A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Sub Station, Aklera, Jhalawar (Rajasthan) in two consecutive rainy ( kharif) seasons of 2008 and 2009 to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and soil fertility in maize ( Zea mays L.). Application of 150 % RDF (N 60 P ) produced significantly higher plant height (207.3 cm), dry matter (149.1 g/plant), number of cobs/plant (1.4), 22.5 number of grains/cob (209), grain (3.22 t/ha) and biological (8.23 t/ha) yield, net return (`19,251/ha) and B: C ratio (1.90), N, P and Zn uptake compared to control. However, RDF + FYM 10 t/ha produced higher plant height, dry matter, number of cobs/plant, number of grains/cob, grain, biological yield and Zn uptake and RDF + Zn in net re- turn, B: C ratio and Zn uptake. Significant built up of organic carbon (0.74%), available N (316.0 kg/ha) and avail- able P (10.8 kg/ha) was registered with RDF + FYM 10 t/ha. Maximum P balance (3.3 kg/ha) was recorded under application of FYM 10 t/ha alone and Zn content (0.45 mg/kg) was recorded under RDF + Zn.

Sustaining agricultural systems dominated by small and vulnerable resource-poor farms that are subject to climatic aberrations is a major challenge for most Asian countries. In this context, the role of agriculture requires immediate attention in northwestern India where marginal farmers with less than a meagre 1 hectare of land represent about 67% of the population. Research based on prototype farms is being promoted in the redesign of current farming practices to help give these farmers sustainable livelihoods. We hypothesize that integrating innovative cropping systems into smallholder marginal farms could help to achieve these objectives. The study presented here describes a modelling approach for the ex-ante assessment of the current farming practices of marginal households in terms of economic, environmental, and nutritional indicators in comparison with those of experimental research farms in order to delineate an alternative scope of flexibility to optimize farming practices. We used the FarmDESIGN model to evaluate farmers’ realities, with a focus on marginal farms (marginal poor farmers (MPFs)) and marginal diversified farmers (MDF) with the objective of enhancing profit, soil organic matter balance, and nutritional system yield in terms of dietary energy and reducing pesticide usage. Introducing prototype cropping systems in up to 33% of the farm area, combined with rearrangements of the existing crops, provided ample opportunity to improve farm performance. The improvements were greater when prototype cropping systems were added, and MPFs could benefit greatly from improvements in soil organic matter balance when considering the current negative organic matter balance of most farms. We conclude that the model-based approach of evaluating the potential of new cropping systems, along with the fine tuning of alternative combinations, will support the enhanced adaptability of innovative cropping practices, which will help to improve the livelihoods of marginal farmers.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2008-09 and 2009-10 at Aklera, Jhalawar to find out the best moisture conservation practice and sulphur source for increasing productivity, profitability and water use efficiency (WUE) of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss] under rainfed conditions. Straw mulch @ 4 t/ha ap- plied at 21 DAS + kaolin 6% spray at 60 DAS significantly increased the growth, yield attributes, seed (1.65 t/ha), oil yield (629.3 kg/ha), nutrients (NPS) uptake and net return ( 20,197/ha) compared to other moisture conserva- tion practices. Amongst the sulphur sources, bentonite sulphur gave significantly higher growth, yield attributes, seed yield (1.50 t/ha), oil yield (568.3 kg/ha), nutrients (NPS) uptake, net return ( 18,948/ha) and B: C ratio (1.18) than other sources of sulphur. Maximum production and economic efficiencies, consumptive use (212 mm), rate of moisture use (1.55 mm/day) and water use efficiency (7.80 kg/ha-mm) were with straw mulch 4 t/ha + kaolin 6% spray over no mulch. Application of bentonite sulphur gave higher production and economic efficiencies, con- sumptive water use (208 mm), rate of moisture use (1.52 mm/day) and water use efficiency (7.22 kg/ha-mm) than to gypsum and wettable sulphur.

The primary goal of this study was to analyze how various row ratios of intercrops, in conjunction with different fertilizer levels with spray of two stress mitigating chemical, affect nutrient content, land productivity, and economic viability during Summer season. Furthermore, we aimed to explore the competitive dynamics within legume/cereal intercropping systems. Hence, A field experiment at Agriculture University, Kota, during the summers of 2019 and 2020, investigated different cowpea + baby corn intercropping system's intercropping indices, nutrient dynamics, uptake, and post-harvest soil nutrient balance under varying recommended fertilizer levels and foliar spray of stress mitigating chemicals. Using a split-split plot design replicated four times, the experiment involved thirty treatment combinations, including five intercropping techniques viz. Sole cowpea, sole baby corn, cowpea + baby corn 2:1, cowpea + baby corn 3:1, cowpea + baby corn 4:1 in the main plot, three fertility levels viz. 100 %, 125 % and 150 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in subplots, and two stress mitigation chemicals; CaCl₂ 0.5 % and KNO₃ 1% in sub-subplots. The findings revealed notable trends, including nitrogen (N) and (P) content in cowpea seeds and straw, baby corn cobs and fodder, as well as enhanced land-equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary advantage index (MAI) within the cowpea + baby corn 2:1 row ratio. However, despite these advantages, total N and P uptake were markedly higher in sole crops. Notably, sole cowpea demonstrated the highest actual N and P balance and lowest was under sole baby corn. Among the fertility levels, the 150 % RDF level exhibited the most favorable outcomes across various parameters, including LER, MAI, NP content, and uptake in both crops. Additionally, higher fertility levels correlated with increased apparent and actual soil nutrient balances. While, among stress mitigation chemicals, CaCl₂ 0.5 % resulted in significantly heightened N and P uptake. Hence, to optimize intercropping dynamics and maintain soil nutrient balance, it is advisable to intensify cowpea cultivation along with baby corn in a 2:1 row ratio, utilizing 150 % RDF is beneficial. Additionally, alleviating higher temperature stress during the summer season can be achieved by applying a 0.5 % solution CaCl₂ through spraying at the flowering and pod development stages of cowpea.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 200910 to 201112 at Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan, to find out the best moisture-conservation practices as abiotic stress management in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) for higher productivity under rainfed conditions. Straw mulch @ 10 t/ha significantly in- creased the growth, yield attributes, seed yield (1,037 kg/ha), oil yield (403.3 kg/ha), net returns ( 18,930/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.22) over rest of the moisture-conservation practices and was statistically on a par with spreading of FYM 10 t/ha as mulch. The maximum production and economic efficiency, consumptive use (215 mm), moisture-use rate (1.58 mm/day) and water-use efficiency (4.82 kg/ha-mm) were recorded with straw mulch 10 t/ha, indicating 56.2, 79.3, 28.0, 27.4 and 22.0% increase over no mulch respectively. The maximum soil mois- ture depletion (46.2%) was registered from top soil layer (015 cm) in no-mulch, while the least (42.5%) with straw mulch 10 t/ha. However, the reverse trend was observed in deeper soil layer from 1630 and 3145 cm, and the maximum depletion of soil moisture was recorded under straw mulch 10 t/ha (33.0 and 24.6%) followed by spreading FYM 10 t/ha as mulch (32.8 and 24.5%) and least with no-mulch (30.8 and 23.0%) respectively.