Herbicide resistance in little seed canary grass (Phalaris minor Retz.) in wheat is the major sustainability issue, which puts the rice-wheat (R-W) system in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) under serious threat. To assess the resistance level, a questionnaires based survey with a systematic approach was conducted during rabi 2017-18 in five districts (Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal, Karnal, Fatehabad and Rohtak) of Haryana. The study revealed that at present, farmers of Haryana are closely back to square one, similar to the situation of herbicide resistance in P. minor like 1990's and currently, no herbicide is satisfactorily effective against resistant P. minor. Farmers are using every possible combination of herbicides in a hit and trial way. In 2017-18, half of the farmers (50%) went for the second spray, 13% applied the third spray, and even 3% of farmers opted for the fourth spray. The same pattern followed in the case of herbicide dose; in 2017-18, 38% of farmers opted for 2-4 X-dose, 16% of farmers for 4-6 X-dose, 3% of farmers for 6-8 X-dose, and even one percent farmers applied 8-10 X-dose. Negative relationship between percent control with higher dose (X) (Chi-Square value 72.560a, DF = 12 and p = <0.001) and multiple sprays (Chi-Square 67.076a, DF = 8 and P = <0.001) recorded during 2017-18 also indicates strong chances/evidences of herbicide resistance development.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2015-16 and 2016-17 comprising four wheat varieties (viz., HS-490, VL-829, VL-892 and VL-907) grown on five different sowing dates (viz., 20th October, 5th November, 20th November, 5th December and 20th December) in split plot design with three replications at Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management farm, CSK HPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (India). The DSSAT-CERES-wheat (version 4.6) model was calibrated using various growth and yield parametrs collected from experiment conducted during 2015-16 while for validation, data collected from subsequent experiment (2016-17) have been used. The results of the present investigation revealed that among different treatments during 2015-16, the range of the observed and simulated yield was 3.3-5 t ha(-1) and 3.0-5.4 t ha(-1), respectively whereas during 2016-17, it was 2.6-3.8 t ha(-1) (observed) and 2.9-3.9 t ha(-1) (simulated). The mean observed and simulated grain yield was 3.1 to 3.9 t ha(-1) and 3.2 to 3.9 t ha(-1). For observed and simulated grain yield, standard deviation (SD) of 496 and 601 kg and coefficient of variation (CV) of 13 and 15 % has been recorded during 2015-16 while during 2016-17, it was 441 and 247 kg (SD) and 13 and 8 % (CV). Likewise, observed and simulated above ground biomass was 8.3-12.4 t ha(-1) and 8.2-12.9 t ha(-1) during 2015-16 and 6.5-12.0 t ha(-1) and 6.0-11.9 t ha(-1) 2016-17, respectively. Among the treatments, mean simulated biological yield was 10.2 and 7.9 t ha(-1) while, observed was 9.9 and 8.3 t ha(-1). For observed and simulated biomass production, 1303 and 1507 kg SD and 13 and 15 % CV was recorded during 2015-16 but during 2016-17, it was 1670 and 1873 (SD) and 20 and 24 % (CV), respectively. During both the years, between observed and simulating grain yield, high correlation coefficient (r = 0.76 & 0.85), low RMSE (381 & 281 kg), nRMSE (9.6 & 8.9 %), MBE (-0.5 & 77.3 kg) and MAPE (0.06 & 3.5 %) confirmed the accurate simulation by model. High simulated and observed grain yield was obtained if variety HS-490 (2015-16) and VL-907 (2016-17) were sown on 20th November. Similarly, for observed and simulated biomass production high correlation coefficient, (r = 0.89 and 0.98) and low RMSE (735 and 591 kg), nRMSE (7.4 and 7.0 %), MBE (316 and 453 kg) and MAPE (3.2 and -5.9 %), have been recorded, among the treatments. Thus, the grain yield and above ground biomass of wheat cultivars were fairly simulated by the DSSAT model hence, it may be used for crop yield simulations under varying input conditions of mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh.

