Wheat is a crucial crop in North West India, primarily consumed as chapatti, but its productivity has declined in recent years due to temperature stress and changing cropping patterns. This study aims to evaluate management practices that can mitigate these stresses and improve wheat yield in Haryana’s semi-arid region during the winter growing season. A field experiment was conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, in 2014-15 and 2015-16, focusing on the effects of sowing time and irrigation levels on wheat phenology, growth, and yield. The experiment used a strip plot design with four sowing dates—last week of October (D1), second week of November (D2), last week of December (D3), and fourth week of December (D4)—and four irrigation treatments: CRI (I1), CRI + Heading (I2), CRI + Jointing + Milking (I3), and CRI + Late Tillering + Heading + Milking (I4). Results indicated that delayed sowing increased the time to seedling emergence and tillering, but reduced the reproductive phases and maturity duration. Irrigation did not significantly affect seedling emergence but delayed heading, anthesis, and maturity. Growth parameters decreased with delayed sowing but improved with higher irrigation levels. The highest yield was observed with the CRI + Late Tillering + Heading + Milking (I4). Early sowing (before mid-November) combined with optimal irrigation practices significantly improved wheat yield, providing valuable insights for enhancing productivity in semi-arid regions under changing climatic conditions.

Environmental factors have significant implications on the biology of weeds, hence the study of biology of major weeds in a crop, could prove an ecological and economical viable tool for their management. Echinochloa glabrescens, Leptochloa chinensis, Eragrostis japonica and Dactyloctenium aegyptium are the major weeds of direct-seeded rice (DSR) and many other Kharif crops. The effect of temperature, pH and light was studied on the biology of these four weed species under laboratory conditions during the Kharif seasons of 2012 and 2013. Temperature regimes of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C; pH 5.0, 7.0, 9.0 and 11.0 and light period of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours were evaluated for their effects on germination, shoot and root growth. Conducive temperature for germination of all four-weed species was 35°C except Dactyloctenium aegyptium, which has maximum germination at 30°C. Similar to germination, maximum shoot and root length was recorded at 35°C in all the weed species except E. japonica, for which 30°C was the optimum. Seed germination was observed over a broad range of pH of all weed species; however, it was highest at pH 7.0. Echinochloa glabrescens was most sensitive to a given pH range among all the weed species. Light periods didn't alter the process of germination, shoot and root growth. Manipulation of these factors at field level could be helpful in reducing the weed pressure in DSR by preventing their germination.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) helps in saving water and is beneficial for soil physical health along with environmental benefits, but weeds poses a serious threat to efficient crop production. In the absence of ponded water, weeds emerge in several flushes making it difficult to manage them with a single pre- or postemergence herbicide application. Studies were carried out under the screen house conditions at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, where the response of four dominant grass weeds of direct-seeded rice, viz. Echinochloa glabrescens, Leptochloa chinensis, Eragrostis japonica and Dactyloctenium aegyptium was evaluated against pendimethalin and cyhalofop-butyl + penoxsulam mixture. The four grassy weed species were planted in pots replicated four time with 20 seed per plot. Pendimethalin was applied as preemergence at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kg/ha and cyhalofop-butyl + penoxsulam mixture was sprayed as post-emergence (PoE) (at 25 days after sowing) at 32.5, 65, 135 and 270 g/ha with the help of knapsack sprayer and control pots were maintained for each species and herbicides. Periodical observations on visual mortality (0–100 scale, where 0 = no effect and 100=complete mortality) and dry weight per pot was observed at harvest. Application of pendimethalin at 1.0 kg/ha resulted in excellent control of L. chinensis and D. aegyptium, whereas at 2.0 kg/ha application rate killed all the weeds. Cyhalofop-butyl + penoxsulam applied at 270 g/ha showed 100% mortality of E. glabrescens and L. chinensis. However, the highest rate (270 g/ha) of this mixture had no effect on E. japonica, and provided only 20% control of D. aegyptium. Results of this study suggest that pendimethalin can be used for managing E. glabrescens, L. chinensis, E. japonica and D. aegyptium. However, cyhalofop-butyl + penoxsulam can be used as PoE in fields dominated by E. glabrescens and L. chinensis.

An experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi 2010-11 and 2011-12, consisting of three irrigation frequencies viz. one irrigation at CRI, two irrigations at CRI and heading and four irrigations at CRI, late tillering, heading and milking in main plots and five nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha) in sub-plots in strip plot design with four replications. Grain yield and NUE increased significantly with increased irrigation levels. Increase irrigation frequency increased the N (33.4 and 31.3 %), P (42.2 and 42.3 %) and K (26.7 and 25.1 %) uptake over one irrigation during 2010-11 and N (16.0 and 15.9 %), P (19.4 and 20.7 %) and K (11.2 and 13.5 %) during 2011-12. Increased nitrogen dose increased the protein content, hectolitre weight, sedimentation value and grain yield over control. Maximum and minimum nutrient uptake was recorded with 200 and 0 kg N/ha.

