during spring 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprises of four methods of planting viz. conventional planting at 75 cm (M 1 ), half ridge open furrow irrigation planting at 75 cm (M 2 ), wide bed and furrow paired row planting (M 3 ) and wider planting (M 4 ) at 120 cm and six different nitrogen levels viz. control (N 1 ), 75 (N 2 ), 100 (N 3 ), 125 (N 4 ), 150 (N 5 ), 175 kg N ha -1 (N 6 ). The results revealed that different planting methods fail to exert any significant influence on the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content (%) in cane, green top and whole plant. Application of different levels of nitrogen results significant increase in nitrogen concentration and uptake in cane and plant with increasing the dose of nitrogen except green top. The significantly higher N content (0.33% in cane, 0.69% in sugarcane plant) was recorded with the application 175 kg N/kg over control which was at par with 150 kg N/ha. The different level of nitrogen application had non-significant effect on P and K content in cane, green top as well as plant. However, significantly higher uptake of N, P and K was observed in wide bed and furrow paired row planting than conventional planting. Planting methods did not bring any significant variation in respect of available nutrients (N, P and K) in the soil, however, Increasing trend of available nitrogen was observed with increasing dose of nitrogen. The significantly higher available nitrogen (148.5kg/ha) was obtained with application of 175 kg N/ha over control.

A two-year field experiment was carried out at Regional Research Station, Karnal during 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of different nutrient sources on spring maize (Zea mays L.) and succeeding basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) utilizing four organic manures [pressmud @7.5 t ha-1, vermicompost @ 7.5 t ha-1, farmyard manure @15 t ha-1 and control] and six fertilizer levels [135 , 180 kg N ha-1, 135 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1, 180 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1, 75% RDF and 100% RDF]. The results of the study revealed that the application of pressmud and vermicompost applied each at 7.5 t ha-1 recorded the higher dry matter accumulation, cob length, cob girth, number of kernels/cob, test weight and yield (grain and biological) of spring maize over no organic manure treatment. Increase in grain and biological yield of maize with application of pressmud over farmyard manure was 8.4 and 10.1%, and 7.97 and 9.61% during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Among fertilizer levels, application of 100% RDF being at par with 75% RDF and 180 kg Nha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 recorded the higher dry matter accumulation, yield attributes and yield of maize.The residual effect of 100% RDF being at par with 75% RDF and 180 kg N ha-1+ 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 was found superior over 135 kg N ha-1 with respect to yield attributes and yield of basmati rice.

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station, Karnal, CCS Haryana Agricultural University during spring 2017 to study on different planting method and nitrogen level on growth parameter and nitrogen use efficiency of sugarcane. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprises of four methods of planting viz. conventional planting at 75 cm (M1), half ridge open furrow irrigation planting at 75 cm (M2), wide bed and furrow paired row planting (M3) and wider planting (M4) at 120 cm and six different nitrogen levels viz. control (N1), 75 (N2), 100 (N3), 125 (N4), 150 (N5), 175 kg N ha-1 (N6). Germination count was significantly affected by planting methods at 30 and 45 DAP, however, it was found to be non significant among nitrogen levels. Neither the planting methods nor the nitrogen levels had any significant effect on nutrient use efficiency, brix, pol, juice purity and commercial cane sugar. Significantly higher sugar yield (11.9 t/ha) was recorded in wide bed and furrow paired row planting which was 22.7, 8.2, and 6.3 per cent higher than conventional, wider planting and half ridge open furrow method, respectively. Lower sugar yield (9.7 t/ha) was recorded in conventional method. Among nitrogen levels, sugar yield increases with successive increase in nitrogen application upto recommended dose of 150 kg N/ha.