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Climate-induced extreme events with fluctuations in climatic indicators like temperature and precipitation highly influence crop productivity. This study deals with quantitative analysis of climatic variability and crop production (1990–2018) using panel data regression analysis. The focus is on variability of three crops, i.e., paddy, maize, and wheat in the Rangit river basin of Sikkim Himalaya, India. Meterological data were acquired from the Indian Meteorological Department, agricultural data from the state agricultural department and a field survey were also conducted with the farmers, using a structured questionnaire, focused group discussion, and key informant observations. The acquired data was analyzed with the help of correlation and multiple linear regression analysis to analyze the relationship between climatic variability and crop production. The result of the study shows that all three crops are dependent on rainfall; however, paddy was the most sensitive to climatic variability. It was found that the overall grain production had an inverse relation to temperature, but it had a positive correlation with rainfall. It was observed that there was a continuous decline in the overall production of paddy and wheat. During deficiency years, it was found that when − 11.33% rainfall was deficient, paddy yield declined by − 1.52%. Further, a deviation of − 13.48% led to a decline of − 54.78% in wheat. The study advocates that timely policy interventions and strategies shall reduce climatic shocks and improve productivity. This would strengthen the livelihood security of the local communities, overcome the challenges of food security, and ensure long-term sustainability of Rangit River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate eight different integrated crop management (ICM) modules for 5 years in a maize-wheat rotation (MWR); wherein, ICM1&2-ˈbusiness-as-usualˈ (conventional flatbed maize and wheat, ICM3&4-conventional raised bed (CTRB) maize and wheat without residues, ICM5&6-conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-till (ZT) flatbed maize and wheat with the residues, and ICM7&8- CA-based ZT raised bed maize and wheat with the residues. Results indicated that the ICM7&8 produced significantly (p < 0.05) the highest maize grain yield (5 years av.) which was 7.8–21.3% greater than the ICM1-6. However, across years, the ICM5-8 gave a statistically similar wheat grain yield and was 8.4–11.5% greater than the ICM1-4. Similarly, the CA-based residue retained ICM5-8 modules had given 9.5–14.3% (5 years av.) greater system yields in terms of maize grain equivalents (MGEY) over the residue removed CT-based ICM1&4. System water productivity (SWP) was the highest with ICM5-8, being 10.3–17.8% higher than the ICM1-4. Nevertheless, the highest water use (TWU) was recorded in the CT flatbed (ICM1&2), ~ 7% more than the raised bed and ZT planted crops with or without the residues (ICM4-8). Furthermore, the ICM1-4 had produced 9.54% greater variable production costs compared to the ICM5-8, whereas, the ICM5-8 gave 24.3–27.4% additional returns than the ICM1-4. Also, different ICM modules caused significant (p < 0.05) impacts on the soil properties, such as organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (SAP), and urease (URE) activities. In 0.0–0.15 m soil profile, residue retained CA-based (ICM5-8) modules registered a 7.1–14.3% greater SOC and 10.2–17.3% SMBC than the ICM1-4. The sustainable yield index (SYI) of MWR was 13.4–18.6% greater under the ICM7&8 compared to the ICM1-4. Hence, this study concludes that the adoption of the CA-based residue retained ICMs in the MWR could sustain the crop yields, enhance farm profits, save water and improve soil properties of the north-western plans of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates of fluctuation in climatic condition have a large impact on the production of selected crops such as rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), pulse, and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) which are the most prominent crops over Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). The influence of El Nino/La Nina on monsoon rainfall directly or indirectly affects the Indian crop over the Agro-Climatic Zones of Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The detailed analysis has been carried out to show the impact of El Nino/La Nina and its association with crop production over sub-regions of IGP (lower, middle, upper, and trans IGP) during 1966–2009. During El Nino years, the production and yield of Rice and sugarcane have been affected in the middle and upper regions of IGP. The production of wheat decreased during La Nina events in the middle regions of IGP. The rice production has been severely affected by El Nino events over middle and upper IGP regions whereas wheat production increased. The decrease in maize production is observed in the upper and trans regions of IGP during El Nino. Pulse production decreased mainly in the middle, upper, and trans IGP during both events. The sugarcane production was highly affected during La Nina events overall sub-regions of IGP. The correlations among crop production, monsoon rainfall, and sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly of Nino 3.4 region during monsoon season are very insignificant during El Nino events. On other hand, La Nina event shows significant correlation over IGP. It has been noticed that on many occasions, deficit rainfall over IGP during summer monsoon season was responsible for decrease in crop production. Hence, alteration in Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) and sea surface temperature modulation of Nino 3.4 might have caused increase/decrease in the production of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]