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Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is recommended as a warm season cover crop in the Midwest due to its ability to produce high levels of biomass and fix atmospheric nitrogen. It can also be grown in biculture with other cover crops to enhance overall ecosystem services. Two field experiments were conducted over four growing seasons (2014 – 2017) in Wisconsin on a forest derived Fox silt loam (Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs) under organic certification to determine the effect of planting date on sunn hemp dry matter yield, N and C addition and to determine the effect of species ratio in a biculture with sorghum-sudan [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] on the same output variables as well as seed cost and the related per unit cost of production. Planting dates significantly affected all biomass yield variables, which declined linearly from the initial date and appear related to growing degree accumulation. Regression analysis revealed a biomass yield decline of 1.3% per day (8.9% week-1) in relative yield, and 0.90 Mg day-1 (0.61 Mg week-1) in actual yield. In biculture, sunn hemp grown in a planting ratio of 50:50 with sorghum-sudan maximized N addition through nitrogen fixation and added N from dry matter, without a significant difference in the dry matter recorded. Analysis of seed cost data revealed that as the ratio of sunn hemp in the planting mixture decreased, the cost per hectare decreased. The cost of production per unit of DM, N, C and CO2 equivalent at this planting ratio were 7.08 $ Mg-1, 0.57 $ kg-1, 17.51 $ t-1 and 4.78 $ t-1 respectively. In pure culture, early planting dates (June 15th to July 15th) are recommended for sunn hemp, and in biculture, a planting ratio of 50:50 with sorghum-sudan could serve Midwestern producers well by reducing per unit cost of biomass production.

Irrigation in India is mostly dependent on traditional systems and irrigation efficiency in Indian agriculture is 40-45 per cent. Over time, India has seen a tremendous development in the surface irrigation resources but, the problem the country faces is the management of these resources in a sustainable manner. Sugarcane, an important cash crop, has a role to play in the economy. It is grown both in the tropical and subtropical belts of the country. With a projected area of 4.5 million ha and yield of about 90 t/ha and a recovery of 11%, it is necessary that sugarcane cultivation is carried out without many resource crunch, especially water. This paper deals with the various irrigation methods practiced in India and the various technologies that have been adopted by sugarcane farmers for improved irrigation and water use efficiency. Different methods are used to apply irrigation water to crop. Conventional methods of irrigation follow surface irrigation while the new technologically advanced method of irrigation is microirrigation.Water has become a precious natural resource and it needs to be managed and conserved effectively. In order to do that, planning on various fronts is necessary. Efforts like assessment of water availability before planting and restricting crop area, avoiding flood irrigation, drip irrigation for saving water, guidance and training to farmers on adoption and maintenance of microirrigation technologies, and cost reduction strategies create an enabling environment for better water use efficiency. Sugarcane cultivation thus undertaken would serve to conserve water and improve the resource base while enabling a better living standard for the farmer. Pressurized irrigation technologies that are water and energy efficient are considered the answer to challenges of water conservation.