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 experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2023-24 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Nirwan University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, to evaluate the efficacy of different weed management treatments on weed suppression and chickpea productivity. The experiment, laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications, included chemical and manual weed control methods. Treatments included Imazethapyr @ 50 g/ha at 20 DAS, Propaquizafop + Imazethapyr @ 50 g/ha at 20 DAS, Sodium Acifluorfen + Clodinafop Propargyl @ 200 g/ha at 20 DAS, Fomesafen + Fluazifop-p-butyl @ 200 g/ha at 20 DAS, Bentazon @ 750 g/ha at 30 DAS, Pendimethalin + Imazethapyr @ 750 g/ha as pre-emergence, Pendimethalin @ 750 g/ha as pre-emergence, Sulfentrazone @ 75 g/ha as pre-emergence, a weed-free control, and a weedy check. The dominant weeds identified included Chenopodium murale, Chenopodium album, Rumex dentatus, and Cynodon dactylon, reflecting the diverse weed flora. Results showed that the weed-free control achieved the lowest weed density and dry matter, yielding 2033 kg/ha of seed, closely followed by Pendimethalin + Imazethapyr @ 750 g/ha as pre-emergence at 2010 kg/ha. The weedy check had the highest weed density and dry matter, resulting in the lowest yield (633 kg/ha). Pendimethalin + Imazethapyr demonstrated superior weed control efficiency, comparable to the weed-free treatment, and achieved the highest harvest index (38.1%).

Background The date of sowing is a non-monetary input factor that plays a crucial role in field crop management. Based on the sowing time, management practices of crop production affect crop growth, development, and yield. Under varied environmental conditions, this factor may be useful in addressing low yields and combating/escaping stresses either due to diseases or due to any unfavourable environment. Results A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2017–18 and 2018–19 to study the accumulated growing degree days (GDD) and performance of six wheat cultivars (HS 562, HD 2967, HD 3086, HI 1544, MACS 6222 and WR 544) under four sowing dates (5th November, 25th November, 15th December and 5th January). The study revealed that 5th November is the best date for sowing resulting in higher pooled grain yield of 4.85 Mg ha⁻¹ and 3.94 Mg ha⁻¹ at Bajaura and Malan, respectively. Significant reductions in the grain yield and yield attributes were observed when the date of sowing was set beyond 5th November. Among the cultivars tested, HS 562 gave a significantly higher pooled grain yield of 4.46 and 3.75 Mg ha⁻¹ at Bajaura and Malan, respectively. Pooled data on physiological maturity revealed that variety HS 562 took the highest calendar days (168 days) and GDD (1573.42 °C days) to attain physiological maturity at Bajaura while at Malan HI 1544 and HD 3086 took the highest calendar days (156 and 155 days, respectively) and GDD (2055.41 and 2051.81 °C days, respectively) to attain their physiological maturity. Conclusion From the study, it can be concluded that the early date of sowing provides the crop with ample duration to accumulate growing degree days resulting in a higher accumulation of photosynthates resulting in significantly higher yield attributes and grain yield. Therefore, 5th November is recommended as the best time for sowing of wheat crop whereas the sowing must not be delayed beyond 25th November. HS 562 was superior among the cultivars and is recommended for Malan and Bajaura regions for attaining higher yield.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm of Nirwan University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) during the Rabi season of 2023-24. The experiment consisted of ten treatments with different combinations of phosphorus and sulphur. The results revealed that the combined application of phosphorus and sulphur significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters of Indian mustard compared to the control. The highest plant height (152.91 cm), dry matter accumulation (436.47 g m^-2), number of siliquae per plant (340.58), number of seeds per siliqua (13.45), seed yield (1897.89 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (4723.33 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (6621.22 kg ha⁻¹) were obtained with the application of 45 kg ha⁻¹ phosphorus and 40 kg ha⁻¹ sulphur. The significant improvements in growth and yield attributes can be attributed to enhanced metabolic activity, better cell division, and increased photosynthetic efficiency resulting from phosphorus and sulphur availability. Consequently, the application of 45 kg ha⁻¹ phosphorus and 40 kg ha⁻¹ sulphur was found to significantly improve overall productivity of Indian mustard.