The purpose of this study was the calibration and validation of DSSAT-CSM-CERES-Wheat model (v4.5) for wheat in Hisar conditions. The DSSAT-CSM-CERES-Wheat model was calibrated with the field experimental data of rabi 2010-11 having 3 levels of irrigation (I1-one irrigation at crown root initiation [CRI], I2- two irrigations at CRI and heading and I3- four irrigations at CRI, late tillering, heading and milking) and 5 nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha) and validated with data of experiment rabi 2011-12 conducted at Hisar (29°10’ N and 75°46’ E). The model performance was evaluated using average error (Bias), root mean square error (RMSE), normalized root mean square error (nRMSE), index of agreement (d-stat) and coefficient of determination (r2), and it was observed that DSSAT-CSM-CERES-Wheat model was able to predict the phenology, total nutrient uptake and grain yield of wheat with reasonably good accuracy. The simulated results were within the permissible limit of the error (error % less than ±15).

Field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (latitude 290 10’ N and longitude 750 36’ E Latitude) during rabi season of two years (2013-14 and 2014-15). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications consisted four dates of sowing as main plots and five nitrogen levels as sub plot treatments. The Indian mustard variety RH 0749 was selected. The growth parameters were measured at 30, 60, 90, 120 DAS and at maturity stage. The growth parameters LAI, total dry matter/plant, and CGR progressively got decreased with delay in sowing. Among the nitrogen levels, 100 kg N/ha recorded highest growth parameters significantly. Absorbed PAR in mustard found decreased with delay in sowing. Mustard fertilized with 100 kg N/ha absorbs maximum PAR. Delay in sowing adversely affected the radiation use efficiency of mustard crop. The radiation use efficiency varied between1.74 to 2.18 (2013-14) and 1.67 to2.04 g/MJ (2014-15). Radiation use efficiency explained around 77 and 94 per cent variability in leaf area index and total dry matter of mustard crop.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Hisar, Haryana in a split plot design having four dates in the main plot and five nitrogen levels in the sub plots with three replications, to find out the effect of planting dates and nitrogen level on yield attributes and yield of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Growth characters, yield attributes, yields and qualities were found to be more with 15 October sowing compared to 30 October, 5 November and 15 November sowing dates. Growth characters, yield attributes, yields and qualities increased significantly with successive increase in nitrogen up to 100 kg N/ha. Integration of 100 kg N/ha with 15 October sowing, gave highest amount of seed yield than rest of the combinations of nitrogen levels and sowing dates during both the years.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at research farm Hisar, Haryana in a split plot design having four dates (Oct 15 and 25, Nov 5 and 15) in main plots and five nitrogen levels (0, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N/ha) in sub plots with three replications to study the effect of sowing dates and nitrogen levels on growth and yield of Indian mustard. Results revealed that October 15 sown crop resulted in significantly higher total plant biomass and its partitioning at different growth stages, yield attributes, yields and oil content. Delaying the sowing dates from October 15 to November 15 reduced seed yield by 39.3 percent. Among the nitrogen levels, application of 100 kg N/ha led to record higher total biomass and its partitioning at all growth stages and resulted in higher yield attributes and seed yield. Oil content decreased with increased levels of nitrogen.

Fertilizer and moisture availability affect various physiological and growth processes and are key factors in controlling productivity and yield of cotton crop. Two-year experiment (kharif 2012 and 2013) was conducted to evaluate the effects of different fertilizer levels on growth, yield, water and partial factor productivity of fertilizers of furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB) planted transgenic cotton in semi-arid region of north-west India. The fertilization treatment was based on different ratios of N, P2O5 and K2O. Four fertilizer treatments were designed including 75%, 100%, 125% and 150% of recommended rates with N 175, P2O5 60 and K2O 60 kg/ha. Yield components were measured. Partial factor productivity of fertilizer (PFP), water productivity and economics were calculated. Compared to conventional method of sowing, FIRB planted cotton produced significantly higher yield components, viz. sympods and bolls/plant and boll weight. The seed cotton yield of FIRB planted crop increased by 10.3% in 2012 and 11.2% in 2013. This method of sowing also resulted in higher PFP for individual nutrients, i.e. N, P and K as well as for the total nutrients, i.e. N, P and K. It also provided higher water productivity, net benefit and B: C. Non-Bt genotypes did not show any marked diffence in terms of yield, WP and PFP of nutrients applied over Bt, however, was better in terms of net benefit and B: C. The PFP decreased with the increase of fertilization rates. With 75% RDF, the PFPN during the respective two crop seasons was 14.02 and 12.98 kg seed cotton/kg applied N and decreased to 7.05 and 6.98 with 150% RDF. The corresponding values of PFP P or K were 40.90 and 37.88 which decreased to 21.89 and 20.31 kg seed cotton/kg applied P or K. Similarly, the PFP N, P and K was 8.33 and 7.72 and the corresponding vlaues with 150% RDF were 4.45 and 4.41 kg seed cotton per kg applied N, P and K. Under semi-arid conditions, to achieve higher productivity hybrid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) be planted under FIRB system fertilized with N -175, P2O5-60 and K2O-60 kg/ha.

