Background: Different levels of nutrient management practice and soil amendments charred rice husk with Arbuscular mycorrhizae during the critical stages of the crop growth enhances the productivity of the groundnut crop.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiments were conducted summer, kharif and rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-2018 at AC and RI, TNAU, Madurai. The main plots consisted of three levels of irrigation scheduling viz., I1- 0.8 IW/CPE, I2- 0.6 IW/CPE and I3- 0.6 IW/CPE ratio and sub plot comprised of four level of nutrient management practices viz., N1-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N2- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk, N3-75% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza and N4- 50% of recommended dose of fertilizer with 5t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment Arbuscular mycorrhiza. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the highest plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index, leaf single photon avalanche diode value, pod yield and haulm yield, nutrient uptake (N,P,K) of groundnut crop and soil enzyme activities in soil was registered with the application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza. The highest pod and haulm yield of 1783, 1935 and 1854 kg ha-1 and 4743, 4272 and 4338 kg ha-1 during summer, kharif and rabi&rsquo; 2017 seasons respectively of groundnut was registered with 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer and 5t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza.&nbsp;

Soil Application of Different Nutrient Levels with Soil Amendment Charred Rice Husk and Seed Treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhizae: Effects on Crop Productivity and Nutrient Uptake on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

<div>Background: Productivity of sweet corn depends on genetic makeup and adoption of innovative technological interventions viz., planting density, balanced application of organic manures and fertilizers, herbicides etc. Nevertheless, the response to the aforementioned interventions may vary with different locations owing to varied climatic and edaphic and other management factors. Enhancement in productivity can be achieved through adoption of proper planting density and nutrient management as they play a vital role. The present study aimed to evaluate different sweet corn hybrids under varied planting density and nutrient levels for improving the productivity of sweetcorn.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiments were conducted during Kharif, 2019 and Kharif, 2020 to evaluate sweet corn hybrids under varying planting density and nutrient levels. The experiments were laid out in a split split plot design. In the main plot, two sweet corn hybrids and in the sub plot, two planting densities and in the sub sub plot, three nutrient levels were tried. Observations on growth, green cob yield and green fodder yield were recorded. 
 
Result: Based on the results of two years of experimentation, it is concluded that MISTHI recorded higher green cob yield (16330 kg ha-1), net return (Rs. 64931/ha) and B:C ratio (2.47) under 60 &times; 15 cm with 100% RDF (120:60:45 NPK kg/ha). CSCH-15001 recorded relatively lower green cob yield (15649 kg ha-1), net return (Rs. 61291/ha) and B:C ratio (2.38) under 60 &times; 15 cm with 100% RDF.</div>

Evaluation of Sweetcorn Hybrids under Varying Planting Density and Nutrient Levels

<div>Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed and an important food crop of the world, ranking in 4th place as an important source of edible oil and as an important source of vegetable protein in 3rd place. However, the preferred pH for growing of groundnut is a pH of (6.5-7) which is slightly acidic or neutral. So for the crop to grow in a favorable soil pH, liming is required. Groundnut being an oilseed crop requires fertilization for high crop production. The farmers though aware of the fertilization in crops, are confined mostly in NPK fertilizers and negligence especially in sulphur fertilizer is common, however sulphur in oilseed crop is one of the key elements required to produce protein, oil and flavored compounds as well as to ensure quality.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted in the Experimental Research Farm of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University during the kharif season 2018 entitled &ldquo;Effect of lime and levels of sulphur in nutrient content and uptake by Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)&rdquo;. The experimental design was split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments consisted of two lime levels: L0: lime @ 0 t ha-1, L1: lime @ 3 t ha-1 and the sub- plot treatments consisted of five sulphur levels: S0: sulphur @ 0 kg ha-1, S1: sulphur @ 10 kg ha-1, S2: sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, S3: sulphur @ 30 kg ha-1, S4: sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study showed that application of lime and sulphur, along with recommended dose of fertilizer NPK (20:60:40) showed increased yield and an increase in N, P, K and S content in groundnut, resulting in a significant increase in the uptake of N, P, K and S by plant.</div>

Groundnut Response to Lime and Levels of Sulphur on Nutrient Content and Uptake

Background: Nutrient management and cropping sequence are two important factors which affect productivity and profitability of crop. Profitability is one the important part of the successful crop production. Soybean fixes atmospheric nitrogen in soil and partially fulfills the nitrogen requirement of succeeding crops. There is a need for a suitable substitute crop or cropping systems after soybean to improve the soil fertility and productivity to maximize the profitability. The plains of Maharashtra are well suited for onion and potato cultivation. There is scope for increasing the area, production and productivity of onion and potato crop. Majority of farmers in Maharashtra following soybean-wheat and soybean-chickpea crop sequence while in present investigation soybean is grown in sequence with vegetable crop such as onion and potato which could help to increase profitability through higher net return and B: C ratio.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Six combinations of two crop sequences (soybean-onion and soybean-potato) and three levels of nutrient management viz., 50% RDF+FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N1), 75 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N2) and 100 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N3) were the main plot treatments in kharif season replicated three times in randomized block design. During rabi season each main plot treatment of nutrient management level was split into three sub plot treatments with three levels of recommended dose of fertilizer viz., 75% RDF (F1), 100% RDF (F2) and 125% RDF (F3) to rabi season crops resulting in eighteen treatment combinations replicated three times in split plot design. The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics, economics of soybean (kharif) and onion or potato (rabi) was collected at regular interval in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20&nbsp; at Agronomy Farm, Dr. PDKV, Akola which was analyzed statistically in SPD (split plot design). 
 
