‘Participatory-mode’ adaptive research was conducted in wheat in north-western Himalayas (NWH) during 2008–2014 to develop an improved chemical weed management (ICWM) technology. First of all, two years ‘on-farm experimentation’ was performed in a randomized block design at 10 locations in NWH using seven treatments (Clodinafop @ 60 g a.i./ha (Clod); Clod followed by 2,4-D (Na-salt) @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Clod-fb-D); Isoproturon 75 WP @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Iso); Iso + D; Sulfosulfuron 75% WG @ 25 g a.i./ha + Metsulfuron 5% WG @ 2 g a.i./ha (Sulf + Met); weed-free-check; and un-weeded-check). In this study, the post-emergence application of Sulf + Met reported the lowest weed-index and NPK depletion by weeds with higher weed control efficiency (86.4%), weed control index (81.1%) and herbicide efficiency index (2.62) over other herbicides. Sulf + Met exhibited significantly higher wheat productivity (3.57 t/ha), protein yield, net-returns and water-productivity, which was followed by Iso + D and Clod-fb-D, all of which remained statistically at par with each other. An impact assessment of intensive technology-transfer programme (2008–2014) revealed a higher technology adoption rate (71–98%) of ICWM leading to higher wheat productivity (~22%) and net income gains (2.8–26.4%) in NWH. Overall, Sulf + Met proved highly effective against mixed weed flora in wheat to boost wheat productivity, profitability, quality and water productivity in addition to a higher technology adoption rate and NIGs to transform rural livelihoods in NWH.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is a ruinous insect pest, native to tropical and subtropical regions of western hemisphere. It has recently invaded Indian subcontinent during 2018, causing severe damage to crops of several genera of many plant families. The incidence of FAW infestation ranged from 12% to 74%, indicating its establishment in central India where it poses an immediate and significant economic threat to crop production. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh isolate is closely related to the isolates of southern states of India. Studies on biology of FAW indicated no variation in biological parameters, when reared on fodder maize and fodder sorghum, however recorded longer larval and pupal duration (16.07 and 10.00 days) when reared on artificial diet. The adults laid more number of eggs under crop mosaic condition with varied phenological crop growth stages and the fodder maize (782.33 eggs) was most preferred for oviposition. A total of five parasitoids were recovered from the field collected larvae and also predation by generalist predator, Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) was recorded during the study period.

Imbalanced and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers has been adversely influencing the quality of soil, environment, biodiversity and nutrient status in soil. Conjoint application of bio-inoculants (BI) with organic or inorganic sources of nutrients tweaks nutrient synchrony in soil and improves plant nutrition. With this backdrop an experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2016–2018. The objectives were to identify the suitable combinations of BI-mediated nutrient sources for higher productivity and profitability in pigeon pea–wheat cropping system (PWCS). The nine pigeon pea treatments; four sole applications viz., recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), vermicompost (VC), farm yard manure (FYM), leaf compost (LC) and four conjoint applications viz., RDF + BI, VC + BI, FYM + BI and LC + BI and one control were replicated thrice under randomized block design (RBD). However, in succeeding wheat, each of the treatments applied to pigeon pea was further allocated to two levels (50% and 100%) in factorial RBD. Findings exhibit that FYM + BI could result into higher equivalent-system grain productivity (10.4 and 10.8 t ha⁻¹ during 1st and 2nd year, respectively) of PWCS. However, profitability parameters of PWCS were higher with the RDF + BI. Uptake of nutrients (NPK) was significantly higher with FYM + BI in pigeon pea and RDF + BI in wheat. Nutrient harvest index (NHI) did not vary significantly in both the crops. Conclusively, bio-inoculation is more productive and beneficial in general, while, over the various combinations, recommendation of FYM + BI combination could be more productive and sustainable.

The experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P) application on crop productivity, grain quality, water-use efficiency (WUE), and soil enzyme activity in aerobic rice (AR) at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. Four levels each of Si (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg Si ha(-1)) and P (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg P(2)O(5)ha(-1)) were tested in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) replicated thrice. The growth, yield and quality of AR were enhanced with increasing Si and P application rates and a similar trend was observed for WUE and soil enzyme activity. The highest grain yield of AR was recorded with 120 kg Si and 90 kg P(2)O(5)ha(-1)followed by 80 kg Si and 60 kg P(2)O(5)ha(-1)and the lowest in control. The grain, straw yield and water productivity increased by 10-40%, 5-30%, and 10.2-39%, respectively in different treatments over control. Though, all studied parameters showed increment with increasing dose of Si and P; however 60 kg P(2)O(5)and 80 kg Si ha(-1)were statistically superior to their other respective doses. In conclusion, supplementation of Si and P fertilizers substantially increased the AR productivity in Trans-Gangetic plains of India.