Boro rice seed sown in November in open field with use of FYM @ 15t/ha avoided injury due to severe cold and saved 15 per cent additional seedlings for transplanting. By use of polyhouse, raising of boro rice seedling was possible even in January when seed did not germinate in open field due to cold.

Studies to evaluate the impact of late sown wheat indicated that g rain yield was significantly higher for 6 th December sowing (5.31 t/ha) followed by 16 th December sowing. Among the dates of first irrigation, grain under 20 and 26 Days After Sowing (DAS) was significantly superior over 38 DAS.

Studies on soil moisture dynamics and nutrient uptake in rice based cropping system under optimum and sub optimum supply of water and nutrient indicate that cereal dominated rice based cropping sequence was more remunerative than pulse dominated with respect to production potential of crops. Whereas pulse dominated rice based cropping system was beneficial for improving soil health, fertility status and physical properties, pulse-dominated rice based cropping system was found to be more profitable.

Among cropping systems evaluated, maximum yield equivalent was recorded in rice-wheat-green gram (12.02 t/ha) followed by rice-lentil-green gram (11.21 t/ha) based on three-crop cycles. Among levels of irrigation and nitrogen, maximum rice yield equivalent was recorded at optimum (recommended nitrogen only) level (12.11 t/ha & 12.35 t/ha) followed by sub optimum (half nitrogen only) level (11.12 q/ha & 10.88 t/ha). Highest net returns were obtained in rice-lentil-green gram followed by rice-wheat-green gram at optimum and sub-optimum level of irrigation. Pulse based cropping system used water more efficiently (78.90 & 75.62 kg/ha/cm) than the cereal based cropping system (74.51 & 71.42 kg/ha/cm) at both the level of irrigation. Uptake of NPK in cereal dominated cropping system was more than the pulse dominated cropping system. Uptake of nutrients at optimum level of irrigation and nitrogen was higher than sub-optimum level.

A comparative study of different tillage technologies revealed that adoption of zero tillage could save a total of Rs. 1850/ha under land preparation (Rs.1400 in sowing and Rs.450 in irrigation). Under raised bed system, an additional amount of Rs. 600/ha was incurred for land preparation and sowing but there was a saving of Rs. 2622/ha from irrigation water application.

Research work conducted to evaluate different drought tolerant and water use efficient traits in wheat indicated that Drought Stress Index (DSI), Dry Matter Stress Index (DMSI) and Yield Stability Ration (YSR) calculated from the post harvest data could be used to identify drought tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes. Whereas genotypes RW 899, RW 890 are identified as most susceptible to drought, C-303, K-8047 and RW 927 are identified as drought tolerant.

Studies conducted to demonstrate the beneficial effects of Deep Summer Ploughing (DSP) revealed that DSP had significant effect on grain yield and yield attributes over non-DSP. DSP effectively reduced the weed population. Effect of normal supply of water was pronounced in DSP over non-DSP. Similar trend was recorded on nematode population.

Studies on tillage management under rice-wheat system in South Bihar indicate that Deep Summer Ploughed (DSP) field retained more moisture and offered less penetration resistance providing conducive environment for root development in wheat. Zero tillage also showed better root growth under DSP plots. DSP on alternate years resulted in significantly higher grain yield of wheat (4.14 t/ha) over non-DSP (3.93 t/ha) fields. Similarly in rice, though the initial root proliferation was observed in DSP every year, highest root growth was observed in DSP in alternate years along with a maximum grain yield of 4.69 t/ha.

Long term manurial trials on chewing tobacco under irrigated conditions indicate that two irrigations at 30 th and 60 th day after transplanting of chewing tobacco significantly increased leaf yields and quality parameters. With increase in the levels of nitrogen from 0 to 112 kg N/ha, significantly superior yield, puckering, spangling and maturity scores were recorded.

Studies on nutrient management in chewing tobacco intercropping system indicate that intercrop rajmah followed by garlic planted in two rows in alternate tobacco rows, recorded significantly higher total cured leaf yield over potato as intercrop. Fertility levels significantly influenced yield and physical quality parameters of tobacco leaf. Highest net returns were recorded under two rows of garlic plants.

Among diversified cropping systems developed at Sabajpura Farm, Patna, maximum yield equivalence was recorded in rice-tomato-bottle guard (50.30 t/ha) followed by rice-potato-onion (26.72 t/ha), rice-mustard-tomato (26.58 t/ha) and rice-coriander-ladies finger (26.42 t/ha), respectively. The survey of farmers for crop diversification reinforced the view that smaller the farm size; higher is the level of crop diversification. Farmers’ crop diversification patterns revealed that majority of farmers were high crop diversifiers.

Crop diversification by introduction of QPM + potato on raised beds and maize + vegetables on level land gave 3.2 t/ha and 23.9 t/ha QPM and potato yields, respectively. The summer green gram (HYV Vishal) yielded 0.85 t/ha in comparison to farmers’ practice (0.4 t/ha).

The benefit cost ratio was found to be highest (3.36) under winter maize intercropped with aromatic and medicinal plants (maize + ashwagandha and maize + lemongrass) in winter maize based cropping system at Pusa, Samastipur.

Evaluation of geo-textile material for mulching in pointed gourd indicated improved root growth with increase in thickness of the geotextile mulch. The highest growth was observed in 300-gsm mulch treated plots followed by 250 gsm plots. Root growth in straw mulched plots was found to be at par with 250 gsm geo-textile mulched plots.

Fertigation studies in vegetable crops indicated that under 100 per cent recommended dose, liquid fertilizer (LF) showed highest root growth over the solid soluble fertilizer (SSF) and commercial fertilizer (CF). Root surface area of tomato was highest in liquid fertilizer application and root length was 251 and 126 per cent higher over commercial and solid soluble fertilizers, respectively. In cauliflower, under 100 percent dose, root surface area was highest in liquid fertilizer applications which were 129 and 59 per cent higher and root length was 125 and 31 per cent more over commercial and solid soluble fertilizer, respectively.