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ThesisItem Open Access Designs for Factorial Experiments for Main Effects and Consecutive Two-factor Interactions(ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi- 110012, 2022) ANKIT KUMAR SINGH; Dr. Sukanta Dash; T-11020In consecutive cropping sequence experiment, more than one treatment has been applied in two or more consecutive season. In these cases, we need to estimate main effect of treatment in every season as well as residual effect of treatments and their interaction with treatment of next season. Also, in several situations it is found that not all interactions are of primary importance. It is not always the choice of experimenters to estimate all two factor interactions because experimenter may be interested in estimation of all main effects and consecutive two factor interactions as often required in cropping sequence experiments. The experimental situations where the number of factors become large it may not possible to maintain homogeneity within a block where fractional factorial experiments are suggested over factorial experiments. Also, a little work based on fractional factorial experiments are available in literature and those designs are computer specific as based on algorithm. Hence, there is a need to develop methods of construction/procedure for 1 2𝑘 2𝑛 i.e., factorial with fractional replicates which provides estimation of all main effects and two factor interactions between consecutive factors. Often, in factorial experiments it is preferred to estimate only two factor interaction between consecutive factors with all main effects while considering cropping sequence experiments. Hence, the present study developed general methods of construction with two special situations i.e. (i) consecutive two factor interactions estimated with full efficiency (ii) all the main effects and two factor interactions having equal efficiency. Designs obtainable from these methods of construction and efficiencies of required factorial effects would be catalogued for 2𝑛 factorial experiments for any value of 𝑛<10, where 𝑛 is the number of factors to serve as a ready reckoner for the experimenters. Sometimes, it is desirable to consider a fraction of the complete factorial set up when number of factors as large. Considering this problem general methods of construction/procedure were developed for 1 2𝑘 2𝑛 i.e., factorial with fractional replicates which provides estimation of all main effects and two factor interactions between consecutive factors. Designs obtainable from these methods of construction were also catalogued for 1 2𝑘 2𝑛 factorial experiments with 1 2𝑘 replicates for k =1,2…4 and 𝑛 < 10, where 𝑛 is the number of factors and k denotes the fraction to serve as a ready reckoner for the experimenters.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the Resistance Mechanism of Citrus Canker(DIVISION OF FRUITS AND HORTICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI – 110012, 2023) ASHOK KUMAR MAHAWER DIVISION; Dr. R. M Sharma; T-11016In the present studies, four experiments were conducted. In first experiment, 43 citrus genotypes, including 36 acid lime and 7 lemons, were screened against natural infection of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc) during 2018–2020. In the second experiment, the selected genotypes of lime (13), lemon (02) and grapefruit (02) were screened against artificial inoculation of Xcc. In the third experiment two genotypes each of lemon, lime and grapefruit were inoculated with Xcc to study the physio-biochemical mechanism of canker infection, while in fourth experiment, the gene expression study of 10 genes (only 07 expressed) in relation to Xcc inoculation was attempted in contrasting genotypes. Moreover, all the lemon genotypes showed a high level of resistance in first experiment. However, acid lime cultivars exhibited a variable reaction against Xcc. The range of the average percentage of disease index (PDI) for three years varied from 0.00% to 55.36%. ALC-35 expressed the maximum average PDI (55.36%), closely followed by the genotype ALC-107(51.77%) and ALC-111 (47.22%). Genotype of lemon, Kagzi Kalan showed immune reaction to the canker disease, while LS-5, LS-7 and Konkan Seedless had minimum PDI under natural infection in the field condition. On the basis of average PDI, ALC-35 and ALC-107 were categorised as highly susceptible, whereas 34 genotypes were classified as susceptible to Xcc. The average of three years area under disease progression curve (AUDPC) ranged from 0.00 to 2653. The lemon group was found highly resistant to Xcc. A significant positive correlation was observed among different weather parameters and the development of disease through Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Under artificial inoculations also, ALC-35 lime proved highly susceptible (PDI -60.67%) statistically. ALC-35 and ALC-107 proved similar statistically in respect of AUPDC. Among different citrus species, three acid lime genotypes, namely ALC-35, ALC-107, and ALC-111, were found highly susceptible, whereas 10 acid lime