A study was conducted during 2009 to 2010 and 2010 to 2011 to find out the effect of irrigation and fertigation scheduling on growth and yield of guava (Psidium guajava L.). The experiments were laid out in factorial randomized block design with sixteen treatment combinations which included four irrigation levels (basin, 50, 75 and 100% irrigation of irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation) along with four fertigation levels, including, basal dose, 50, 75 and 100% water soluble fertilizers and replicated thrice. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers were applied through fertigation as well as soil application to test various attributes of 3-years-old guava cv. Shweta under meadow (ultra high density) orcharding. The investigation indicated that 100% irrigation of irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation (I 3) through drip resulted in maximum plant height (1.97 m), canopy volume (0.98 m 3), girth of primary branches (2.41 cm), leaf area (62.94 cm 2) and fruit weight (163.71 g). However, I 2 (75% irrigation of irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation) resulted in maximum plant spread east westnorth south (1.91 to 1.79 m), fruit yield/plant (5.87 kg) with benefit:cost ratio of 2.62. Use of 60, 30 and 30 g NPK/plant/year produced maximum leaf area (63.39 cm 2), fruit weight (162.43 g) and fruit yield/plant (6.01 kg). Interaction effect of irrigation and fertigation levels showed that 100% irrigation of irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation + 100% water soluble fertilizers gave maximum plant height (2.07 m), canopy volume (1.24 m 3), girth of primary branches (2.48 cm), leaf area (66.08 cm 2), fruit diameter 6.69 cm (polar) and 5.97 cm (equatorial), fruit weight (182.17 g), yield/plant (6.59 kg). However, maximum benefit:cost ratio of (2.91) was obtained as 75% irrigation of irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation + 75% water soluble fertilizers.

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A field experiment was conducted at Instructional Farm, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during rabi season of 2019-20 to find out the Influence of different levels and methods of N P K fertilizer application on the growth and production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Arid Region of Rajasthan. The experiment was laid out with 20 treatment combinations comprising in a split plot design and replicated three times. The treatment consisted of four fertility levels in main plot, viz. F0 - control, F1 - 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), F2 - 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), F3 - 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and five foliar fertilization with soluble N P K in the sub plot viz. S0- control (no spray), S1- one spray (60 DAS), S2- two spray (45 & 60 DAS), S3- three spray (45, 60 & 75 DAS), S4- four spray (45, 60, 75 & 90 DAS). The results revealed that 100% recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in significantly higher growth and yield attributes as well as grain and straw yield over all other fertility levels. Application of 100% RDF recorded significantly maximum gross and net profit (₹ 108568 ha-1 and ₹ 76682 ha-1) with B:C ratio of 2.40 over the other applied treatments. Similarly, three foliar spray of soluble N: P: K recorded maximum growth and yield attributes as well as grain and straw yield of wheat over rest of treatments but remained statistically at par with four foliar spray. The same treatment also recorded significantly higher gross & net returns (₹ 98116 ha-1 and ₹ 67326 ha-1, respectively) with B: C ratio of 2.16 in comparison to rest levels of foliar fertilization except four foliar spray of soluble N: P: K.

Availability of ample and nutritious fodder for livestock is always a challenge in arid region. Choice of crops such as groundnut that can fulfil the requirement of fodder with its crop residues along with human needs can be a viable option to bridge the gap between availability and requirement of fodder. The fodder yield and quality largely depend on soil moisture and nutrient supply especially sulphur (S), a key nutrient for improving groundnut fodder quality. However, no researchers have given emphasis on coupling effect of drip irrigation (DI) and sulphur on fodder yield, quality, digestibility and water use efficiency (WUE). Therefore, the study was conducted to determine the effects of different regimes of DI and S on productivity and quality of fodder. Results revealed that higher regimes of DI i.e. 0.8 +1.0 PE(pan evaporation) and 1.0 PE level of irrigation along with 40 kg S ha-1 significantly improved the yield, primary quality traits (crude protein, ether extract and ash), digestibility indices and significant reduction in Fibers which indicates improvement in quality of fodder. Fodder productivity was 27.0 and 25.6% higher in 1.0 PE and 0.8+1.0 PE level of irrigation, respectively, as compared to 0.6 PE level (lower water regime) of irrigation, although 0.6 PE level of irrigation recorded higher WUE and was at par with 0.8 PE and 0.6 +1.0 PE level of DI. By changing the levels of DI from 1.0 PE to 0.8+1.0 PE, considerable water can be saved without affecting the yield and quality of fodder. Similarly, crop responded to S up to 60 kg ha-1 but at par with 40 kg S ha-1 indicating that application of extra S after 40 kg did not warrant any extra benefit in terms of fodder yield, WUE and quality of fodder. Thus, adjusting the PE levels of DI for water saving and optimal S application can be a sustainable strategy to improve the productivity and quality of groundnut fodder in arid region.

The field experiment entitled “effect of irrigation levels and intervals on groundnut (Arachishypogaea L.) Cultivars under drip system” was conducted at Instructional Farm, S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during Kharif 2019. Irrigation level of 0.80 PE gave higher dry matter accumulation, pods plant-1 (44.13), kernels pod-1 (2.38), pod yield (3117 kg ha-1), haulm yield (4081 kg ha-1), biological yield (7199 kg ha-1), test weight (446.58 g) and oil yield (978.32 kg ha-1) followed by 0.60 PE. Alternate day irrigation intervals gave higher dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, pods plant-1 (43.55), kernels pod-1 (2.36), pod yield (2993 kg ha-1), haulm yield (3986 kg ha-1), biological yield (6980 kg ha-1), test weight (443.22 g) compared to 3 days irrigation intervals. Groundnut cultivars HNG-123 gave higher pods plant-1 (43.45), kernel pod-1 (2.39), pod yield (2925 kg ha-1), haulm yield (3977 kg ha-1), biological yield (6902 kg ha-1) and test weight (470.58 g) compared to all other cultivars.