Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. [Walp.]) cultivation encounters a plethora of challenges such as suboptimal productivity levels, declined income levels, and poor soil health under conventional fertilization systems. Therefore, the present field investigation was undertaken at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSKHPKV, Palampur in the rainy season of 2019 to evaluate eight combinations of organic farming and Zero Budget Natural Farming (NF) based inputs, i.e., Beejamrita (100 ml kg⁻¹ of seed) + Jeewamrita (187.5 L ha⁻¹); Beejamrita (100 ml kg⁻¹ of seed) + GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha⁻¹); Beejamrita (100 ml kg⁻¹ of seed) + Jeewamrita (187.5 L ha⁻¹) + GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha⁻¹); farm yard manure (FYM) 10 Mg ha⁻¹; FYM (10 Mg ha⁻¹) + GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha⁻¹); biofertilizers (PSBs and Rhizobium at 10 g kg⁻¹ of seed) + FYM (10 Mg ha⁻¹) + vermiwash (1:10); biofertilizers (PSBs and Rhizobium at 10 g kg⁻¹ of seed) + vermicompost (7.5 Mg ha⁻¹) + vermiwash (1:10); absolute (untreated) control; in a randomized complete block design with three replications for their influence over cowpea productivity, profitability, and energetics. The results of the investigation revealed that applying FYM (10 Mg ha⁻¹) and GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha⁻¹) in combination resulted in significantly higher grain yield(1,070.5 kg ha⁻¹), economic net returns (766.61 USD ha⁻¹), net energy gains (78,230 MJ ha⁻¹), and considerably improved soil microbial biomass carbon (133.92 mg g⁻¹ of soil), nitrogen (27.40 mg g⁻¹ of soil), urease (52.20 (mg g⁻¹ urea of soil h⁻¹), and dehydrogenase activity (5.21mg g⁻¹ TPF of soil h⁻¹). Improved soil biological properties in the present study might have been responsible for considerable increment in cowpea yield and profitability. Therefore, in-combination application-based module of FYM (10 Mg ha⁻¹) and GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha⁻¹) can be recommended for enhancing productivity and profitability of cowpea cultivation under North-Western Himalayan agro-ecological conditions. This study contributes valuable insights for organic input strategies in regions facing similar challenges.

A field investigation was carried out at the Research farm of the Department of Agronomy, CSKHPKV, Palampur during the winter season to evaluate the suitability of variable owing windows under limited irrigation regimes with two wheat cultivars. The five sowing windows 15^th, 30^th October, 15^th, 30^th November and 15^th December along with two wheat cultivars i.e., HPW-349 and HPW-155 were investigated under a factorial randomized block design with three replications for each treatment. The timely sown crop on 15^th October resulted in significantly higher values for growth attributes such as plant height, leaf area index, number of tillers per meter square and yield attributes such as spike length, number of grains per spike and test weight. The grain yield consequently was recorded to be the highest for the timely sown crop i.e., the 15^th October sown crop. The timely sown crop sown on 15^th October resulted in a 21.6% higher grain yield as compared to the 15^th December sown crop. Furthermore, delaying the sowing date by one month from 15^th October to 15^th November, the wheat grain yield declined by 12%, similarly, delaying the sowing date from 15^th November to 15^th December resulted in yield reduction by 7%. The highest gross, net returns and benefit-cost ratio were also recorded to be the higher for the timely sown crop i.e., 15^th October.

Climate change in recent times have presented a scenario of elevated susceptibility of wheat to rising temperatures. Agro-meteorological indices can present a scenario of variable response of wheat to diverse conditions. A field investigation was conducted in rabi season of 2016-17 at Research farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur to evaluate the influence of sowing dates and wheat cultivars on agro-meteorological indices such as growing degree days, photothermal units, Helio thermal units and phenothermal index of wheat crop. The field investigation involved five sowing dates (15^th October, 30^th October, 15^th November, 30^th November and 15^th December) and wheat cultivars (HPW-349 and HPW-155) which were studied in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results of the investigation revealed that timely sown crop i.e., on 15^th October recorded the highest values for agro-meteorological indices for both the wheat cultivars such as growing degree days, Helio thermal units, photothermal units and phenothermal index across various wheat development stages such as complete emergence, crown root initiation, tillering, ear emergence and physiological maturity. Therefore, timely sowing of wheat by 15^th October was concluded to be the best for optimized agro-meteorological indices such as growing degree days, photothermal units, Helio thermal units and phenothermal index under conditions of North-Western Himalayas.

Sowing dates, as one of the primary agronomic practices have significant influence over yield of maize especially during the times of climate change. Therefore, the present field investigation was conducted during the Kharif cropping seasons of 2013 and 2014 to evaluate different sowing dates for their influence over maize (Zea mays L.) yield. The field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement consisting of four dates of sowing and three maize cultivars. The study results revealed that sowing of crop by 10^th June can have taller plants (261.5 and 265.2 cm for 2013 and 2014, respectively), significantly better yield contributing characters of maize such as number of cobs per plant (1.1 and 1.1 for 2013 and 2014, respectively), number of grains per cob (258.7 and 268.3 for 2013 and 2014, respectively) and test weight (268.5 and 271.6 grams for 2013 and 2014, respectively). Similarly, the significantly higher maize grain (57.3 and 60.1 quintal/hectare for 2013 and 2014, respectively) and stover yield (108.8 and 109.2 quintal/hectare for 2013 and 2014, respectively) was recorded with sowing of maize crop by 10^th June. Among the maize cultivars, HQPM-1 resulted in substantially higher maize grain (53.9 and 56.5 quintal/hectare for 2013 and 2014, respectively) and stover yield (102.9 and 104.1 quintal/hectare for 2013 and 2014, respectively). Based on the present field investigation, it can be concluded that sowing of maize by 10^th June and maize cultivar HQPM-1 can be recommended for better yield levels under the given conditions of North-western Himalayas.