A field experiment was conducted at CCSHAU, Hisar during 2011-12 and 2012-13 to evaluate the intercropping of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) grown for seed during kharif season and their impact on succeeding wheat grown with three levels of nitrogen [50, 75 and 100 % recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)] in split plot design with three replications. The results revealed that 1:1 row ratio of dhaincha and sorghum at 30 cm spacing succeeded by wheat was found most economical and feasible cropping system among all the treatments with highest wheat equivalent yield (7.22 tonnes/ha), system profitability (Rupees 241/ha/day), production efficiency (2.44 tonnes WEY/ha/day), net return (71.4 × 103 Rupees/ha ), B:C ratio (1.32), energy productivity (285.4 kg/ MJ) and apparent nutrient use productivity of 20.3 kg WEY/ha-kg. The 1:1 row ratio of dhaincha with sorghum yielded almost equal seed yield of dhaincha (only 2.8% reduction) with additional yield of 17.8 tonnes/ha sorghum fodder over sole crop. Hence, for seed production dhaincha be sown at 60 cm spacing intercropped with one row of fodder sorghum in between two rows of dhaincha followed by wheat to supplement the income of farmers.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 to study the effect of limited irrigation and nitrogen levels on growth, yield attributes and yield of Indian Mustard. The yield attributes, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index were more in the variety Laxmi than the variety RH-9304. The seed yield was found highest (1582 kgha-1). With one irrigation at flowering stage over no post sowing irrigation (1269 kgha-1). Nitrogen application influenced significantly the seed yield, stover yield and yield attributes up to 100 kg Nha-1.

Field experiment was conducted during rabi 2013-14 and 2014-15 to study the thermal requirement for Indian mustard at research farm, College of Agriculture, Hisar,Haryana (latitude 290 10’ N and longitude 750 36’ E Latitude). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications consisted four dates of sowing (Oct15th&25th and Nov5th& 15th) as main plots and five nitrogen levels(0 (Control), 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N ha-1) as sub plots treatments. Results revealed that duration of phenological stages andthermal unit during days to 50 % flowering to maturity increased with successive delay in sowing. October 15 sowing crop produced significantly higher total dry matter accumulation, more number of siliquae, higher seed yield, and biological yield as compared to October 25, November 5 and November 15. Among the doses of nitrogen, 100 kg Nha-1 exhibited significantly higher total dry matter accumulation, heat use efficiency, more number of siliquae plant-1, higher 1000 seed weight , seed yield and biological yield followed by 80, 60, 40 and 0 kg N.

Field experiments were conducted at Hisar during Rabi season of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 to study the effect of limited irrigation and nitrogen levels on consumptive use, water use efficiency and moisture extraction pattern by Indian mustard varieties.Total consumptive use (CU) of water and water use efficiency (WUE) was higher in the variety Laxmi than RH-9304.However, Laxmi and RH-9304 showed a tendency to extract more or less same amount of moisture from different soil depths.Irrigation levels resulted in marked increase in the total consumptive use of water over no post sowing irrigation.The highest consumptive use of 168.72 and 160.56 mm was found in one irrigation applied at flowering stage during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, respectively.The WUE decreased with the application of irrigation water over no irrigation.Irrigation levels markedly influenced the soil moisture extraction patterns.The irrigated crop extracted more moisture from upper (0-30 CM) of soil lalyens as compared to unirrigated crop.The highest CU of water was observed at 120 kg Nha -1 .However, higher WUE was recorded at 100 kg Nha -1 .