genotypes were susceptible in the second experiment. Out of four lemon genotypes, Kagzi Kalan was immune, whereas Pusa Lemon-1 proved highly resistant, LS-3 and Konkan Seedless were found to be moderately resistant. In the third experiment, Xcc inoculation significantly reduced photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (gs), and increased intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE). ALC-35 exhibited the highest stomatal density, stomata pore (length and width), stomata area, and stomatal conductance index and the lowest in Kagzi Kalan. Konkan seedless had the highest stomata complex (length and width), and stomatal index. The PDI showed the significantly positive correlations with stomata area (0.98), stomata pore length and width (0.96/0.95), stomata complex index (0.95), stomatal index (0.71) and stomata complex length (0.67). ALC-35 was worse affected due to Xcc inoculation as this showed the highest reduction in total, a and b chlorophyll content. Xcc inoculation significantly increased H2O2, superoxide, soluble protein content, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, total 111 phenolic content, phenyl ammonia lyase, and polyphenol oxidase activity in the tested Citrus spp. The highest activity of soluble protein content, peroxidase, total phenolic content, phenyl ammonia lyase, and polyphenol oxidase activity was observed in Kagzi Kalan lemon, whereas, Pusa Udit showed the highest activity of catalase and glutathione reductase after Xcc inoculation. Among different citrus defense related genes studied in fourth experiment, the expression of PAL, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and CHI was higher in resistant Kagzi Kalan, while EDS1 and PR1 genes were expressed more in susceptible ALC-35. The PAL gene expressed the most at 24 hpi, while the majority of the genes, including EDS1, CHI, JAR1, NPR3, NDR1, and PR1, were expressed at 48 hpi. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, phenyl ammonia lyase, and polyphenol oxidase were observed higher in resistant Kagzi Kalan lemon as compared to susceptible ALC-35 under glasshouse conditions at different time points (0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hpi).ThesisItem Open Access Cloning and characterization of ‘Hinge region’ of Phytochrome-A in low-light perception and signaling in rice (Oryza sativa L)(DIVISION OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI-110012, 2022) GOWTHAM T P; Dr. Prasanta K Dash; T-11017Phytochromes are inter-convertible molecular light switches that perceive red and far-red light and mediate various photomorphogenic responses to the signal in higher plants. Phytochrome A is the most abundant phytochrome in dark-grown seedlings enabling their de-etiolation in response to far-red light. The interaction of oat PHYA with its signal transducers was shown to be regulated by phosphorylation of a serine residue in the ‘hinge region’ of oat PHYA, because phytochromes are phosphoproteins, they must be phosphorylated and dephosphorylated by protein kinases and phosphatases. However, little is known about the role of ‘hinge region’ of rice PHYA. With the aid of allele mining we have tried to dissect the naturally occurring allelic variation in the ‘hinge region’ of phyA in low-light tolerant and susceptible rice cultivars and we could not find any mutations in the ‘hinge region’ of phyA. The serine and threonine residues (the sites of phosphorylation) in the ‘hinge region’ of PHYA can be mutated to some other residues using site-directed mutagenesis approach and the functional defects of this mutant PHYA in inducing the far-red light response under low-light conditions and signal modulation in rice has to be addressed in further studies.ThesisItem Open Access Cloning and characterization of “Phytochrome” gene from low-light tolerant rice cultivar Swarnaprabha(DIVISION OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI-110012 2022, 2022) YOGESH KUMAR S; D. Prasanta K Dash; T-11018Rice is the primary staple food grain grown worldwide and it is crucial for maintaining global food security. Several external factors have an impact on plant yield. The primary abiotic factor influencing plant output is light. Plants sense the change in light conditions using various types of photoreceptors that can detect light in a range of wavelengths, from UV-B to near infrared (far-red), in order to sense and react to those changing conditions. Phytochromes are one of the photoreceptors in plants that perceive and respond to red and far-red light which regulate many stages of photomorphogenesis including seed germination, hypocotyl elongation, anthocyanin accumulation, and shadow avoidance responses (SAR). Phytochrome A (PHYA) builds up in huge amounts in etiolated seedlings (in comparison to other phytochromes). The low-light tolerant cultivar Swaranaprabha PHYA was isolated and sequenced, they were aligned against low-light susceptible IR-64 to find out polymorphism. No polymorphism was observed in the protein coding region (i.e., ATG to TAA) including 3’UTR. In 5’UTR region, nine SNPs were identified