Result: Soybean-onion crop sequence registered higher profitability in terms of GMR, NMR and B: C in comparison with soybean - potato crop sequence. Soybean crop supplied with 100%&nbsp; RDN+ 5 t FYM ha-1&nbsp;+ Biofertilizer (Rhizobium japonicum+ PSB+ Tricoderma viridi) recorded highest GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all year experimentation. Rabi crops treated with 125% RDF recorded GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all years of experimentation.

Impact of Levels of Nutrient Management on Economics of Soybean-onion and Soybean-potato Cropping System

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Acidic soils limit the soil phosphorus availability to the crop plants because these soils have tendency to fix P as iron and aluminium phosphate. The present study aims to investigate the influence of phosphorus sources and levels on yield and nutrient uptake of rapeseed (Brassica campestris var. toria) in acidic soils of Meghalaya. 
 
Methods: A pot culture experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2016-17 wherein two sources of P (single super phosphate and Mussoorie rock phosphate) and six levels of P (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 mg P kg-1 of soil) were tested in two types of acidic soils (Alfisols, Inceptisols) in completely randomized design with three replication and rapeseed (cv. M-27) as test crop. 
 
Result: The highest mean dry matter yield of rapeseed (16.1 g pot-1) was recorded with 120 mg P kg-1 of soil. Subsequent increase in the level of P significantly decreased the dry matter yield by 4.6% over 120 mg P kg-1. The dry matter yield with Mussorie rock phosphate was lower as compared to single sulphur phosphate (SSP) at each levels of P irrespective of soil type. The concentration of P in plant dry matter of rapeseed increased with each successive levels of P in acidic soils with both P sources; however P uptake increased up to 120 mg P kg-1 soil.</div>

Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Rapeseed (Brassica campestris var. toria) as Influenced by Phosphorus Sources and Levels in Acidic Soils of Meghalaya

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 in the Rabi season at Instructional Cum Research Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India to find the effect of different irrigation schedule and fertilizer levels on seed yield, oil content &nbsp;and &nbsp;nutrient uptake in late sown toria (Brassica campestries var. toria) grown after sali rice. Result revealed that application of different irrigation and fertilizers has significantly increased the yield of late sown toria over control. Out of different irrigation schedule, application of 6 cm irrigation at 25 and 50DAS recorded the higher seed yield (9.55 q/ha) which is 16.60, 23.11 and 37.10 percentage higher &nbsp;over the other irrigation schedules i.e. 6 cm irrigation at siliqua formation stage (50 DAS), &nbsp;6 cm irrigation at pre flowering stage ( 25DAS), rainfed respectively. &nbsp;In case of different fertilizers levels, application of 75-50-50 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1 produced the highest seed yield (8.72q/ha) which is statistically at par with 60-40-40 N-P2O5-K2O kgha-1 (8.48 q/ha), but significantly superior than 45-30-30 N-P2O-K2O kg/ha (7.10 q/ha). The oil content was slightly increased with the increase in fertilizer levels, 5.85% and 3.37% oil content was increased with the fertilizes dose 75-50-50 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1 &nbsp;and &nbsp;60-40-40 N-P2O5-K2O kgha-1, respectively over 45-30-30 (Control). &nbsp;However irrigation has no any significant role in oil content of late sown toria.&nbsp;</div>

Seed yield and nutrient uptake in late sown toria as influenced by different irrigation and fertilizer levels