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops providing food to one fifth of the world population. Wheat cultivation faces numerous challenges, including climate change impacts like heat stress and water scarcity, biotic stresses such as diseases and pest and soil degradation. The food security under limited resources and global climate change has become a major challenge for sustainability. Therefore, the present field investigation was conducted in wheat crop during rabi 2021-22 at Irrigation and Water Management Farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV, Palampur to study the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on the growth and yield attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The treatments consisted of selected combination of four deficit levels viz. high (50% ET_C), medium (70% ET_C), low (90% ET_C) and free from deficit (100% ET_C) and three phases of application viz. phase I (CRI and jointing), phase II (flowering) and phase III (dough stage). A total of eight combinations viz. FFF: Free from deficit at all three phases; LLL: Low deficit at all three phases; MMM: Medium deficit at all three phases; FMM: Free from deficit at phase I, Medium at phase II, Medium at phase III; HFM: High at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, Medium at phase III; MFH: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, High at phase III; MFM: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, Medium at phase III; HFH: High at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II and High at phase III, were tested under randomized block design, replicated thrice. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available potassium, high in available phosphorus and low in available nitrogen. Results revealed that among all regulated water deficit schemes the low deficit LLL scheme of 90% ET_C application at CRI and jointing, flowering and dough stage resulted in higher plant height (105.4 cm), higher dry matter accumulation (763.1 gm^-2), more no. of tillers per meter square (236.4), more no. of ears per meter square (224.0), more no. of grains per ear (38.3), higher 1000 grain weight (42.6 g), higher grain yield (3129 kg ha^-1), higher straw yield (4558 kg ha^-1), higher values of biological yield (7687 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (40.8) that was statistically similar to the wheat cultivation under water deficit free condition at all critical stages of growth (FFF) having values (107.0 cm, 780.3 gm^-2, 242.7, 231.0, 39.5, 43.3 (g), 3320 kg ha^-1, 4785 kg ha^-1, 8105 kg ha^-1, 41.0 g for plant height, dry matter accumulation, no. of tillers per meter square, no. of ears per meter square, no. of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index, respectively). Any water deficit below 90% ET_C especially a high deficit of 50% ET_C at phase I (CRI and jointing) and phase III (dough) (HFH) resulted in significant decrease in yield.

Wheat is the most extensively grown cereal crop in the world, playing a crucial role in ensuring food security. Climate change impacts, soil degradation, pest and disease outbreaks, and market volatility all pose challenges to modern wheat cultivation affecting yields and profitability. Heat stress and erratic rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, are major concerns nowadays. Therefore, the present field experiment was laid out in wheat crop during rabi 2021-22 at Irrigation and Water Management Farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV, Palampur to study the effect of regulated water levels on the water use efficiency and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The treatments include a selected combination of four deficit levels: high (50% ETC), medium (70% ETC), low (90% ETC), and no deficit (100% ETC), as well as three application phases: phase I (CRI and jointing), phase II (flowering), and phase III (dough stage). A total of eight combinations viz. FFF: Deficit free at all three phases; LLL: Low deficit at all three phases; MMM: Medium deficit at all three phases; FMM: Deficit free at phase I, Medium at phase II, Medium at phase III; HFM: High at phase I, Deficit free at phase II, Medium at phase III; MFH: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, High at phase III; MFM: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, Medium at phase III; HFH: High at phase I, Deficit free at phase II and High at phase III, were tested using a randomized block design and were replicated three times. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available potassium, high in available phosphorus and low in available nitrogen. Results showed that highest irrigation water use efficiency was recorded under MMM (41.1 kg ha-1 mm-1), followed by FMM (40.5 kg ha-1 mm-1) both being statistically at par and lowest irrigation water use efficiency was recorded under HFM (27.5 kg ha-1 mm-1) followed by HFH (27.7 kg ha-1 mm-1). Results showed that among all regulated water deficit regimes the adoption of regulated water deficit regimes of LLL (90% ETC at CRI & jointing, flowering and dough stage) resulted in water productivity comparable to water deficit free cultivation (FFF) with a water saving of 11 per cent under limited water availability conditions, in wheat crop. The net returns (₹ 72303 ha-1), benefit-cost ratio (2.35) and returns per unit of water use (₹ 229.89 mm-1) were higher under no deficit condition (FFF), but it was closely related to net returns (₹ 67603 ha-1), benefit-cost ratio (2.26) and returns per unit water use (₹ 222.81 mm-1) of low deficit at all three phases (LLL). The lowest net returns (₹ 33465 ha-1), benefit cost ratio (1.30) and returns per unit water use (₹ 116.61 mm-1) was observed under HFH followed by HFM.