Indiscriminate and injudicious application of inorganic fertilizers and irrigation, respectively, cause declines in crop productivity as well as environmental pollution. Therefore, judicious use of organic manures and proper scheduling of irrigation are required for sustainable production of wheat crops. A two-year (2014–2015 and 2015–2016) study was conducted to determine the wheat nutrient uptake, soil moisture, and grain yield as a result of organic manures and irrigation schedule. The experiment was set up with four treatments of organic manure in four subplots with repellents and five irrigation planning treatments in the main plot. The results showed that an irrigation/water ratio of 0.9 irrigation water depth/cumulative pan evaporation (I₂) increased grain yield, soil moisture content, and nutrient uptake of wheat (I₃) compared to 0.6 IW/CPE during the vegetative period and 0.8 IW/CPE during the reproductive period. According to statistics, it was found that the vegetative period is maintained at 0.8 IW/CPE, and the reproductive period is maintained at 1.0 IW/CPE (I₅). Applying 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹ of farmyard manure (FYM) plus 3 Mg ha⁻¹ of vermicompost while employing organic manure increases grain output, soil moisture content, and nutrient content and absorption compared to the control treatment. Therefore, it is concluded that irrigation either at I₂ or I₅ + FYM at 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹ + vermicompost at 3 Mg ha⁻¹ could be recommended for enhancing grain of wheat cultivation, particularly in the semiarid regions of northwestern India.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2007-08 to 2009-10 at Jobner, India on loamy sand soil to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The experiment consisted of fourteen combinations of integrated nutrient management practices for application of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) to fenugreek i.e., 40 kg/ha, through different sources, viz., control, inorganic or organic [farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC)] alone or in combinations was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Based on three years of study the results revealed that application of all nutrient management treatments through organic and inorganic sources alone or in combination brought significant effect on growth, yield and economics of fenugreek. Further the results revealed that integration of 50% RDN through vermicompost (VC) + 50% RDN through inorganic source to fenugreek recorded higher plant height, branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, test weight, seed yield (1781 kg/ha), stover yield (3392 kg/ha), biological yield (5173 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 52151/ha). However, maximum benefit cost ratio was fetched with application of 100% RDN through inorganic source.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 200708 to 200910 at Jobner, Rajasthan, to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity, quality and economics of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Integrated application of 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through vermicompost (VC) + 50% RDN through fertilizers showed higher values of all the growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height, branches/plant, umbels/plant, umbellates/umbel, seeds/umbellate and 1,000-seed weight to the mag- nitude of 14.0, 22.0, 45.5, 24.9, 25.4 and 20.6% over the absolute control, respectively, closely followed by 100% RDN through fertilizers. Among the different nutrient-management practices, significantly highest mean seed (1.82 t/ha), stover (3.78 t/ha) and biological (5.60 t/ha) yields, gross ( 127,400/ha) and net monetary returns ( 101,883/ha), essential oil content (2.17%), oil yield (39.49 kg/ha) and available soil nitrogen balance (144.7 kg/ ha) were recorded with 50% RDN through VC + 50% RDN through fertilizers realizing 54.4, 51.8, 52.6, 54.4, 59.9, 17.3, 81.1 and 12.9% increase over absolute control, respectively. Similarly, it also recorded 3.99 benefit: cost ra- tio which was superior to the control (3.39) and remained at par with other treatments, but significantly lower to 100% RDN through fertilizers (4.72). Therefore, it is recommended to apply 50% RDN through VC + 50% RDN through fertilizers and reduced chemical fertilizers to 50%.

A field experiment was conducted during 2010 in semi- arid climate of Rajasthan to asses the effect of vermicompost and fertility levels on the pearl millet. Application of vermicompost @ 6 tonnes/ha significantly improved the growth and yield attributes and yields of the pearl millet. Application of vermicompost @ 6 tonnes/ha increased the grain yield of pearl millet by 51.4, 20.1 and 7.3% and stover yield by 42.4, 19.3 and 6.3 percent respectively over control, 2 and 4 tonnes/ha vermicompost, respectively. Application of vermicompost @ 6 tonnes/ha recorded significantly higher N content in grain and stover indicating an increase of 10.4 and 16.3 over control, 13.5 and 8.4 over 2 tonnes/ha and 16.6 and 3.2 percent over 4 tonnes/ha, respectively. Phosphorus content in grain and stover were significantly higher by 11.6 and 13.7% over control. Application of 6 tonnes/ha of vermicompost significantly increased N and P uptake in pearl millet. The highest net return (` 11 785) was obtained with vermicompost @ 2 tonnes/ha and minimum with 6 tonnes/ha vermicompost. Application of 100% RDF significantly increased nutrient content, nutrient uptake and net return (` 13 798/ha) and proved significantly superior to all the lower levels of fertility.

The study was carried out during rabi 2013-2014 in 3 times replicated RBD with three intercropping systems (sole fennel, fennel + fenugreek in 1:1 and 1:2 row ratios) and four sulphur levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg S/ha). The results revealed that fennel in 1:2 row ratio recorded significantly higher dry matter and yield attributes of fennel as compared to 1:1 row ratio and sole fennel. Intercropping of fennel in 1:2 row ratio significantly reduced seed (10.42 q/ha), straw and biological yields of fennel over 1:1 ratio and sole fennel. The fennel in 1:1 row ratio could not bring significant variation in growth and yield of fennel as compared to sole fennel. However, when system productivity was compared, intercropping in 1:1 row ratio registered significantly highest net monetary returns (Rs 126471/ha) and land equivalent ratio (1.45) in comparison to intercropping in 1:2 ratio and sole fennel. The sulphur at 40 kg/ha significantly increased growth and yield attributes, seed (15.60 q/ha), straw and biological yields and net returns (Rs 100612/ha) of fennel. Application of 40 kg S/ha in fennel intercropping system was found suitable considering input economy as it recorded 42.07 and 13.37% higher seed yield and 60.71 and 17.40% higher net monetary returns over control and application of 20 kg S/ha, respectively.