having 5 transition and 4 transversions. The positions of transition were T76C, A102G, C111T, G142A, G144A and transversion were A29T, C30A, C56A, C128G. The impact of these polymorphism and their involvement in PHYA activity/transport in Swarnaprabha rice should be further need to be studied.ThesisItem Open Access Impact Assessment of ‘Farm Ponds on Demand Scheme’ of Maharashtra(DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION ICAR – INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI - 110 012, 2023) GIREESH S; Dr. N.V.Kumbhare; T-11021Farm pond is considered as the best alternative for irrigation source for efficient rain water management to improve productivity and protect the natural resource base in rainfed region. Considering the irrigation water scarcity, Maharashtra govt was launched scheme called farm pond on demand (Magel Tyala Shet Tale) in 2016 to enhance the irrigation potential for the benefit of the farming community. The study was conducted in purposively selected Vidarbha and Marathwada region of Maharashtra, considering major drought affected area. From each region two districts (Aurangabad & Jalna districts from Marathwada) and (Yavatmal & Buldhana districts from Vidarbha) were selected purposively. From each district two block and four villages were selected randomly. Twenty (20) respondents from each village including farm pond beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were selected randomly. There were 80 respondents from one district. Hence, a total of 320 respondents from four districts were constituted the sample of the study. The study revealed that 100 per cent beneficiaries had large size farm pond, among only 5 per cent of the respondents constructed ponds as per govt. guidelines and harvesting water (5 %) from rain. Most of the respondent’s (72.50 %) farm ponds were 3 to 5 years old, and 70.63 per cent farm ponds had irrigation potential throughout the year with cultivated area of 2 to 3 ha. The state government exceeded its goal of building 1,35,257 farm ponds; the original goal was to build 1,12,311; Aurangabad and Amravati divisions met their goal and had the most farm ponds of any district in Maharashtra. The majority of beneficiaries (86.75 %) used farm pond water during rabi season, followed by summer season (70.63 %), adopted drip (68.75 %) and sprinkler (18.75 %) methods of irrigation for horticulture crops, and used sprinkler (51.25 %) and manual (28.75 %) methods of irrigation for vegetables. Only 23.75 per cent of beneficiaries were aware of the critical stages of irrigation and the irrigation schedule (75.63 %). A little over 33.75 per cent of them adopted fisher, and 15 per cent of them stopped fishing following adoption. A majority respondents (49.38 %) were observed in medium level of sustainability followed by high (31.25 %) and low (19.37 %) level of sustainability, respectively. The value of enterprises cost effectiveness index (ECEI) 137 of major crops increased from 17.27 to 48.83 among beneficiaries and cultivated land utilisation index (CLUI) was found significant (1% level) in all major crops except sorghum and pearl millet. The coarsened exact matching method was done to know impact of farm pond on beneficiaries, it is found that overall income i.e ₹ 16,946.4 and HHI index (0.052) was found significant at 1 % level. The analysis of logit regression result revealed that variables like dairy animal, fishery, income, income log, percentage of irrigation area and HHI were found significant at 1% level. It is also found that beneficiaries investing more in horticulture component (MS 401) followed by animal component (MS 360) and less in maintenance of farm pond (MS 136). The majority of beneficiaries (56.88 %) used farm pond income to buy input, followed by buying farm equipment (18.13 %) and lending money to others (1.25 %), with an overall shift in beneficiaries' means of subsistence reported at 84.09 per cent. Beneficiaries' perceived obstacles were insufficient Government funding for the farm pond, and the farm pond's shorter lifespan or lower output. Major challenges faced by the respondent were lack of labour, inadequate family labour, a lack of owned resources, low rainfall, unusual weather, a high rate of evaporation, high costs for building and maintaining the ponds, and a lack of credit facilities. Major perceived factors for discontinued farm ponds were draining a bore well or well used to store water in a farm pond is followed by a reduction in the productivity or lifespan of the farm pond, an inadequate or low water harvest, an insufficient amount of family labour, low and prolonged rainfall. Given the importance of farm ponds, extension intervention on maintaining and extending benefits of farm pond to small and marginal farmers, as well as making changes to the way subsidies are provided. Also strict guidelines need to be put in place to prevent groundwater extraction for storage in farm ponds.ThesisItem Open Access Functional role of key genes of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci in begomovirus transmission(DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI – 110012, 2022) THESNIM. P; Dr. Amalendu Ghosh; T-11022Functional role of key genes of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci in begomovirus transmission Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV, Begomovirus), one of the major constraints in chilli production worldwide, is efficiently transmitted by the Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in a persistent circulative non-propagative manner. Managing the ChiLCV disease generally involves utilizing insecticides to control the B. tabaci population, but as the B. tabaci population continued to evolve resistance mechanisms against insecticides, insecticides often failed to control this insect. Genomic-based strategies are necessary to reduce the crop losses caused by this pest. From the transcriptome data in response to ChiLCV infection, the top upregulated genes viz Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and Transducer of erbB2.1 (TOB1) genes which has putative roles in ChiLCV transmission are chosen as targets for dsRNA synthesis and functional validation. Expression of TLR3 and TOB1 mRNA was downregulated post dsRNA oral feeding. dsRNA-mediated silencing of TLR3 and TOB1 resulted in significant mortality with respect to untreated control and reduced ChiLCV transmission by B. tabaci. All these results demonstrated that TLR3 and TOB1 are involved in ChiLCV transmission. This study may further advance the understanding of the roles of these genes in ChiLCV transmission. This will be a potential genetic target for the management of B. tabaci as well as impair ChiLCV transmission KEYWORDS ChiLCV, Silverleaf whitefly, RNA interference, functional genomics, TLR3, TOB1, virus-vector relationship 56ThesisItem Open Access Combining Ability and Heterosis studies for yield traits and Bacterial wilt resistance in Brinjal (Solanum melongena.L.)(DIVISION OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI – 110012, 2022) Aravindh C; Dr. Arun Kumar Singh; T-11023The present research work entitled “Combining Ability and Heterosis Studies for Yield Traits and Bacterial Wilt Resistance in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)” was undertaken during the rainy season of 2021 at ICAR RCER FSRCHPR (Research Complex for Eastern Region Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau Region) Plandu, Ranchi to study the combining ability, heterosis and bacterial wilt resistance for yield and yield related traits by using eleven parents viz., eight lines Swarna Avilamb, HAB-792, HABR-6, HAB-913, HABR-21, Swarna Pratibha, Swarna Shyamli, HAB-917 and three testers HAB-901, IC-545901, IC-261786 and their 24 F1s were developed through Line × Tester fashion. Thereafter evaluation of resulted hybrids along with parents was done in a randomized block design with three replications. These eleven genotypes along with their hybrids were evaluated for bacterial wilt resistance in wilt sick plots (48.67 × 106cfu/g) (Rahman et al., 2011). During the rainy season, evaluating material was transplanted into wilt sick plots and the bacterial suspension was artificially injected at the third leaf axil from the top of the seedlings. The number of deaths caused by bacterial wilt was recorded 90 days after transplanting and disease frequency was observed. Ooze out test was carried out to ensure the bacterial wilt from dead diseased plants, and scoring was done on the basis of percent plant survival viz., > 80% as resistant and <80% as susceptible (Sinha et al., 1988). Observations were recorded on eight different yield and yield related traits i.e., days to fifty percent flowering, fruit length, fruit circumference, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, total yield per hectare and percent plant survival to analyse the degree of heterosis and combining ability. Study of per se performance of parents showed that, the parents Swarna Shyamli performed well and produced highest yield among the eleven parents followed by HABR- 21, HAB-913 and HAB-901. Combined ability analysis revealed significance additive and non-additive gene action for the studied traits. The general combining ability variance (σ2g) was higher compared to specific combining ability variance (σ2s) for the all of the traits except total yield per hectare. This showed the significance of additive gene action except total yield per hectare which is governed by non-additive gene action. According to the prevalence of parents for both gca effect and per se performance, the mean parent value for a given characteristic may be somewhat predictive significance of the gca effect for that characteristic. The parent HAB-792 performed well and found significant for yield 85 and yield related traits based on the general combining ability effects. The combining ability analysis of hybrids showed that, the cross combinations Swarna Shyamli × IC- 261786 and HAB-792× IC-261786 were best and performed well for majority of the yield attributing traits and it had positive specific combining ability effects for percent plant survival against bacterial wilt. Studying estimates