Deficit irrigation (DI) has been emerging as an important technique for enhancing crop water productivity (WP). However, advantage of DI under varying nitrogen (N) application rates remains unclear. Field experiments were conducted during 2012–2014 to investigate the impacts of six irrigation levels[FI (full irrigation), DI10, DI20, DI30, DI40 and DI50, with irrigation amount of 100, 90, 80, 70, 60 and 50% of ETc, respectively) and four N application rates (N0, N10, N20 and N30, with 0, 10, 20 and 30 kg N ha−1, respectively) on WP, yield, quality, and net economic return of peanut in hot arid region of India. We used Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to obtain the optimal combination of irrigation and N rates. Both irrigation level and nitrogen dose had significant effects on yield and quality parameters examined in the study. Relative to FI, DI40 and DI50 significantly reduced yield (40.2–62.1%), economic benefit (70.8–118.5%), WP (8.2–33.0%), and kernel oil content (7.5–11.9%), but DI20 increased WP by 17.1% with only marginal reduction in economic benefit (2.6%), and yield (3.2%). Compared to N0, the N30 had 1.7, 1.1, and 1.6-folds increased yield, oil content in the kernel, and WP, respectively. Among all treatments, DI0N30 had the greatest yield and net return; DI20N30 had greatest WP and oil content in the kernel. TOPSIS analysis showed that DI20N30 was optimal in balancing of WP, yield, net return, and quality of peanut in northwestern arid India. The results have direct implications for improving irrigation water and N management for irrigated crops in arid regions.

A field study was conducted during rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 to evaluated of productivity of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by foliar spray of bio-regulators under different irrigation environments. Amongst treatments, the application of sufficient irrigation water (four irrigations) recorded the highest number siliqua per plant, higher number of seeds per siliqua, 1000 seed weight and yields as compared to all other irrigation treatments. Results show that an increased in seed yield of 92.40 and 39.37 % under sufficient irrigation and limited water condition in 2008 and 93.34% and 40.31% in 2009, respectively over deficient irrigation conditions, foliar sprays of 100 ppm thioglycollic acid at initiation of branching were recorded highest yield attributes and yields. Similarly, 500 ppm of thiourea at initiation of branching and flowering stages also gave second best highest yield attributes and yields as compared to all other bio-regulators spray stages. However, bio-regulators sprays were not recorded any significant effect on oil and protein content. The results were concluded that economic feasibility to improve productivity of Indian mustard with four irrigations levels and sprays of 100 ppm thioglycollic acid and 500 ppm of thiourea at initiation of branching and flowering stages under hyper arid environment.

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during 2017-18 and 2018-19 to study the performance of maize crop under various nutrient management modules in a Vertisol. The field experiment was laid out in RBD consisting of 12 different integrated nutrient management (INM) modules in three replications. The maize (cv. Pro Agro -4212) and chickpea (cv. JG-315) was grown in kharif and rabi seasons during 2017 and 2018 with an identified set of treatments. The performance of crops under these treatments was assessed in terms of plant height and seed index. Similarly, the soil physico-chemical properties were also assessed at crop harvest. Finally, the correlation among various studied parameters was worked out. The results revealed that the INM modules positively influenced the performance and productivity of maize crop as compared to the sole inorganic fertilizer application. Besides the superior crop performance, the integrated nutrient management modules significantly (p=0.05) enhanced and improved soil health in terms of soil physico-chemical properties. Among the various modules, (1) application of 75% STCR dose + FYM @ 5t ha -1 to maize, (2) application of FYM @ 20t ha -1 to maize increased the crop growth and seed index in maize, improved soil health and reflected as a viable technique in improving soil nutrient availability on a sustainable basis.

Present investigation was conducted at the Research Farm of Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal during 2017–18 and 2018–19 to study the performance of chickpea crop under various nutrient management modules in a Vertisol. The field experiment was set up in a randomized block design with three replications of twelve different INM modules. During the rabi seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19, the chickpea (cv. JG-315) was grown with a set of treatments. The crop’s performance was evaluated in terms of growth, yield (grain and straw), nutritional content, and nutrient uptake under different treatments. At crop harvest, the physic-chemical characteristics of the soil were also evaluated. Finally, the relationship between the numerous examined parameters was determined. The results showed that integrated nutrient management modules had a positive impact on chickpea crop performance and productivity when compared to using only inorganic fertilizer. The INM modules dramatically increased soil organic carbon and improved soil health in terms of physical and chemical qualities, in addition to higher crop performance. Among the various modules, (1) application of 75% STCR dose + FYM @ 5t ha-1to maize followed by 100% P only to chickpea and (2) application of FYM @ 20t ha-1to maize followed by FYM @ 5t ha-1 to chickpea increased the productivity and nutrient uptake in chickpea, improved soil physico-chemical properties and reflected as viable technique in improving soil nutrient availability on sustainable basis.

during Kharif seasons of 2015 and 2016 to test the efficiency of herbicides in groundnut. The experiment comprised of 14 weed control treatments arranged in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Among the different herbicides tested, imazethapyr + pendamethalin 1000 g/ha recorded lowest weed density and weed biomass of both broadleaved and grassy-weeds and significantly highest dry matter accumulation, number of pods/plant, pod, haulm and biological yield in groundnut over all the other herbicidal treatments.

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The study was conducted in four blocks of Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Three villages selected from each block and ten farmers selected from each village. Total 120 farmers selected for data collection on different flock sizes were undertaken to evaluate the economic performance of goats under traditional farming system. Study revealed that small flock size (5-10) was most profitable followed by 10-25 and 25-50. The net return worked out to be Rs. 6895, 6650 and 6492 per goat/annum, respectively. The net profit (per goat/annum) decreased linearly with the increase of flock sizes due to inadequate nutrition and management practices by larger goat keepers. Sell of goats was the major source of income (49.93%) followed by milk (41.85%) and manures (4.20%). Therefore, rearing of goat cannot sustain only on grazing resources, needs to switch over to semi-intensive/ intensive system of management.