‘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.

Yield limitation and widespread sulphur (S) deficiency in pearl-millet-nurturing dryland soils has emerged as a serious threat to crop productivity and quality. Among diverse pathways to tackle moisture and nutrient stress in rainfed ecologies, conservation agriculture (CA) and foliar nutrition have the greatest potential due to their economic and environmentally friendly nature. Therefore, to understand ammonium thiosulphate (ATS)-mediated foliar S nutrition effects on yield, protein content, mineral biofortification, and sulphur economy of rainfed pearl millet under diverse crop establishment systems, a field study was undertaken. The results highlighted that pearl millet grain and protein yield was significantly higher under no-tillage +3 t/ha crop residue mulching (NTCRM) as compared to no-tillage without mulch (NoTill) and conventional tillage (ConvTill), whereas the stover yield under NTCRM and ConvTill remained at par. Likewise, grain and stover yield in foliar S application using ATS 10 mL/L_twice was 19.5% and 13.2% greater over no S application. The sulphur management strategy of foliar-applied ATS 10 mL/L_twice resulted in significant improvement in grain protein content, protein yield, micronutrient fortification, and net returns (₹ 54.6 × 1000) over the control. Overall, ATS-mediated foliar S nutrition can be an alternate pathway to S management in pearl millet for yield enhancement, micronutrient biofortification and grain protein content increase under ConvTill, as well as under the new NTCRM systems.

The sustainability of conventional rice (Oryza sativa L.) production systems is often questioned due to the over-mining of groundwater and environmental degradation. This has led to the development of cost-effective, resource-efficient, and environmentally clean rice production systems by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) use. Hence, a 2-year field study (2019 and 2020) was conducted at the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to assess the effect of precision N and water management strategies on growth, land, and water productivity, as well as energy-use efficiency in scented direct-seeded rice (DSR). Two crop establishment methods, conventional-till DSR (CT-DSR) and zero-till DSR (ZT-DSR) along with three irrigation scenarios (assured irrigation (irrigation after 72 h of the drying of surface water), irrigation at 20% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), and 40% DASM+Si (80 kg ha⁻¹)) were assigned to the main plots; three N management options, a 100% recommended dose of N (RDN): 150 kg ha⁻¹; Nutrient Expert® (NE®)+leaf color chart (LCC) and NE®+soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meter-based N management were allocated to sub-plots in a three-time replicated split-plot design. The CT-DSR produced 1.4, 11.8, and 89.4, and 2.4, 18.8, and 152.8% more grain yields, net returns, and net energy in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over ZT-DSR. However, ZT-DSR recorded 8.3 and 10.7% higher water productivity (WP) than CT-DSR. Assured irrigation resulted in 10.6, 16.1 16.9, and 8.1 and 12.3, 21.8 20.6, and 6.7% higher grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP in 2019 and 2020, respectively, over irrigation at 20% DASM. Further, NE®+SPAD meter-based N management saved 27.1% N and recorded 9.6, 18.3, 16.8, and 8.3, and 8.8, 21.7, 19.9, and 10.7% greater grain yields, net returns, net energy, and WP over RDN in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Thus, the study suggested that the NE®+SPAD-based N application is beneficial over RDN for productivity, resource-use efficiency, and N-saving (~32 kg ha⁻¹) both in CA-based and conventionally cultivated DSR. This study also suggests irrigating DSR after 72 h of the drying of surface water; however, under obviously limited water supplies, irrigation can be delayed until 20% DASM, thus saving two irrigations, which can be diverted to additional DSR areas.

Rice-based cropping systems (RBCS) are a kingpin of global food security and rice fallow is one of the largest (>14 m ha) RBCS. A three-year study was carried out to develop sustainable intensification options and efficient nutrient management protocols of RBCS with greater water and energy productivity and more profits. Rice-lentil, rice-linseed and rice-rapeseed systems were tested in a split-plot design with nutrient management practices involving fertilizer levels (50%, 75% and 100% recommended fertilizer dose; RDF), green manuring with Sesbania (SGM) and rice residue incorporation (RRI). The results indicated that SGM produced significantly better rice productivity, enhanced 6.4–22.7% yield of succeeding crops and increased profits by ~20%. Application of 75 or 100% of RDF produced 24.5–30.3% higher grain yield of rabi crops. System intensification resulted in an additional rice equivalent yield (REY) of ~1–1.6 t ha⁻¹. SGM consumed relatively more energy (76,793 MJ ha⁻¹) but at the same time, resulted in higher energy output (182,657 MJ ha⁻¹), net energy (105,864 MJ ha⁻¹), energy intensity (1.68 MJ INR⁻¹) and human energy profitability (787) than the RRI. However, RRI recorded a higher energy ratio (2.42), energy productivity (0.082 kg MJ⁻¹) and energy profitability (1.42 kg MJ⁻¹). The rice-linseed cropping system resulted in greater system productivity, higher energy output (186,305 MJ ha⁻¹) and net energy (112,029 MJ ha⁻¹) than other systems. Overall, considering energy productivity, resource-use efficiency and profits, a rice-linseed system coupled with SGM and 75% RDF may be recommended as a sustainable intensification option in RBCS.

To achieve higher crop yields and maintain environmental conservation, it is imperative to adopt novel agricultural methods that improve both the quantity and quality of produce. The following study focused on investigating the effectiveness of integrated use of biogas slurry and inorganic nutrigation on spinach growth and nutrient uptake through drip irrigation. A field experiment was conducted using a split-plot design; spinach was cultivated with seven different treatments: biogas slurry nutrigation (BSN) (T₁), integrated inorganic + organic nutrigation: 40% Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + BSN (T₂), 60% RDF + BSN (T₃), 80% RDF + BSN (T₄), 100% RDF (T₅), slurry broadcasting (SB) (T₆), and control (T₇). The results showed that spinach grown with (T₄) 80% RDF + BSN exhibited optimum plant height and leaf count compared to spinach under other treatments and was at par with T₅ 100% RDF for crop parameters. T₅ treated plants demonstrated the longest roots, followed by T₄ treated plants. The highest recorded yield of 5.72 tons ha⁻¹ was achieved in treatment T₅ with 100% RDF, followed closely by T₄ with 80% RDF + BSN at 5.52 tons ha⁻¹ and T₃ with 60% RDF + BSN at 5.36 tons ha⁻¹. These three treatments exhibited comparable yields, showcasing the effectiveness of incorporating biogas slurry nutrigation in conjunction with inorganic fertilizer for achieving high spinach yields. In terms of macronutrient content in spinach leaves, significant differences were found for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents. Incorporating biogas slurry into the soil modified microbial enzyme activities, specifically dehydrogenase and phosphatase. Normally, alkaline phosphatase shows greater activity than acidic phosphatase, but the addition of biogas slurry equalized the enzymatic activity of both, establishing a harmonized enzymatic profile. Our results suggest that fertilizing spinach with integrated biogas slurry nutrigation (if properly filtered) + inorganic nutrigation through drip nutrigation is a viable strategy for improving the morphological parameters and productivity of spinach while also contributing to environmental preservation and a reduction in production costs.