Effect of zinc and farmyard manure on productivity and profitability of rice (Oryza sativa) - linseed (Linum usitatissimum) crop sequence

Abstract

A field experiment on rice (Oryza sativa L.) - linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) crop sequence with 8 treat- ments was conducted for 3 consecutive years in silty loam soil having 0.85 ppm Zn between 2002-03 and 2004- 05 at Kanpur. Application of zinc (through zinc sulphate @ 25 kglha) and farmyard manure (FYM) @ 5 t/ha to rice in rice-linseed crop sequence recorded maximum linseed equivalent yield (2.71 tlha) and net monetary re- turn (Rs 17,419lha) which were on par with Zn in both the crops + FYM in rice and Zn in linseed + FYM in rice. Like linseed equivalent yield (LEY), oil yield of linseed (mean of 3 years) was also recorded higher with treat- ment of Zn in both the crops + FYM while other treatments of FYM followed it closely. Application of Zn alone irre- spective of crop season also brought numerical increase in the yield of rice and linseed, LEY and NMR over rec- ommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). However, net monetary return (NMR) recorded was higher when Zn was ap- plied to rice alone when compared with Zn application in rice and linseed as well as linseed alone. The uptake of zinc was recorded maximum when it was applied to both crops either with or without FYM @ 5 tonnelha than single crop alone. The nutrient status of the soil after the harvest of third crop of linseed was better when both Zn and FYM were applied to rice crop. Thus, it would be better to apply Zn (through zinc sulphate @ 25 kglha) and FYM @ 5 t/ha to rice in rice - linseed crop sequence for higher productivity and profitability of the system along with enriched soil as well as good oil yield from linseed.