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Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is perennial short day flowering plant. Nodal explants of Chrysanthemum were cultured on simple Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, MS media supplemented with different concentrations of 6-Benzyl adenine (6-BA) alone and in combination with different concentrations of Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or Thidiazuron (TDZ) for shoot initiation and the regenerated shoots were sub-cultured on MS, ½ MS and ¼ MS media for rooting. No shoot induction was recorded in explants cultured on simple MS, but the phyto-hormones addition to MS media resulted in 100% shoot induction. In case of MS media supplemented with 6-BA, maximum shoot buds (12) and shoot length (6.06 cm) explant-1 were recorded when 44.39 µM 6-BA was added to MS media. In case the MS media was supplemented with 6-BA+NAA, maximum (11)shoot buds explant-1 were recorded in explants cultured in MS+88.79 µM 6-BA+10.74 µM NAA media. Among the different concentrations of 6-BA+TDZ added to MS media, maximum (6.67) shoot buds explant-1 were recorded for explants planted in MS+88.79 µM 6-BA+9.08 µM TDZ. The regenerated shoots were then sub cultured on MS, ½ MS and ¼ MS media for rooting. In that case, there was non-significant effect on root length. However, maximum (15.78) roots were recorded for those cultured in ½ MS media. Thus it is concluded that supplementing MS media with 44.39µM 6-BA is the best concentration for rapid shoot regeneration and½ MS is optimal for the In vitro rooting of Chrysanthemum morifolium.

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Canola crop has the potential for both seeds and grazing. Optimal planting density, time of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application and rates are the major aspects for successful qualitative traits and canola yield formation. In this content, optimization of planting density, N levels and its time of application in dual purpose canola are needed. This study was carried out in RCB design with split pot arrangement having three repeats during winter 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. The study evaluated N levels (120 and 80 kg N ha−1), cutting treatment, N application timings and planting density (20 and 40 plants m−2) effects on qualitative traits and yield of canola. No-cut treatment had 7.02%, 2.46%, and 4.26% higher, glucosinolates, oil, and protein content with 31.3% and 30.5% higher biological and grain yield respectively, compared with grazed canola. Compared with no-cut canola, grazed canola resulted in 7.74% of higher erucic acid. Further, application of N at 120 kg N ha−1 had 8.81%, 5.52%, and 6.06% higher glucosinolates, percent protein, and seed yield, respectively than 80 kg N ha−1. In-addition, the application of N into two splits was most beneficial than the rest application timings. Cutting had 15% reduction in grain yield of canola and fetched additional income of 143.6 USD compared with no-cut. Grazing resulted in a 23% reduction in grain yield while had additional income of 117.7 USD from fodder yield. Conclusively, the application of N in two splits at 120 kg N ha−1 combined with 20 plants m−2 is a promising strategy to achieve good qualitative attributes and canola yield under dual purpose system.

Besides carbon (C) sequestration, biochar (BC) is recently believed to deliver multiple eco-friendly benefits to the soil for enhancing crop productivity. Use of mineral fertilizers coupled with BC been suggested a promising sustainable strategy for increasing crops yield. However, imperative study is needed to investigate (1) BC integration with multiple legumes crop adjusted in summer gape for pooling more organic carbon and nitrogen, and (2) subsequently looking into its synergism with mineral N in the following crop. Therefore, two years’ field experiments were conducted on maize under cereal based cropping pattern with the adjustment of legumes (i.e., mungbean, cowpea, and Sesbania) with a fallow in summer. In legumes, treatments consist of (0 and 50 t ha−1) BC application. However, N rates of 0, 90, 120, 150 kg ha−1 were added to the subsequent maize crop. Preceding legumes plots with the use of 50 t ha−1 biochar enhanced maize grain yield, above ground biomass, stover N, grain N, soil C, and N content after maize harvest and N use efficiency as compared to non-legumes with BC and legumes without BC plots. N application increased grain yield, above-ground biomass, stover N, grain N, and soil N but reduced N use efficiency with higher rates. Conclusively, the integration of biochar and legumes is a promising option for increasing the entire farm production of cereal-based cropping systems. This increment in yield was associated with supplying a viable input of N and C to soil and increased yields from this supplementary ‘summer gap’ crop.