Sole pearlmillet and their intercropping combinations during kharif followed by wheat grown with three nitrogen levels i.e 50, 75 and 100 % of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)to identify the profitable system. Based on two year study the net return and B:C ratio under Sesbania–wheat rotation were 17.9% and 7.1% more over pearlmillet-wheat crop rotation, respectively. Among intercropping systems Sesbania sown at 90 cm spacing intercropped with one row of pearlmillet followed by wheat was the most profitable crop rotation for the farmers who are interested in seed crop of sesbania with net return (Rs 40013/ha) and B:C ratio (1.48) along with highest Sesbania seed yield of (924kg/ha) with an additional pearlmillet yield (743kg/ha) and wheat equivalent yield (6656kg/ha). Sesbania sown at 120 cm spacing intercropped with two rows of pearlmillet followed by wheat was the most profitable crop rotation for farmers, who are more interested in pearlmillet seed crop with the highest net return ( Rs 40593/ha) and B:C ratio (1.48) along with highest pearlmillet seed yield (1344 kg/ha), Sesbania seed yield (762 kg/ha), highest sesbania equivalent yield (1379 kg/ha) and second highest wheat equivalent yield (6661kg/ha) among intercropping systems. So, Sesbania followed by wheat is more profitable over pearlmillet- wheat crop rotation and from sustainability point of view to encourage the farmers for seed production of Sesbania and to get maximum net return, the Sesbania can be intercropped with one or two rows of pearlmillet. Sesbania sole or in combination with pearlmillet as intercrop was found beneficial for soil health improvement in terms of available N,P and K status of soil as compared to pearlmillet sole-wheat rotation.

Field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar having shallow water table (85 to135 cm) to evaluate the water use and its components in bed planted (FIRBS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under three levels of moisture regimes, viz. irrigation at IW/CPE = 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9. Depletion of soil moisture (SMD) and contribution from shallow water table (GWC) increased with stage of the crop, maximum during 86 DAS to maturity period. Soil water, in the respective two crop seasons, contributed 8.63 cm and 9.27 cm under FIRBS, and 8.10 cm and 8.77 cm with conventional method of sowing towards crop ET. Total water use was 38.24 and 40.83 cm in conventional sowing which decreased to 37.43 and 36.84 cm under FIRBS in the respective two crop seasons. The water productivity of the applied irrigation water under FIRBS was higher by 25.2 and 21.5% (630 and 305 kg/ha-cm) than conventional sowing (503 and 251 kg/ha-cm) in the respective two crop seasons. The share of soil water to crop ET was highest (37.8%) with IW/CPE=0.5 and decreased to 30.8% with IW/CPE=0.9. GWC was not influenced by varying moisture regimes in the 1st crop season, but in the 2nd season it was higher under IW/CPE=0.5 and decreased with increase in moisture regimes. The total water use in the two crop seasons was highest (40.44 and 43.71 cm with irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.9 and decreased with decrease in moisture regimes. Irrigations applied at IW/CPE=0.9 resulted in significantly higher grain yields closely followed by IW/CPE=0.7. The WUE of irrigation water applied was highest (733 kg/hacm) with irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.7 in 2010-11, but in 2011-12, it was highest (378 kg/ha-cm) with lowest moisture regimes of irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.5.

A field experiment was conducted at CCSHAU, Hisar during kharif seasons of 2011 and 2012 with ten treatments in randomized block design replicated thrice to evaluate the intercropping of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) grown for seed. Results revealed that 1:3 row ratio of sesbania and sorghum at 22.5 cm spacing was found most economical and feasible intercropping system among all the treatments with highest sesbania equivalent yield (1.99 tonnes/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.52), system productivity index (1.69 tonnes/ha), monetary advantage index (13 119 Rupees/ha), net return (7.20×103 Rupees/ha), B:C ratio (1.24), Energy productivity (0.21 sesbania equivalent yield (kg/MJ) and system net energy return (625.4×103 MJ/ha) along with 14.8% and 41.3% reduction in sesbania seed yield and sorghum fodder yield, respectively, over sole cropping of both crops. Hence, for seed production sesbania was sown at 90 cm spacing intercropped with three rows of fodder sorghum in between two rows of sesbania to supplement the income of farmers.

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2010 and 2011 at Hisar, to evaluate the intercropping of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] in prickly sesban or dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) grown for seed. Yield of dhaincha was not affected by sowing it at 60 or 45 cm row spacing. Among intercropping systems in spite of 11.6% reduction in dhaincha seed yield compared with sole crop at 45 cm spacing, the highest Sesbania seed yield (0.92 t/ha) along with an additional pearl millet yield of 0.74 t/ha was obtained with 1:1 row ratio of Sesbania and pearlmillet at 45 cm spacing. Two rows of pearlmillet in between Sesbania sown at 120 cm spacing was found best not only for pearlmillet but also for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.38), highest competition ratio (2.75), maximum monetary advantage index (7,048/ha), maximum system productivity index (1.49 t/ha), highest Sesbania (1.38 t/ha) equivalent yield, highest net returns of 10,768/ha and maximum benefit: cost of 1.39. Hence for seed production Sesbania be sown at 120 cm spacing intercropped with 2 rows of pearlmillet to supplement the income of farmers.