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2015 and 2016 to find out the best pigeonpea based intercropping system and planting pattern along with optimum dose of nutrients to intercrops. Present study revealed that yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea were not adversely affected by different planting patterns and nutrient levels applied to intercrop during both the years. Pigeonpea planted at 50 &times; 25 cm with maize fodder as intercrop recorded highest pigeonpea equivalent yield of 1840 and 1895 kg/ha during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Application of 100% recommended dose of nutrient to intercrop also significantly increased the pigeonpea equivalent yield (1629 and 1732 kg/ha) over 50% of recommended dose and control during both years. Pigeonpea (50 &times; 25 cm) + maize fodder fetched significantly higher net returns (Rs. 61191 and 68764/ha), B: C (1.7 and 2.0) and per day income (Rs. 453 and 509/ha/day) than other intercropping systems during both the years. Higher net returns (Rs. 50694 and 59568/ha) were recorded with 100% &nbsp;recommended dose of nutrient applied to intercrops as compared to net return &nbsp;with 50% of recommended dose (Rs. 43752 and 53344/ha) and control (Rs. 39163 and 46535/ha) &nbsp;during both the years. B: C and per day income were also recorded maximum with 100% of nutrients applied to intercrops during both the years.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Production potential and economic returns of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) based intercropping system as influenced by planting pattern and nutrients levels</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">The experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of whole wheat on the production performance, egg quality, and nutrient digestibility when supplemented primarily at the expense of corn in ground corn-soybean meal control diets. The experiments utilized Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens from 45 to 53 wk of age. The results were shown that feeding 5, 10, 15, 20, or25% whole wheat in diet had no effect on the production performance and egg quality, whereas 15, 20, and 25% whole wheat in diet decreased the yolk color (based on the Roche color fan score) when compared with layers fed the control diet.Whole wheat level in diet had no effect on dry matter,organic matter digestibility, and apparent metabolizable energy when compared with laying hens fed the control diet. Therefore, whole wheat can be used at levels of up to 25% in laying hen diets without negatively affecting the production performance, but levels over 15% whole wheat decreased the yolk color.</div>

Effect of whole wheat levels in diet on production performance, egg quality and Nutrient digestibility of laying hens

<div>Background: The in-vitro nutrient digestibility and fermentation mimicking gastrointestinal process of pigs is a convenient method for rapid and cheaper measurement of degradation of feed ingredients. In the present study silage based diets containing varying levels of crude fibre were subjected to in vitro digestibility evaluation using pig faecal inoculum to determine the best crude fibre level for feeding pigs.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Eight diets were prepared namely, B1, B2, V1, V2, V3, M1, M2 and M3 having 6.28, 8.43, 8.03, 10.0, 11.96, 8.17, 10.31 and 12.06 per cent crude fibre (on dry matter basis) respectively, where diets B1 and B2 were basal diets, V1, V2 and V3 contained vegetable waste silage; M1, M2 and M3 contained maize silage -as additional fibre source. An in-vitro study was carried out to investigate the nutrient digestibility of diets involving enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation using pig faecal inoculum. 
 
Result: The in-vitro total tract digestibility (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) was significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in B1 diet than the other diets. The digestibility of DM, CP and OM of B2 diet was also significantly higher (p&lt;0.001) than the M2, M3, V2 and V3 diets but comparable to M1 and V1 diets. The IVTTD of crude fibre (CF) was higher in V3 diet (25.85%) and lowest (P&lt;0.001) in M1 diet (11.65%) and both showed a highly significant (P&lt;0.001) difference (to other diets. The DM, CP and OM digestibility were significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in the diets containing normal fibre sources than silage containing diets. Cumulative gas production (ml/0.5g feed) at 24 h of in-vitro fermentation were significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in B2 (34.95) and B1 (31.00) diets than other diets. As the CF level in diets increased from 6 to 12%, the digestibility of nutrients linearly decreased except CF digestibility. It was revealed from the study that the level and sources of crude fibre in diets influenced the digestibility of nutrients.</div>

Determination of In vitro Nutrient Digestibility of Silage based Diets with Varying Levels of Crude Fibre using Pig Faecal Inoculum

Background: Neutral detergent fiber is a common analytical measure of feed fiber content, which could play an important role as an energy source, improve the rumen ecosystem and thus improve growth performance of lambs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of neutral detergent fibers on growth performance, blood parameters, nutrient digestibility, volatile fatty acid concentration, ammonia nitrogen, bacterial quantification, gas production and tissue morphology of growing lambs. 
 
Methods: Seventy-two Awassi lambs of weaning age were randomly assigned to three experimental feeds with different levels of neutral detergent fiber: low (210 g/kg), medium (280 g/kg) and high (350 g/kg), each with eight replicates in a completely randomized design. The growth performance parameters were evaluated over a trial period of 84 days. At the end of the trial, hematological and serum biochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility were evaluated. In addition, rumen fermentation characteristics, including pH, ammonia-nitrogen, gas production, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification and indices of rumen morphology indices were measured. 
 
Result: The results showed that lambs fed a medium-neutral detergent fiber feed had better growth performance (p&lt;0.05). In addition, this experimental feed showed improvements in some blood parameters (WBC, RBC, HGB, TP, GLOB and GLU) and nutrient digestibility with the exception of crude protein and ash (p&lt;0.05). Rumen fermentation characteristics and rumen morphology were also positively influenced by the medium- neutral detergent fiber level (p&lt;0.05). These results indicate that a medium level of neutral detergent fiber (280 g/kg) is essential for optimal growth, health and rumen development in growing lambs.

The Effects of Varied Neutral Detergent Fiber Levels on Blood Parameters, Nutrient Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Rumen Tissue Morphology in Lambs