Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, soil fertility and economics of blackgram (Vigna mungo) varieties under rainfed condition

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons on 7th and 10th July of 2010 and 2011 respectively to find out suitable nutrient management practices for blackgram varieties at farmer's field at Humerhedi, Kota district. The treatments consisted of 5 blackgram varieties (viz. PU 31, PU 30, KU 96-3, T 9 and Krishna) and 9 nutrient management practices (viz. T1: No application of NP, T2: P (17.2 kg/ha as farmer's practice), T3: NP (20:17.2 kg/ha as RDF), T4: RDF+16.6 kg K/ha, T5: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S/ha, T6: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha, T7: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium, T8: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha+Rhizobium (RZ) +Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and T9: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + RZ + PSB + 5 t FYM/ha. Application of RDF + 16.6 kg K + 20 kg S + 3 kg Zn /ha along with seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB recorded significantly taller plants, higher number of branches/plant, pods/plant, higher seed yield, net return and benefit: cost ratio over control, farmer practice, RDF, RDF + 16.6 kg K/ha and RDF + 16.6 kg K/ha+20 kg S/ha but at par with rest of treatments viz. RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium,RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha+Rhizobium + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + RZ + PSB + 5 t FYM/ha. Whereas application of RDF + 16.6 kg K + 20 kg S + 3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium + PSB + 5 t FYM/ha significantly recorded higher available organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and zinc contents in the soil over rest of the treatments. Among the genotypes, 'KU 96-3' recorded significantly higher branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, seed index, seed yield, net return and B: C ratio.