the Zn managements, both foliar and soil applications of conventional ZnSO₄ recorded similar green and dry fodder yields, although foliar application of ZnSO₄ was observed to be superior in terms of qualitative attributes. Maize subjected to the integrated nitrogen and zinc management strategy exhibited elevated protein content and reduced fiber fractions. These findings highlight the potential of nano-urea and foliar zinc application in enhancing both productivity and nutritional quality, while reducing dependence on conventional chemical fertilizers.

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy ( kharif) season of 2008 and 2009 at Varanasi, to evaluate the effect of seedlings age and plant spacing on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of rice ( Or yza sativa L.) under system of rice intensification (SRI). Sixteen treatments were laid out in a split-plot design, keeping com- binations of 2 genotypes (PHB 71 and NDR 359) and 2 spacings (25 cm 25 cm and 30 cm 30 cm) in main- plots and 4 seedlings age (8, 10, 12 and 14 days old) in sub-plots with 3 replications. The rice hybrid PHB 71 showed significantly higher growth, yield attributes and 12.6% higher yield than NDR 359. This hybrid also gave the highest net monetary returns ( 46,700/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.56). Wider spacing i.e. 30 cm 30 cm gave significantly more tillers/hill (22.7), panicles/hill (21.9) and grains/panicle (168.1) than other spacing. How- ever, plant height (116 cm), leaf-area index (5.0), net monetary returns and yield were significantly higher in closer spacing of 25 cm 25 cm. The closer spacing resulted in around 12.30% higher grain yield over wider spacing. Amongst the ages of seedlings, 10 days old seedlings resulted in significantly higher growth, yield attributes, net monetary returns and yield than 8 and 14 days old seedlings but remained at par with 12 days old seedlings. The 10 days old seedlings gave 12.8 and 17.6% more grain yield than 8 and 14 days old seedlings, respectively.

The importance of selecting an appropriate berseem variety and implementing effective nutrient management practices is crucial for maximizing both the production and economic potential of forage crops. This was clearly demonstrated in a field experiment conducted during the rabi seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The experimental setup was a factorial randomized block design incorporating five berseem varieties (Mescavi, HB-1, HB-2, BL-10, and BL-42) and five integrated nutrient management practices: 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) or NM-1, 75% RDF + plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or NM-2, 75% RDF + municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) or NM-3, 75% RDF + farmyard manure (FYM) + PGPR or NM-4, and 50% RDF + MSWC + PGPR or NM-5. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the physio-morphological responses, biomass yield, and economic efficiencies of different berseem varieties under various nutrient management practices. The experimental results highlighted the superior performance of the BL-42 variety in terms of growth and yield attributes compared to the other tested berseem varieties. Specifically, BL-42 showed an enhancement in total green fodder yield by 17.10%, 26.60%, 37.75%, and 28.04% over the varieties BL-10, HB-2, HB-1, and Mescavi, respectively. Moreover, the application of the 75% RDF + FYM + PGPR treatment (NM-4) significantly boosted the total green fodder yield by 13.08%, 14.29%, 34.48%, and 39.02% over the 75% RDF + MSWC, 100% RDF, 75% RDF + PGPR, and 50% RDF + MSWC + PGPR treatments, respectively. In terms of economic returns, BL-42 achieved a significantly higher gross return (GR) and net return (NR) of 194,989 ₹/ha and 145,142 ₹/ha, respectively, compared to the GR and NR of BL-10 (166,512 and 116,665 ₹/ha, respectively). Similarly, the nutrient management practice of 75% RDF + FYM + PGPR recorded the highest GR and NR (191,638 and 137,346 ₹/ha, respectively) compared to the 100% RDF treatment (167,593 and 120,716 ₹/ha, respectively). These findings underscore the critical role of variety selection and tailored nutrient management in optimizing both the yield and economic gains in forage crop cultivation. The significant differences in production and returns highlight the potential of targeted agronomic strategies to enhance the profitability and sustainability of forage farming.

