Pradesh Agricultural Research Articles

Microbial population and yield of rice–wheat system under variable irrigation and nutrient management

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2018–19 and winter (rabi) season of 2019–20 at the Water Management Research Farm of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh to study the effect of moisture and nutrient management practices on different soil microbial entities and crop yields in rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system. Experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. Treatments comprised of 3 irrigation levels, viz. Recommended critical stages regimes; Irrigation at 0.8 CPE (cumulative pan evaporation) (rice) and 0.6 CPE (wheat); Irrigation at 1.0 CPE (rice) and 1.0 CPE (wheat) assigned to main-plots and 4 nutrient management practices, viz. Inorganic; Organic; Natural farming; and Integrated management allotted to sub-plots. Irrigation at critical stages resulted in significantly higher rice yield, bacterial, azotobacter, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), actinomycetes population. However, fungi population increased under higher moisture regimes. In case of wheat crop, irrigation at 1.0 CPE resulted in a significantly higher yield (7.5% higher over irrigation at critical stages) in both the years of study. Organic and integrated nutrient management practices being statistically at par with each other recorded significantly higher microbial population. A significantly higher fungi population was, however, recorded with natural farming. The highest crop yields were obtained with integrated nutrient management (3.4 t/ha rice and 3.6 t/ha wheat in second year). The best combination for rice was irrigation at critical stages along with integrated nutrient management. Whereas, for wheat irrigation at 1.0 CPE with same nutrient management proved to be the best. Hence it is recommended to follow integrated nutrient management and irrigation at critical stages in rice and at 1.0 CPE in wheat for higher productivity as well as for improved biological properties of soil.

Checklist and comparison of the bird diversity from the Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, India

Agricultural ornithology plays a crucial role in managing and sustaining agroecosystems. In agriculture, birds such as insectivores and raptors serve as natural controllers of insect and rodent pests, contributing to integrated pest management strategies. In this study, a checklist of birds was compiled using data collected over three years (2019–2022) from the agricultural landscape surrounding Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (HPAU), India. The study area comprises varied habitats including agricultural fields, forest patches, water bodies, and tea orchards. A total of 116 avian species, spanning 17 orders and 44 families were documented. Muscicapidae emerged as the most dominant family, comprising 16 species and exhibiting the highest relative diversity index value (13.79). A comparison with previous records revealed that 40 avian species were absent, while 34 bird species were reported for the first time in the study area. These finding revealed the significant shift in avian diversity at HPAU compared to previous assessments (HPAU 2019). The observed decline in avian diversity may be attributed to rapid habitat degradation driven by large-scale shrub trimming and other development activities, particularly construction projects.

Preliminary checklist of butterfly diversity from the Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India

Butterflies are the bio-indicator species for monitoring the health of the ecosystem. A preliminary checklist of the butterfly diversity was prepared by a long-term survey from 2019 to 2022 in varied habitats in the agriculture landscape of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU), India. The study recorded 77 butterfly species belonging to six families Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. In addition, there are some rare records of butterfly species such as Common Wall (Lasiommata schakra), Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis), Ringed Argus (Callerebia annada) and Pioneer (Belenois aurota). Some butterflies are habitat specific and few also show local migration from high-elevation areas of the surrounding Dhauladhar ranges. The preliminary checklist prepared from the present study was also compared with Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) located in the similar landscape of the study area. This will help to understand the long-term effect of habitat degradation from human-modified environment and agricultural activities to facilitate effective conservation strategies to protect Himalayan ecosystem.

Establishing community fodder banks through public-private partnership: An action-oriented approach

Community fodder banks have been advocated as one of the promising solutions to minimize fodder scarcity in India. Unfortunately, the popularization of such extension activities has remained woefully weak across the country and very few initiatives have been undertaken in this regard. An action-oriented participatory approach was initiated in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh to establish community fodder banks. The approach involved convergence among CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur; Himmothan Society, Palampur; NABARD, Shimla; local Panchayati Raj institutions and ICAR-IVRI, Palampur. The women dairy farmers were mobilized into self-help groups. Awareness meetings followed by site selection, cleaning of the area, land preparation, plantation, fencing and periodical visits were conducted. Four community fodder banks were established in waste and unused common lands, and 669.53 quintals of green fodder was harvested at established fodder banks in 1 year period (July2020-August 2021). The cost of setting up fodder banks in the convergence approach ranged from `1.03 lakhs to `2.05 lakhs. The transformation of wasteland into fodder plots through project intervention has improved fodder availability in the region and will expand livestock-based livelihoods. The public-private partnership mode helped to bring convergence in activities of the project implementing organizations through sharing of work, strengths and knowledge exchange.

