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A field experiment was conducted for three years under irrigated conditions for productivity enhancement of soybean through integrated nutrient and other agronomic interventions. Application of N, P, K and FYM significantly enhanced the yield of soybean over control. Maximum yield was observed in the treatment where FYM was applied with NPK and resulted in an increase of 15.1 per cent over NPK alone. Application of additional 30 kg N ha -1 at pre-flowering or at pod initiation did not significantly enhance the yield over the basal dose of NP applied at sowing. Application of 4 tonnes wheat straw mulch + 30 kg N +60 kg P 2 O 5 and 30 kg N + 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 showed similar effect on seed yield of soybean. No statistical difference in soybean yield was obtained in the conventional flat and bed sowing treatments. Pre-emergence application of pendimethaline @ 1.5 l ha -1 along with one hand weeding at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS were equally effective for weed control and in influencing the soybean yield. The application of N, P, K, FYM, in different treatments, treatment with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and sowing on beds all significantly improved the N, P and K uptake by soybean over control. Application of FYM to soybean resulted in maximum enhancement of nutrient uptake by soybean. After three years a significant improvement in soil OC, available N, P and K was observed in all treatments over control.

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The disposal of industrial and sewage water is a problem of increasing importance throughout the world. In India, and most of the developing countries untreated sewage and industrial wastes are discharged on land or into the running water streams which is used for irrigating crops. These wastes often contain high amount of trace elements which may accumulate in soils in excessive quantities on long term use and enter the food chain through absorption by the plants. Among the trace metals, Cd has received the greater attention because of its easy absorption and accumulation in plants and animals to levels toxic for their health. The objective of this study conducted in three industrially different cities viz., Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Malerkotla was to monitor the extent of Cd accumulation in soils and plants receiving untreated sewage water. Plant and soil samples were collected from sewage and tubewell irrigated areas. Soil samples were analysed for texture, pH, EC, organic carbon (OC), CaCO(3), bioavailable DTPA-Cd and plant samples were analysed for total Cd. In sewage irrigated soils, the mean values of pH were lower but organic carbon and electrical conductivity were generally higher both in surface and sub-surface layers of all the three cities as compared to tubewell irrigated soils. The mean DTPA- extractable Cd in sewage irrigated soil was 6.3- and 4.36-fold in Ludhiana, 3.38- and 1.71-fold in Jalandhar and 3.35- and 6.67-fold in Malerkotla in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth, respectively, compared with the values in tubewell irrigated soils. The accumulation of DTPA-Cd in sewage irrigated soils was restricted to 30 cm depth after which the values were generally close to values in tubewell irrigated soils. Soil pH, OC, CaCO(3), clay and silt collectively accounted for 37.1%, 65.1% and 53.9% DTPA-extractable bioavailable Cd in soils of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Malerkotla, respectively. Lower R(2) values in Ludhiana suggest that factors other than the ones mentioned may be affecting Cd availability. At all sites plants receiving sewage irrigation had elevated levels of Cd as compared to the plants receiving tubewell irrigation. The mean Cd content of sewage irrigated plants irrespective of the city was 5.96 microg g(-1) dry matter as compared to 0.98 microg g(-1) dry matter in tubewell irrigated plants. The results suggest that the intake of Cd obtained from consumption of crops grown on sewage irrigated soils would be much higher than the tolerable limits set by WHO and may, therefore, prove potentially toxic leading to various health ailments to humans and animals.

A field experiment on soybean was conducted at the regional research farm of the Punjab Agricultural University, Naraingarh (Distt. Fateh Garh Sahib) for three years under irrigated conditions for productivity enhancement through integrated nutrient and other agronomic interventions. There were twelve treatments comprising different levels of N, P, K, FYM and agronomic management practices. The results revealed that soybean significantly responded to the application of N, P, K and FYM. Maximum yield was recorded in the treatment where FYM was applied with NPK and resulted in an increase of 10.8 per cent over NPK alone. Application of additional 30 kg N ha -1 at pre-flowering or at pod initiation did not significantly enhance the yield over the basal dose of NP applied at sowing. Application of 4 tonnes wheat straw mulch + 30 kg N +60 kg P 2 O 5 and 30 kg N + 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 showed similar effect on seed yield of soybean. No statistical difference in soybean yield was observed in the conventional flat and bed sowing treatments. Pre-emergence application of pendimethaline @ 1.5 l ha -1 along with one hand weeding at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS were equally effective for weed control and in influencing the soybean yield. The application of N, P, K and FYM, in different treatments, treatment with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and sowing on beds all significantly improved the N, P and K uptake by soybean over control. Application of FYM to soybean resulted in maximum nutrient uptake by soybean. After three years a significant improvement in soil organic carbon, available N, P and K was observed in all treatments over control.

A field experiment was conducted for three years to study the effect of sowing dates, mulching and seed rates on nutrient uptake and productivity of soybean under irrigated conditions in sub-humid Punjab on a silty clay loam soil which was low in available N, medium in available P and available K. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with the combination of three sowing dates and mulch in main plots and three seed rates in sub-plots with three replications on fixed site. The results revealed that sowing on June 30 and mulching recorded the highest number of pods plant -1 .There was no significant influence of seed rates on yield attributes. Seed yield also remained at par under different sowing dates, mulching and seed rate treatments. Stover yield however, was significantly higher under the earlier sowing dates and mulching. Highest total N uptake was observed under June 30 sowing date whereas total P and K uptake was highest in May 20 sowing date. No significant effect of mulching was observed on total N and K uptake. Among seed rates maximum total N uptake was observed under 75 kg seed ha -1 . The results suggest that soybean performed better when sown with 60 kg seed rate ha -1 on June 30 and mulched with wheat straw.