Integrated Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to study the effect of different riceestablishment methods and nutrient management on yield, economics and soil properties in rice (Oryza sativa L.)– groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cropping system. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. Six treatment combinations, comprising of 2 rice-establishment methods, viz. direct-seeded rice (DSR) and transplanted rice (TPR) and 3 levels of nutrient-management practices, viz. inorganic-100% soil test-based fertilizers (STBF), organic-dhaincha [Sesbania aculeata (Wild.) Pers.] green manuring +1/3rd soil test-based nitrogen (STBN) through vermicompost @2 t/ha + 1/3rd STBN through neem oil-cake @ 0.87 t/ha and integrated nutrient management (INM), viz. green-manuring + 50% STBN (inorganic @ 50.0 kg N/ha) + 100% P2 O5 + 100% K2 O, in rice during kharif were allotted to the main-plots. Three nutrient-management practices to groundnut during rabi, viz. 75% STBF, 100% STBF and 75% STBN (inorganic) + 25% STBN through FYM @ 1.63 t/ha + 0.2 lime requirement @ 0.38 t lime/ha + biofertilizers (Rhizobium + phosphate-solubilizing bacteria) + 100% P2 O5 + 100% K2 O, were allotted to the sub-plots. Transplanting of rice (TPR) increased the yield parameters of rice, resulting in 3.3% higher grain yield (5.65 t/ha) than direct seeding of rice. The INM improved the yield parameters of rice, resulting in 13.3 and 15.2% increase in grain yield over sole inorganic and organic practice, respectively. Carryover effect of the DSR on succeeding groundnut crop improved the yield attributes and resulted in 15.8% higher pod yield (2.49 t/ha) than the groundnut crop grown after TPR. Residual effect of organic nutrient management in rice crop enhanced the yield parameters of succeeding groundnut, resulting in 4.2 and 16.5% higher pod yield than the groundnut grown after INM and inorganic practice in rice, respectively. The INM practice in groundnut increased its yield parameters, resulting in 11.4 and 18.1% higher pod yield over 100% and 75% STBF, respectively. The DSR enhanced the system yield (12.51 t REY/ha) of rice-groundnut cropping system by 6.8% over TPR. The INM practice in rice crop enhanced system yield by 12.6 and 4.2% over inorganic and organic practice, respectively. Similarly, INM to groundnut crop resulted in 7.4 and 11.2% higher system yield than 100% and 75% STBF, respectively. The DSR, INM practice in rice and INM practice in groundnut crop fetched higher gross returns (`240.4 ×103 /ha, 245.5 ×103 /ha and 247.0 ×103 /ha), net returns (`97.2 ×103 /ha, 108.9 ×103 /ha and 92.7 ×103 /ha), benefit: cost ratio (1.71, 1.80 and 1.62) and system profitability (`207.9, 298.5 and 254.1/ha/day). Organic management under DSR and INM in groundnut improved the physico-chemical and biological properties of soil.

Recently, most agrarian countries have witnessed either declining or stagnant crop yields. Inadequate soil organic matter (SOM) due to the poor physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil leads to an overall decline in the productivity of farmlands. Therefore, the adoption of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices is vital to revive sustainable soil health without compromising yield potential. Integrated nutrient management is a modified nutrient management technique with multifarious benefits, wherein a combination of all possible sources of plant nutrients is used in a crop nutrition package. Several studies conducted in various parts of the world have demonstrated the benefits of INM in terms of steep gain in soil health and crop yields and at the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other related problems. The INM practice in the cropped fields showed a 1,355% reduction in methane over conventional nutrient management. The increase in crop yields due to the adoption of INM over conventional nutrient management was as high as 1.3% to 66.5% across the major cropping systems. Owing to the integration of organic manure and residue retention in INM, there is a possibility of significant improvement in soil aggregates and microbiota. Furthermore, most studies conducted to determine the impact of INM on soil health indicated a significant increase in overall soil health, with lower bulk density, higher porosity, and water-holding capacity. Overall, practicing INM would enhance soil health and crop productivity, in addition to decreasing environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and production costs.

Background: Rice and rice based cropping systems are of prime importance in global food production but continuous rice mono cropping and excessive dependence on chemical fertilisers degrade the soil quality, which can be partly solved by changing into rice-legume system. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar to evaluate direct and residual effect of nutrient management and rice establishment methods on productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and resource use efficiency in rice-groundnut system. Result: Transplanted rice increased the yield attributes of rice in both the years resulting in 6.0-8.1% higher grain yield than direct seeding. Integrated nutrient management (INM) significantly improved the growth and yield of rice as compared to sole organic and inorganic. Carryover effect of direct seeding increased growth and yield of succeeding groundnut. Residual effect of organic in preceding rice increased pod yield of groundnut. INM to groundnut increased yield parameters of the crop resulting in 19.7-20.2 and 38.9-40.0% higher pod yields than 100% and 75% soil test based fertiliser, respectively in both the years. Direct seeding of rice with INM practice in both the crops performed superior in rice-groundnut cropping system.