Long Term Effect of Fertilizers and Amendments on Macronutrients Uptake by Maize and Relationship with Soil Organic Carbon in Maize-Wheat System in Acid Alfisol f North-oWestern Himalayas

Present study was carried out during 2018 in the ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment, initiated in 1972 at the experimental kharif farm of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, to study the effect of chemical fertilizers, farmyard manure and lime application on yield and nutrient uptake by maize and their relationship with soil organic C in an acid Alfisol. The experiment consisted of three replications of eleven treatments in a randomized block design. The results revealed that the continuous use of NPK fertilizers along with FYM or lime increased the maize yield by 46.7 and 38.5%, whereas omission of S and K from the fertilization schedule declined the yield by 54.8 and 52.2% over the sole use of NPK fertilizers, respectively. The uptake of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg by maize grain and stover was significantly higher in 100% NPK+FYM and 100% NPK+lime than rest of the treatments. Soil organic C recorded a positive and significant relation with uptake of macronutrients by maize, the highest being with P uptake by maize grain (r = 0.918**).

Factors Affecting Avifaunal Diversity in Selected Agro-Ecosystems of Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Avifaunal diversity in eight different habitats of Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur was studied in order to find factors affecting the occurrence of bird species. Bird populations were sampled in different agro-ecosystems such as farm fields (experimental and organic), wetland, abandoned tea plantation, administration area, playground, secondary forest and stream vegetation. A total of 125 species of birds belonging to 51 families, including 33 winter visitors and 27 summer visitors have been recorded. Among them, 78 insectivores followed by 18 carnivores were recorded. The abandoned tea field was a diverse habitat that maintained the highest species richness recording 50 species, followed by stream vegetation and organic farm. Seasonal variations and habitat heterogeneity play crucial role in shaping species richness. Plant diversity, vegetation structure and microhabitats support different feeding guilds, temporary refuge and migratory route which result in increased bird diversity. Based on different categories of birds, the cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters of habitats, first cluster containing administration area and secondary forest habitats, experimental farm and wetland grouped in cluster II, whereas cluster III contained habitats viz. abandoned tea plantation, playground, organic farm and stream vegetation. Several conservation measures such as increasing plant diversity, conducting regular and long-term systematic studies, introducing bird friendly management plan are recommended to conserve and enhance avifaunal diversity in the university.

Understanding micronutrient bioavailability and the impact on micronutrient malnutrition

Jayashree Arcot received her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Madras, India and a Master's degree in Food Science and Nutrition. She received her PhD in Foods and Nutrition from the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University in Hyderabad, India in 1988 while being a recipient of the prestigious Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. While in Hyderabad she had the opportunity to collaborate with several leading scientists in the field of nutrition at the National Institute of Nutrition, a premier organization under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research in India and the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT). She mastered the analysis of vitamins in foods using the microbiological assay during her PhD. When she arrived in Australia in the early 1990s, as an academic at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, she had the opportunity to establish a research group in the field of food science and nutrition. She pursued several projects funded by government and industry with her food-based approaches to solve nutrition problems particularly micronutrient malnutrition. Fascinated by the complexity of vitamins in foods and their matrix effects, she established a laboratory for vitamin methodology for foods using the microbiological assay, high-end chromatography (LC-MS/MS), to measure different forms of vitamins, for example, folates; studying vitamin bioavailability in humans. Her lab was the first in the Oceania region capable of measuring vitamins in foods using the microbiological assay. She has conducted several international workshops and short courses in food composition and vitamin assays for researchers. She has pursued her interest in vitamins through several fortification projects and bioavailability of folate-fortified foods in humans and in vitro cell culture techniques. Her other interests are in developing accurate methods for the bioactive compounds in foods and studying their bioactivity using cell culture techniques. She has several publications in the field of 2D culture models for the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and carotenes from foods. Her publications in this field are related to interactions between these bioactive compounds in foods and their health properties such as cellular anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. More recently, she has focused on food and health security with a particular focus on complementary feeding in infants, and malnutrition in middle-income and lower income countries. In this context, she has been studying ways of recovering nutrients (protein) from food manufacturing stream wastes and collaborated with industry on several projects. She has over 100 research publications and has graduated several research students in the last 20 years. She is a professional member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Nutrition Society of Australia, and the American Society of Nutrition. She is an Associate Professor of Food and Health at the School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

Women in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Andhra Pradesh –A Status Report