A field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design consisted of eight treatments with three replication to find out suitable weed management in summer mung bean (Vigna radiata) under zero tillage condition during summer season of 2019-20 under irrigated condition at ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, Haryana. To evaluate the quality of fodder in terms of, organic matter, total ash, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin. The result showed that weed free (T₂) plots recorded higher (P<0.05) green and dry fodder yield, followed by Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) (T₆) and Pendimethalin fb one HW at 20 days after showing (T₄), T₂, T₆ and T₄ recorded higher green fodder yield by 59.32, 40.12 and 39.86% over weedy check (T₁). Among weed control treatments, T₄ recorded significantly higher crude protein, ether extract and dry matter content was at par on T₆ and significantly (P<0.05) superior over T₁ Same trends were also observed in CP, EE and dry matter yield (q/ha). The treatments T₄ and T₆ also enhanced fodder quality by reducing neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin content over weedy check. Thus, application of Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) at2 l/ha at 20 days post-sowing would increase yield and quality of summer mung bean fodder under zero tillage condition.

A field experiment was laid in split plot design with three replication for evaluating fodder cowpea under different tillage and nitrogen management practices. The experiment consisted of three contrasting tillage practices viz., zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT) and raised bed (RB) as main plots and six N management treatments viz., 0, 75% N, 75% N + Rhizobium, 100% N, 100% N + Rhizobium and 125% N as sub plot treatments. Among tillage practices, significantly (P<0.05) higher green (241.11 q/ha) and dry fodder yield (41.50q/ha) was recorded in treatment RB over CT (220.57 and 37.0 q/ha) but fodder yield in treatment RB was at par with ZT (234.76 and 39.90 q/ha). However, total-CHO content was lower (P<0.05) in treatment RB. Among N management options, higher green (P<0.05) fodder yield was recorded in treatment 75% N + Rhizobium (250.19 q/ha) over 75% N (224.85 q/ha) and 0% N (179.21 q/ha) but 75% N + Rhizobium was at par with 125% N (247.63 q/ha), 100% N + Rhizobium (248.39 q/ha) and 100% N (242.63 q/ha). The fodder quality parameters were not affected by tillage practices. Significantly (P<0.05) higher values of DM, TA, CP and lower value of NDICP (DM %), cell content, total-CHO, NDF and cellulose content were recorded in 125% N treatment over 100% N, 75% N + Rhizobium, 75% N and 0% N treatments but the values in 125% N treatment were at par with 100% N + Rhizobium treatment. However, lower (P<0.05) values of NDICP (% CP), ADICP (% DM and % CP), ADF and hemicellulose content were also observed in 125% N treatment compared to 75% N + Rhizobium, 75% N and 0% N treatmenst but 125% N treatment was at par with 100% N and 100% N + Rhizobium. Hence, cowpea grown under ZT/RB with application of 100% N + Rhizbium inoculation improved yield and quality of fodder cowpea.

Background: Weeds are prime factor that adversely effects on growth, quality and yield of mungbean during summer and rainy season. Being a short duration crop, it faces heavy weed competition right from the early growth stages to harvesting. The critical period of crop weed competition in mungbean was initial 25-30 days, yield may be reduce up to 50-90% if weeds not manage at this stage. Hence, there is a need to find out the successful weed management strategies to realize higher growth and yield. The progressive transformation of agriculture concerning intensive use of herbicides is gaining status in recent years due to easy, lower cost, timeliness and successful controlling weeds. Therefore, keeping above information in view, the present study was undertaken to assess the effect of different weed management practices in summer mungbean under zero tillage condition to find out the better weed management, higher productivity and profitability. Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during summer season, 2019, different herbicides were applied to manage weeds in mungbean. Eight treatments were applied based on various application windows. In the field and laboratory, the collected samples were determined for crop weed competition, yield attributes, yields and net returns. Result: The results revealed that weed free treatment was recorded lowest weed population at 30 DAS and harvest (1.8 and 2.9), weed dry weight (1.1 and 1.9g) and highest weed control efficiency (96.3 and 94.9%) followed by Pendimethalin (PE) fb one HW and Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) application. The similar results also observed in nutrients removed by weeds. Among yield attributes, weed free treatment recorded the longest pod length, no. of pods/plant, no. of seeds/pod and test weight (7.9, 21.0, 9.7 and 43.0g, respectively) which was at par with Pendimethalin (PE) fb one HW and Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) application. The magnitude of seed yield was increased under weed free (10.1 q/ha) and Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) (9.5 q/ha) treatments by 127.9 and 113.8%, respectively over weedy check. Application of Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) recorded highest net returns (Rs 55,079/ha) and B: C (2.8) over rest of the treatments. It can concluded that application of Shaked (Propaquizafop + Imezathyper) @ 2 L/ha at 20 DAS recommended for better weed control, higher yield and net returns of summer mungbean under zero tillage condition.