Conservation agriculture (CA) involves minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover through crop residues or cover crops, and crop rotations for achieving higher productivity. Even though the adoption of CA in India is still in an early stage, it has been successfully used in the irrigated rice-wheat cropping systems of the Indo Gangetic Plains (IGP) and recently been demonstrated in parts of central India. Increased weed problems during the 'transition period' tends to be the most common hurdle in adoption of CA by farmers. Research has shown that cover crops could play an important role in weed management in CA systems; however, their level of adoption at present is fairly low. Changes in patterns of tillage, planting systems, and other management strategies can alter the soil environment and lead to a major change in weed flora. Herbicide use has been an extremely important component of weed management in CA systems but greater effort is needed to integrate non-chemical weed control tactics with herbicides. Farmer-participatory model of research has proved highly effective in developing CA in rice-wheat system in the IGP. Efforts are required to increase the rate of adoption of direct seeded rice and zero-till wheat throughout the IGP. At present, residue retention on farmer fields tends to be low. Greater awareness of the benefits of residue retention for improved soil health is worthy of an extension campaign in particular and in India in general. Research effort needs to be enhanced to develop CA and promote its adoption in non-rice-wheat cropping systems in India.

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Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi conducted 40 front line demonstrations on mustard crop under the varieties - DRMR IJ-31, NRCHB -101, RH-749, NRCDR-2 and RH-406 during 2016–17. The critical reasons were identified in existing production technology through surveys and meetings with farmers. Sowing time, use of higher seed rate which resulted into high plant population, uneven plant population, more weeds, in balance dose of fertilizers and less use of plant protection measures were main causes of low productivity of oilseeds in district Jhansi. The results of study showed that the yield under demonstration plots was 12.82 q/ha as compared to 9.78 q /ha in traditional farmer practices plots. The results clearly indicate the positive effects of FLDs over the existing farmer’s practices. Benefit: cost ratio was also recorded higher under demonstrations against farmer practices during the year of experimentation.

Due to distinct agro-climatic, geological and edaphic characters in hilly region of Uttarakhand owing the large genetic diversity of crop species, vegetation and indigenously developed land races. Due to less water and other external inputs requirement traditional legume crops are well suited to rainfed condition of hilly region of Uttarakhand. These traditional legume crops are rich in taste, odour, colour, nutritional values, medicinal and soil fertility enhancement characteristics. But due to increased population pressure, changed food habit, lack of innovative agricultural technology, environment conservation policies and increased market forces a shift from traditional to modern intensive agriculture system during the past few decades resulted in decline in area and production of traditional legume crops. For increasing the area and production (61.18 thousand ha and 53.63 thousand ton) of traditional legume crops, a suitable long-term strategies and management practices for strengthening the distribution facilities for produce and availability of market for conservation of traditional legume crops needs to be worked out in the state.