In the present paper an attempt has been made to examine the role of women in Andhra Pradesh Agriculture especially in natural resource management. The study focused on studying participation of women in crop management, wage discrimination, ownership, access to economic resources and economic decision making and natural resources management at micro level and macro level. The study revealed that about 22% of cost of cultivation and 56% of the labour cost is incurred towards female labour accounting to Rs 3424 out of cost of cultivation Rs. 19725/ha in case of paddy cultivation. The economic value of women’s participation was accounting to be Rs. 2558 of the total cost of cultivation (Rs. 13567/- per ha) of sorghum. There was a glaring difference in wage rates revealing discrimination between men and women wage rates. The year to year (y-t-y) wage difference was only 12.73 during 2000-01 a decade ago, later grew to 35.13 during 2010-11. The lower wage rates to women were because female labour is available in plenty than male labour. Policy initiatives such as identify women as a key player in NRM both at micro and macro level, when the Govt. distributes surplus land, it has to consider the possibility of transferring the ownership of land to women encourage leasing out fallow land for cultivation of food crops through women SHGs, train the tribal women on how to make use of NFTP and other MFP without disturbing forest cover.

Physico-chemical characteristics and cooking quality of Kodra (Eleusine coracana L.) millet of Himachal Pradesh

The present study was carried out in the department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur with the objective to explore the physico-chemical characteristics and cooking quality of Kodra (Eleusine coracana L.). The samples of Kodra grains used in the present investigation were procured from local farmers of district Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh. Kodra grains were assessed for nutritional composition and cooking quality. Results of the study showed that Kodra grains were found to contain valuable nutrients. The physical characteristics revealed the mean length and width of Kodra grain as 1.43 and 1.40 mm, respectively. The average moisture content of Kodra was recorded as 8.52 per cent. Expressed on dry matter basis the value for average ash content was 3.48 per cent and fat content was 3.53 per cent. Kodra was high in protein and also rich in mineral content.

Fractions of copper in soil and their contribution to copper availability and uptake in maize–wheat cropping system under Typic hapludalfs

Long-term effects of integrated application of organics and chemical fertilizers on transformation of copper (Cu) into various chemical pools and their availability under maize–wheat cropping system were investigated in the ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment initiated in 1972 at the research farm of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University on an acidic soil in the Western Himalayas of India. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers alone for 36 years brought about marked depletion in all forms of copper except organically bound Cu (Cu-III) compared to buffer plots. Integrated use of organics and chemical fertilizers gave higher content of Cu forms over chemically treated plots except Cu occluded by free oxides (Cu-IV). Residual Cu was the most dominant form of copper contributing about 62% of the total Cu. Organically bound Cu (Cu-III) was the most important fraction of copper contributing toward DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Cu. Content of DTPA-extractable Cu increased over control when chemical fertilizers were applied in conjunction with different organics, whereas DTPA-Cu content declined over control with application of chemical fertilizers alone for the last 36 years.

Farm Size and Productivity Relationship in Soyabean Cultivation: Empirical Evidence from Madhya Pradesh Agriculture

Madhya Pradesh state is growing rapidly in the agricultural agriculture sector since last few years. The State is making a significant contribution to the country's vegetable oil production. Soyabean crop is produced on a large scale. The objective of the study was to examine the farm size and productivity relationship of soyabean cultivation in Madhya Pradesh empirically. In the present study, unit-level secondary data published by DES were used. The results showed positive relationship between farm size and productivity. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for small farmers, although the size of the farm was small but was looked after with the help of family members. Nevertheless, the use of high yielding variety seeds (HYV) and the use of modern technology resulted in to direct relationship between farm size and productivity. Soybean productivity had a positive and significant relationship with use of labour machinery, that chemical fertilizers, manure and pesticides. However, at the same time, it was found that use of animal, seeds and irrigation machines had a significant negative relation with productivity.

Effect of growth hormone gene polymorphism on growth traits in migratory Gaddi goats of Western Himalayas, India.

