A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2007-08 to at Jobner, India on loamy sand soil to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The experiment consisted of fourteen combinations of integrated nutrient management practices for application of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) to fenugreek i.e., 40 kg/ha, through different sources, viz., control, inorganic or organic [farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC)] alone or in combinations was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Based on three years of study the results revealed that application of all nutrient management treatments through organic and inorganic sources alone or in combination brought significant effect on growth, yield and economics of fenugreek. Further the results revealed that integration of 50% RDN through vermicompost (VC) + 50% RDN through inorganic source to fenugreek recorded higher plant height, branches/ plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, test weight, seed yield (1781 kg/ha), stover yield (3392 kg/ha), biological yield (5173 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 52151/ha). However, maximum benefit cost ratio was fetched with application of 100% RDN through inorganic source.

A field experiment was carried out in rabi seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 at Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan), to assess the effect of sowing time and plant growth regulators on yield, economics, nutrient uptake and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) varieties grown under irrigated loamy sand soil of semi-arid eastern plain zone of Rajasthan. The experiment consisting of two sowing times, viz. normal (1st weekof November) and late (3rd week of November), three varieties, viz. RCr-41, RCr-435 and RCr-480 and five plant growth regulators treatments (PGRs), viz. triacontanol @ 1 000 ppm, brassinolide @ 1.0 ppm, thiourea @ 1 000 ppm and NAA @ 50 ppm, including one control (water sprayed) treatment were replicated thrice in split-plot design. The 2-year results revealed that the normal sown coriander crop produced significantly higher seed (by 31%) and stover yields, total N and P uptake (by 20 and 25%), per-day productivity (by 17%) and net returns (by 59%), partial factorproductivity (PFP), nutrient harvest index (NHI), protein (by 21%) and oil (by 41%) yields compared to late sown crop. However, late sown crop resulted significantly higher nitrogen content in seed and stover and protein content in seed over normal sown. Among 3-varieties, RCr-480 produced significantly higher yields (15%), total N (15%) and P (by 14%) uptake, per-day productivity(by 14%) and net returns (by 34%), essential oil (by 21%) and protein(17%) yields, PFP-NP and NHI-NP during both the years as compared to RCr-41, which were statistically at par with RCr-435, except oil yield, NHI-NP in second year. The foliar spray of PGRs significantly enhanced the yields (by 10-22%), nutrient content and uptake and quality of coriander over water spray. The highest seed and stover yields, N and P uptake, per-day productivity and net returns, protein and oil yield and PFP-NP with 1 000 ppm triacontanol, over control, 50 ppm NAA and 1 000 ppm thiourea, and remained statistically at par with 1.0 ppm brassinolide, except per-day-net returns and oil yield. Overall, our results suggest that adoption of RCr-480 variety under normal sown condition with 1 000 ppm triacontanol spray can enhance crop productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and quality of coriander in semi-arid region of India and elsewhere under similar agro-climatic conditions.

The continuous use of high levels of chemical fertilizers is adversely affecting the sustainability of agricultural production and causing environmental pollution. Therefore, we must find ways to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. The use of organic fertilizers is one of the solutions for sustainable fertility and productivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, productivity, quality and economics of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.). A field experiment was conducted continuously for 3 winter (rabi) seasons stating from 2007 to 2010 at Jobner, Rajasthan. The experiment consisted of 14 treatments for application of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) to cumin, i.e. 30 kg/ha, through different sources, viz. control, fertilizers or organic [farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC)] alone or in combinations, was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications. Based on three years of study the results revealed that in cumin nutrient management through organic sources, fertilizer sources alone or in combination have significant effect on growth, yield attributes, yield, economics, volatile oil content and soil fertility status. The integrated application of 50% RDF through VC + 50% RDF through fertilizers gave higher values of all the growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height, branches/plant, umbels/plant, umbellates/ umbel, seeds/umbellate and test weight to the magnitude of 14.7, 20.9, 34.8, 23.7, 40.7 and 11.3% over absolute control, respectively, closely followed by 100% RDF through fertilizers. Among the different nutrient management practices, significantly highest mean values were recorded for seed yield (474 kg/ha), straw yield (1 221 kg/ha), biological yield (1 695 kg/ha), gross monetary returns (Rupees 75 840/ha), net monetary returns (Rupees 57 861/ha), benefit:cost ratio (3.22) and volatile oil content (3.26%) in treatment with 50% RDF through VC + 50% RDF through fertilizers realizing 75.6, 46.8, 53.8, 75.6, 111.2, 8.6 and 7.9% increase over absolute control, respectively. The significantly highest value of organic carbon (0.28%) was recorded with 100% RDF through FYM, whereas 75% RDF through VC + 25% RDF through fertilizers indicated highest available nitrogen balance (146.5 kg/ha) followed with 50% RDF through VC + 50% RDF through fertilizers (145.3 kg/ha). Therefore, in cumin it can be recommended to apply 50% RDF through VC + 50% RDF through fertilizers, which will reduce the load of chemical fertilizers up to 50%.