of heterosis for the better parent and mid parent revealed significant amounts of heterosis in the desired direction for all the investigated traits in F1 hybrids. The path analysis at genotypic and phenotypic levels revealed that fruit circumference had highest positive direct effect on total yield as well as the correlation co-efficient of fruit circumference was highly significant and positive. The detailed analysis of hybrids showed that, the cross combinations Swarna Shyamli × IC-261786 and HAB-792 × IC-261786 were best and performed well for majority of the yield and yield attributing traits and it had positive heterosis and specific combining ability effects for percent plant survival against bacterial wilt. So, these hybrids were identified as best for yield and yield related traits as well as bacterial wilt resistance. These cross combinations may be evaluated under multi-location trails to identify potential single cross hybrid. The best line identified is HAB-792 and best testers are IC- 261786 and IC-545901, these parents produced medium yield as well as showed resistant reaction to bacterial wilt disease. So, they can be further used for crop improvement of brinjal.ThesisItem Open Access Marker Assisted Pyramiding of Foc genes for developing wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri) resistant elite Chickpea lines(DIVISION OF GENETICS ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCHINSTISTUTE NEW DELHI-110012, 1102) J. JORBEN; Dr. C. Bharadwaj; T-11024Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri) is a major disease that can cause up to 90% yield loss in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The presence of eight physiological races of Foc (0,1A,1B/C,2,3,4,5 and 6) makes it a complex task in the development of disease-resistant cultivar (Haware and Nene 1982). Pusa 372 is a mega variety of desi chickpea with medium maturity duration and it has been extensively cultivated in the Central Zone of India. Of late, this variety has become susceptible to Fusarium wilt (FW), which has drastic impact on its yield. Presence of variability in the wilt causing pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri (Foc) across geographical locations necessitates the role of pyramiding different races (Foc 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) for FW resistance. Subsequently, the introgression lines developed in Pusa 372 using WR 315 as donor parent and were subjected to foreground selection using three SSR markers (GA16, TA 27 and TA 96), while 48 SSR markers uniformly distributed on all chromosomes, were used for background selection to observe the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG). BC1F1 lines with 75-85 % RPG recovery were used to generate BC2F1. The plants that showed more than 90 % RPG recovery in BC2F1were used for generating BC3F1. The plants that showed more than 96 % RPG recovery were selected and selfed to generate BC3F3. Multi-location evaluation of advanced introgression lines (BC2F3) in six locations for grain yield (kg/ha), days to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and disease incidence was done. Thus, Pyramiding of Foc races 1,2,3,4 and 5 was undertaken by using WR 315 as donor and Pusa 372 as recurrent parent through Marker assisted backcross (MABC) breeding approach. A total of 20 genotypes, including 17 MABC derived lines of Pusa 372 X WR 315, susceptible parent (Pusa 372), resistant check (WR 315) and national check (JG 16) were used. Multi-location testing of advanced MABC lines in four different regions (Amla, Badnapur, Sehore, IARI-New Delhi) were assessed using randomised block design in two replication. Usually, multi environment testing is performed involving a single trait, which provides lower reliability in selection of lines, compared to multi-trait analysis. The present study identifies highly stable FW resistant lines with higher yield advantage using MTSI (Multi trait stability index) and GGE (Genotype main effect and genotype × environment interaction) biplot methodology. From GGE biplot analyses the PC1 explains 84.97% and PC2 explains 8.96% of variability. MTSI results revealed that genotype (IL.) 1, 4 and 3 were stable for the multiple characters studied. But, based on GGE-mean stability value IL.11, 12 and 3 were identified for higher yield and better stability values. Based on MTSI and GGE, IL.3 may be considered as a stable line for multiple traits including yield superiority. Novel hydroponics technique was developed to could clearly screen for the two dominant pathotypes in each race of 1,2,3,4,5 of Fusarium wilt for robust phenotyping. Twenty-two genotypes, were grown in the standard Hoagland nutrient solution and inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Padwick) spores of five different races at a concentration of 3.2×106 spores per mL with two isolates for each race covering major chickpea growing region of India. Resistant check “WR 315” showed a “highly resistant” reaction and susceptible check “JG 62” showed a “highly susceptible” reaction across all races and isolates. However, Parents “Pusa 372” and “Pusa 372” showed “Susceptible” reaction while the MABC lines of Parent Pusa 372 (IL.11,12,14) and JG11 (IL.15,16,17) were found to be superior for all seven characters viz., the length of root and shoot, their fresh weights and the dry weights, including disease score were showing highly resistant reaction to most races. Such pyramided lines give resilience to multiple races of FW.ThesisItem Open Access Water and nutrient dynamics in drip fertigated maize-wheat-moongbean system(WATER TECHNOLOGY CENTRE ICAR – INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI – 110012, 2023) DIANA DHAYAL; Dr. Khajanchi Lal; T-11025Enhancing irrigation and nutrient use efficiency using drip fertigation is accentuated to address the rising water scarcity and escalating fertilizer prices. Input use efficiencies may be further improved by optimizing nutrient doses and irrigation schedules. Impacts of surface drip (SDI) and subsurface drip (SSDI) with two levels of irrigation schedules (0.6 and 0.8 ETc) and four fertilizer levels (0, 60, 80 and 100% recommended doses of NPK fertilizers) were assessed on water saving, crop and water productivity, water and nutrient dynamics, nutrient use efficiency, energy and monetary benefits of wheat-moongbean-maize (WMbM) system in a field study carried out for two years at Indian Agricultural Research Institute farm. The results were compared with the conventional local practice of surface flood irrigation and soil application of recommended fertilizer doses. The irrigation water applied in WMbM through drip at 0.8 ETc (336-274 mm) was 44 and 58% lower compared to conventional surface irrigation (600- 660 mm) in 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, respectively. Fertigation using SDI or SSDI also reduced fertilizer requirements for this cropping system by 20% to obtain an equivalent yield to the conventional system. Compared to fertilizer control (NPK0), fertigation doses of 60 (NPK60), 80 (NPK80) and 100% (NPK100) RDF resulted in significant yield gain of 36, 55 and 67% in wheat; 25, 31 and 34% in moongbean, 33, 49 and 62% in maize and 32, 51 and 58% system wheat equivalent yields, respectively. Similar increases were noticed in nutrient accumulations with increasing fertigation doses. The system crop water productivity was also enhanced from 1.18 kg m-3 in control plot (no NPK) to 1.55, 1.77 and 1.86 kg m-3 with the application of 60, 80 and 100% recommended dose of NPK, respectively but the effects of irrigation schedules and methods of irrigation were statistically similar. On an average, grain yields of wheat, moongbean and WMbM system obtained with irrigation scheduling at 0.8 ETc were circa 10-15% higher than that at 0.6 ETc. Similar crop yields were produced under subsurface and surface drip method of irrigation. The agronomic efficiency of N, P and K in maize was 1.26, 1.00 and 1.26 times higher than that of wheat and 2.21, 11.03 and 13.8 times higher than found in moongbean. Contents of available N, P and K in soil were improved with the increase in fertigation doses whereas soil moisture contents recorded 48 hours after irrigation were the highest in close proximity of emitter and relatively higher at 0.8 ETc than at 0.6 ETc. The energy consumed in different crops was in the order of wheat>maize> moongbean but energy efficiency indicators were in the order of maize>wheat>moongbean showing maize better utilizer of efficiency than wheat. With successive increase in fertigation doses, both 126 energy input and output in wheat-moongbean-maize system were increased but energy efficiency, productivity and profitability remained unaltered. Similarly, system energy efficiency indicators were found improved at higher irrigation schedule of 0.8 ETc but were not influenced by SSDI or SDI. The interaction effects between nutrient doses, irrigation scheduling and methods of irrigation on input use efficiency and crop yields were non-significant. Amongst different nutrient doses, the system net income was improved by Rs. 60790, 97291 and 110290 ha-1, respectively, with 60, 80, 100% RDF compared to fertilizer control. Scheduling the irrigations at 0.8 ETc also resulted in 27% higher net income than that at 0.6 ETc. The net income under SSDI was 19% higher compared to SDI. Out of the three crops, the net income and discounted benefit cost ratio (BCR) was the highest in maize followed by wheat and the minimum in moongbean. The fertigation doses of NPK80 or NPK100 applied at 0.8 ETc through subsurface drip fertigation resulted in higher crop productivity, water productivity, net income, better discounted BCR and lower payback period showing it more profitable compared to surface irrigation (conventional method) in maize-wheat-moongbean system. The results demonstrated that WMbM system could be successfully grown with fertigation doses of NPK80 applied at 0.8 ETc through subsurface drip fertigation. (Key words: Crop evapotranspiration, Energy efficiency indicators, Irrigation scheduling, Net returns, Surface and subsurface drip fertigation, System productivity, Water and nutrient use efficiency)