Goat production under migratory system is foremost meat resource in Western Himalayan region of India. Thus, selection of goats for superior growth rate is rewarding. Growth hormone (GH) gene is identified as main regulator of post-natal growth and development. The objective of this study was to identify GH gene variants in Gaddi goats reared under migratory system via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Blood samples from 63 animals from different migratory flocks registered under All India Coordinated Research Project, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University (HPAU), Palampur, were subjected to DNA isolation. A total of 422, 116, 389 and 181-bp amplicons were generated on amplification of four targeted regions of GH gene. GH1 and GH2 fragments were analysed using PCR-RFLP (HaeIII RE) that revealed three variants (AA, AB and BB) for GH1 having frequency as 0.27, 0.52 and 0.31, respectively whereas, two variants (AB and BB) were revealed for GH2 fragment having frequency of 0.24 and 076, respectively. GH3 and GH4 fragments were subjected to PCR-SSCP that detected three genotypes (AB, BB and AA) for GH3 with respective genotype frequency as 0.57, 0.21 and 0.22 respectively; however, GH4 was found to be monomorphic. The polymorphism information content values for GH1, GH2 and GH3 were 0.37, 0.36 and 0.34, respectively, which suggested the median level of polymorphism at studied loci and also indicated the effectiveness of the studied marker for population genetic studies. Significant associations (P ≤ 0.05) were detected for GH1 with 9-month body weight, GH2 with 9 and 12-month heart girth and GH3 with 6-month body weight, body height and body length, respectively. From the present study, it was concluded that SNPs and their association with some body measurements may be employed as useful markers for ongoing phenotypic selection programme.

Effect of regular application of fertilizers, manure and lime on soil health and productivity of wheat in an acid Alfisol

The present study on the long-term effect of fertilizers, farmyard manure and lime on changes in soil properties and wheat productivity was carried out at Himchal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (India). The soil was acidic in reaction and classified taxonomically as Typic Hapludalf. Soil samples, collected from two depths viz., 0–0.15 m and 0.15–0.30 m after the harvesting of wheat (2015–2016) were analyzed for different soil properties. Regular use of optimal dose of chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure influenced bulk density, porosity, water holding capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, mean weight diameter, pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, DTPA extractable iron, zinc, copper and manganese, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and dehydrogenase activity of soil significantly. Highest grain yield of wheat (30.34 q ha−1) was recorded at 100% NPK + FYM which was at par with 100% NPK + lime (27.89 q ha−1). However, imbalanced use of nutrients affected different soil properties and productivity adversely.

Long term effect of fertilizers and amendments on the properties of an acid Alfisol and uptake of primary nutrients and sulfur in maize-wheat rotation in North Western Himalayas

Soil physico-chemical properties and NPKS uptake were studied in a long-term fertilizer experiment at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (India). All properties were significantly affected by long term application of fertilizers. Bulk density was the highest with 100% N application and the lowest with FYM application. Optimum pH was resulted in lime amended treatment. Organic carbon, CEC, Available N and K were highest in FYM amended treatment. Available P was highest in 150% NPK and that was at par with 100% NPK + FYM. All primary nutrients were decreasing with increasing depth. Application of 100% NPK + FYM recorded highest yield of maize and wheat, which was at par with 100% NPK + lime. Uptake of NPK and S followed the yield trend and resulted in the highest uptake of NPK and S in 100% NPK + FYM and the lowest in control.

Influence of boron fertilization on cauliflower productivity, nutrient uptake and soil nutrient status in an acid Alfisol in Northwestern Himalaya

ABSTRACTModern agriculture over the years has resulted in depletion of boron (B) from soil which has been emerged as a serious obstacle for sustainable agriculture. We studied the availability of B in soil and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) productivity under different levels of B fertilization. A field experiment was conducted during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015, at experimental farm of Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur on silt-clay loam soil (acid Alfisol) under mid hill wet temperate condition. Different levels of B for the study included 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 30 kg B ha−1 along with recommended dose (RD) of NPK and farmyard manure (FYM, 20 t ha−1). The application of B influenced biological yield significantly up to 5 kg ha−1. Highest curd yield in 2013–2014 (11.03 t ha−1) and 2014–2015 (12.93 t ha−1) was recorded in 1.5 and 0.75 kg ha−1 B along with NPK + FYM, respectively. At higher rates of boron i.e. 10, 20 and 30 kg ha−1, due to toxic effects, a reduction in curd yield was recorded in both years. Maximum mean uptake of N, P and K by leaves and curd was recorded with the application of boron at 1.5 kg ha−1, whereas mean B uptake was highest when boron was applied at 2.5 kg ha−1. The highest mean value (1.79 mg kg−1) of soil available boron was recorded with 30 kg B ha−1. Application of boron at 2.4 kg ha−1 was worked out as optimum dose for cauliflower.

