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Field investigations were conducted during the winter seasons of 1992/93 and 1993/94 to find the optimum sowing time and time of last fodder cut for the fodder and seed production of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.). The delay in sowing from 1 October to 15 November decreased the green and dry fodder yields but increased the seed yields. Total green and dry fodder yields (of all cuttings) for 1 or 15 October sowings were significantly higher than the 15 November sowing in both years and 1 November sowing in 1992/93. Increase in seed yield from the 15 November sowing was greater than from the 1 and 15 October sowings. Straw yields followed similar trends. Delay in the last cut for fodder, however, increased green and dry fodder yields but decreased the seed yield. The percentage increase in dry fodder yield with each successive delay in last cut for fodder was higher than that of green fodder yield. The 11 April cutting date of fodder produced the highest green and dry fodder yields but the lowest seed yield. Two years mean data showed that the 2 March cutting date of last fodder gave the highest seed yield. It is concluded that higher seed yield of Egyptian clover can be produced by sowing on 15 November and giving the last fodder cutting on 2 March.

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This paper reviews and analyzes the impact of residue burning on the environment and human health, and the influence of ex-situ and in-situ residue management on reducing pollution and improving soil health, crop yield, and farmers’ economic benefits. Paddy is cultivated on 43.8 Mha in India, producing 118.43 Mt grain and an estimated 165.8 Mt straw. Burning is the most common practice for managing rice crop residues mainly due to its simplicity, low cost, increased mechanical harvesting, short window between rice harvest and wheat sowing, and lack of viable uses for residues. Around 50 Mt of rice straw is burned annually, nearly half of which occurs in northwestern India during October/November. Burning residue is a major contributor to air pollution, emitting around 1.5 Mt particulate matter, 150 Mt carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases (e.g., NO2, SO2, CO, CH4, NH3) and volatile organic compounds, resulting in a wide range of respiratory infections in humans, reduced soil nutrient and carbon inputs, and disturbed soil microbial activity. In-situ residue management using a Happy Seeder, Super straw management system, paddy straw chopper cum spreader, reversible moldboard plow, or no-till seeder incorporates or mulches residues, avoiding burnings. These operations are economically profitable as they reduce costs, increase yields, or both. In-situ residue management, i.e., incorporation or mulching improves the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties and is considered better for improving soil health than residue removal. Ex-situ residue management for biofuel, biochar, electricity generation or bale making is also profitable for the environment and reduces pollutant emissions.

Inadequate and/or imbalanced fertilization has been identified as one of the critical bottlenecks holding oilseeds production and productivity. Sustainable production requires efficient use of inputs maintaining optimum yield and high quality product. The present study aims at defining the quantitative relationship between the fertilizer S applied and the sunflower yield obtained using a polynomial function. The analysis was done to allocate the S fertilizer for maximization of net profit over fertilizer cost depending on the availability of the fertilizer. The results indicated that the cost effective economically optimum dose of sulphur for sunflower cultivation was found to be 36.70 kg S/ha under its full availability. The expected sunflower yield at this dose was worked out to be 2.619 t/ha. However, it is advisable to uniformly distribute the fertilizer to all over the cultivable area under its limited availability for exploiting the desired yield potential and maximum net monetary returns.