An experiment was conducted during Rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the effect of five dates of sowing (20th October,5th November, 20th November, 5th and 20th December) on growth, yield attributes and yield of four wheat varieties (VL-829,VL-907,VL-892 and HS-490) on a silty clay loam soil at Palampur (HP), India. Wheat sown on 20th November recorded significantly highest plant height, tillers/m2, Dry matter accumulation, grains/spike, grain and straw yield. Among varieties, VL-907 recorded significantly highest grains/spike, grain and straw yield and hence recorded significantly highest grain yield.

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during kharif 2014 to study the comparative efficacy of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in paddy. The experiment consisted of eight treatments comprising of combinations of four nutrient management treatments viz., Organic nutrient management (soil treatment with jeevamrit & seed treatment with biofertilizer, vermicompost (VC) 10 t ha & 3 sprays of vermiwash at 15, 30, 45 days after sowing), Inorganic nutrient management (recommended NPK), Integrated nutrient management (5 tonnes VC + 50% of recommended NPK), Control (Farmer’s practices) (2.5 tonnes VC + 25% of recommended NPK) with two ecosystems i.e transplanted and direct seeded rice (rainfed) were tested in split plot design, replicated thrice. Growth, yield attributes, grain and straw yield of rice was increased in transplanted Original Research Article Sharma et al.; BJAST CJAST, 21(6): 1-8, 2017; Article no.CJAST.33914 2 ecosystem and integrated nutrient management practice. The transplanted ecosystem recorded 18.64 per cent higher yield and 50.60 per cent higher net return per rupee invested over direct seeded rainfed ecosystem. Integrated nutrient management being statistically at par with organic nutrient management recorded the higher paddy yield over inorganic nutrient management and farmer’s practice. Integrated nutrient management recorded higher net returns per rupee invested (1.18) but remain statistically at par with organic nutrient management and inorganic nutrient management.

Field experiment was conducted at the research farm of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan during kharif 2013 with the objective to select the best seedling age and spacing of rice under system of rice intensification in terms of energetic and employment generation for mid hill con-dition of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in 3 times replicated split plot design, assigning of three seedling ages (10, 17 and 24 days) and two spacings (20 cm x 20 cm and 20 cm x 15 cm) in main plots and four seedling vigours corresponding to four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) in sub plots. The leaf area per plant was significantly greater in 10 days seedling age and decreased with increase in age (P=0.05). Seedling rate did not affect leaf area index in all stages except 40 DAS when 35 g/m2 seeding rate had maximum LAI. Seedling age did not significantly influence crop growth rate at any interval but it did relative growth rate and net assimilation rate between 40-70 and 70-100 DAS (P=0.05). 24 days old seedling resulted in significantly higher relative growth rate and net assimilation rate between 40-70 DAS followed by 17 days old seedlings. Maximum value of energy input (13.23) was recorded in 24 days seedling. The energy use efficiency (Energy output: input) varied from 10.6 to 11.1 under different treatments. Wider spacing supporting less plant population consumed 10 man days less than closer spac-ing of 20 cm x 15 cm.

Four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) of rice in nursery were tested for seedling vigour recorded at 10, 17 and 24 DAS at Malan during 2013 and 2014. The seedling vigour so obtained in nursery was subsequently evaluated in field during kharif 2013. Thus twenty four treatments comprised of combinations of three seedling ages (10, 17 and 24 days) and two spacings (20 × 20 cm and 20 × 15 cm) in main plots and four seedling vigour from four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) in sub plots were evaluated in split plot design. Seedling shoot length under all seeding rates (25-35 g/m2) was significantly higher compared to check (40 g/m2) during 2013. In the next year, shoot and root length (30-35 g/m2), tiller per seedling and leaves per seedling (25-30 g/m2) of 24 days nursery was significantly higher over check (40 g/m2). Plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation were significantly higher when younger seedlings aged 10 and 17 days were used. The crop raised using 10 days old seedlings matured 3-5 days earlier than 24 days old seedlings. Wider spacing resulted in more plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation. Seedlings from 25, 30 and 35 g seed/m2 resulted in significantly taller plants than 40 g/m2. The seeding rate, seedling age and plant spacing did not significantly influence rice productivity thereby permitting flexibility to the rice farmers in the adoption of these factors.