Doubling the Agricultural Income by 2022 in India: Issues and Challenges - Evidence From Andhra Pradesh

<p>The mechanism of reforms is not given enough government funding and financial assistance to the agriculture sector. This impacted the conditions of cultivation, particularly in rural living conditions. The impact of free trade brought unstable prices, difficulties in agriculture export and import and which is affected farmer’s welfare, livelihood, and other employment alternatives. The most adverse effect that has become a curse to farmers is the multiple of low price and instability in the output of cash crops. Andhra Pradesh mostly depends on rainfall agriculture. Monsoon and seasonal conditions play a crucial role in Andhra Pradesh agriculture. The proportion of area under agriculture is 37.30 percent (including fish ponds). The gross irrigated area (35.81 lakh hectares) is 48.29 percent of gross area sown (74.18 lakh hectare.) in the state. The ratio of gross irrigated area to net irrigated area is 1.32 in 2016-17, where it was 1.29 in 2015-16. (Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2016-17). An attempt is made to study in depth the evolution of cost conditions in the rainfed and irrigated land agricultural practices, regarding the sustainability of livelihood practices. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of research were applied in the study through a collection of data by household survey and in-depth interviews, site visits, and field observations. For an understanding of costs and returns, calculate Cost A, Cost B and Cost C and Gross, Farm Business, Family Labour, Net, Farm Investment Incomes. The policymakers should focus on strict implement National Commission on farmer’s recommendations of increasing MSP should be at least 50 percent more than the weighted average cost of production, introduce availability of the leased technology (i.e. crop sowing and cutting machines etc.) to marginal and small farmers, reduce the inequalities between villages and towns and promote Zero Budget Natural Farming across the country.</p>

Effect of a four-decade long application of fertilizers, farmyard manure and lime, on forms of soil acidity and their relationship with yield of wheat and maize in an acid Alfisol

ABSTRACTThe present investigation was undertaken in the on-going long-term fertilizer experiment initiated during 1972 at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India. Continuous application of fertilizers either alone or in combination with farmyard manure (FYM)/lime affected different forms of soil acidity (total acidity, total potential acidity, pH dependent acidity, extractable acidity, exchangeable acidity, and non-exchangeable acidity) significantly, in surface and sub-surface layers. Continuous cropping with the application of lime and optimal doses of fertilizers decreased different forms of soil acidity at all the depths, significantly. Highest productivity of wheat and maize was recorded in 100% (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) NPK + FYM, which was at par with 100% NPK + lime. Different forms of soil acidity were found to be negatively correlated with wheat and maize yield. Grain and straw/stover yield of wheat and maize showed the highest negative correlation values with non-exchangeable acidity.

Vertical Distribution of Sulfur Fractions in a Continuously Fertilized Acid Alfisol Under Maize​–Wheat Cropping System

ABSTRACTVertical distribution of sulfur fractions was studied in a long-term fertilizer experiment at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (India), comprising various combinations of fertilizer and amendments. Initially, available nitrogen (N) was high, and phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic carbon were optimum. Different forms, viz., available, water-soluble, heat-soluble, organic, and total sulfur were significantly affected by continuous cropping and decreased with depth. However at surface layer, 100% NPK(-S) resulted in 67%, 70%, 34%, 47%, and 48% reduction in these fractions, respectively, as compared to 100% NPK. Among all, organic sulfur was recorded highest. Hundred percent NPK + farmyard manure (at par with 100% NPK + lime) recorded highest maize and wheat yield. Hundred percent NPK(-S) recorded 39% and 44% reduction in grain yield of maize and wheat as compared to 100% NPK, respectively. Sulfur fractions were positively and significantly correlated with yield of maize​–wheat which shows the importance of sulfur fertilization.

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture: Performance and Challenges of Pulses (with reference to Three Agro-Climatic Regions in Andhra Pradesh)

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture: Performance and Challenges of Pulses (with reference to Three Agro-Climatic Regions in Andhra Pradesh)

Long-Term Effect of Fertilizers and Amendments on Depth-Wise Distribution of Available NPK, Micronutrient Cations, Productivity, and NPK Uptake by Maize-Wheat System in an Acid Alfisol of NorthWestern Himalayas

ABSTRACTThe present study was undertaken in the ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment initiated during 1972 at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (India). Soil samples collected from three depths (0–0.15, 0.15–0.30, and 0.30–0.45 m) were analyzed for pH; organic carbon; CEC; available N, P, and K; and micronutrients cations. Continuous use of optimal dose of fertilizers and FYM-influenced pH, organic carbon, CEC, available NPK, and DTPA extractable micronutrient cations significantly. The contents of organic carbon, available N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu were higher in top soil layer (0–0.15 m) compared to lower depths (0.15–0.30 and 0.30–0.45 m). Highest productivity of wheat (89.89 q ha−1) and maize (156.52 q ha−1) was recorded under 100% NPK + FYM, which was at par with 100% NPK + lime. Application of 100% NPK along with amendments (FYM/lime) recorded significantly higher NPK uptake over other treatments.