Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Crop productivity and Soil Fertility Status under Maize (Zea mays)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cropping Sequence

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management in maize (Var. RCM-76) and wheat (Var. DBW-14) during the Kharif and Rabi season of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at three villages i.e. Louding, Shakti and Changprong in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Continuous application of farmyard manure (FYM) and cut paddy straw along with chemical fertilizers improved grain yield and fertility status. Substitution of 50 percent N through FYM and 50 percent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in maize and 100% RDF through inorganic fertilizer in wheat recorded the highest grain yield of maize (3.5 t/ha) and wheat (4.0 t/ha), net return of maize (Rs. 26, 250/ha) and wheat (Rs. 36, 000/ha) and nutrient uptake (209.2, 30.4 and 196.0 kg N, P and K/ha) in maize-wheat cropping system, respectively. Soil fertility status in terms of pH organic carbon, available N, P and K after two cycles of cropping, fertilizer and manure application were also affected by nutrient management practices. Continuous cropping with combined application of organic manure along with chemical fertilizers was found to be effective not only, for increasing grain yield of crops in maize-wheat cropping system, but also, for higher benefit: cost ratio, nutrient uptake and maintenance of soil fertility status.