To increase and sustain crop productivity by reducing agro-chemical inputs for economic and environmental reasons, a field study was conducted on an experimental farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during 2009–2012. The efficiency of three nutrient regimes, i.e., organic fertilization (OF), integrated nutrient management (INM) practice, and recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (CF) was evaluated, relative to productivity and phosphorus balance in rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system, using a split plot design. The OF practice significantly increased the productivity of rice, whereas INM practice was more beneficial for wheat crop as far as the crop yield was concerned. The relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of OF practice in relation to CF was 39.62%, 16.98%, and 41.93%, respectively, in the first, second, and third year of rice crop cycle, whereas with INM practice, it was 61.76%, 23.68%, and 54.16%, respectively. The soil phosphorus (P) balance after three rice-wheat crop cycles was higher with CF than with INM and OF practices, indicating low P availability and higher P accumulation in soil receiving chemical fertilizers. Both OF and INM practices recorded higher P availability and no P accumulation in soil. We concluded that OF and INM practices could be employed as an alternative to CF practices for rice-wheat cropping system, but to reduce the P depletion from soil under these practices, a shift from conventional compost to phosphorus-enriched compost prepared by amending composting substrate with animal manure/rock phosphate and its bio-augmentation with P-mineralizing/solubilizing microorganisms is desired.

A field experiment was conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the effect of nutrient management and rice establishment methods on rice productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and energetics in rice-groundnut cropping system in coastal Odisha. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomised block design during the Kharif and in split-plot design during the Rabi seasons with three replications. Six treatment combinations comprising of two rice establishment methods viz., direct seeded rice (DSR) and transplanted rice (TPR) and three nutrient management practices, viz., inorganic source, organic source and integrated nutrient management (INM) to rice during kharif were allotted to the main-plots. Three nutrient management practices to groundnut viz., 75% soil test based inorganic fertilizers (STBF), 100% STBF (inorganic) and INM during rabi were allotted to the sub-plots. The results of the study revealed that TPR resulted in 3.3% higher grain yield (5.65 t ha-1) than DSR. TPR also fetched the higher mean cost of cultivation (Rs. 77, 816 ha-1) and gross returns (Rs. 1, 12, 353 ha-1) while DSR recorded more net returns (Rs. 39, 121 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.68). Transplanting increased uptake of nutrients by rice crop to the maximum of 99.4 kg N, 27.9 kg P and 107.3 kg K ha-1 as compared to DSR. TPR recorded the higher energy output (1, 48, 205 MJ ha-1), energy ratio (18.0) and energy productivity (0.69 kg MJ-1) than DSR. INM exhibited the highest mean grain (6.06 t ha-1) and straw yields (7.09 t ha-1), while the organic management showed at par of these values. The INM practice also fetched 50, 781 ha-1 and 7,470 ha-1 higher net returns and 0.84 and 0.04 higher benefit: cost ratio over organic practice and inorganic nutrition, respectively. The INM practice in rice crop resulted in the maximum N, P and K uptake. But, the inorganic and organic practice in isolation have similar uptake of nutrients by the crop in accordance with their almost similar yields. The minimum energy for raising rice crop was spent in organic practice, which generated maximum energy ratio (23.4) and energy productivity (0.87 kg MJ-1) followed by INM and inorganic practice. Thus, transplanting method of rice establishment with INM approach is a viable management practice for improving productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and energy efficiency of rice in rice-groundnut cropping system in coastal Odisha.

Integrated nutrient management (INM) practices and suitable cropping systems are an effective and promising way for enhancing crop productivity. However, the impact of proper INM practices and cultivation methods in rice cropping systems in dry tracts remains unclear. The field study evaluated the suitable cropping system under different rice establishment methods with INM practices in a sequential cropping system( rice-black gram, rice-maize, and rice-groundnut). Treatments were designed as two rice establishment methods [Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Transplanted Rice (TPR)] and five INM practices [RDF-Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (120:40:40 kg NPK ha-1) alone, RDF + Poultry manure compost @ 5 t ha-1, RDF+ Coir pith compost @ 5 t ha-1, RDF+ Green manure @ 6.25 t ha-1 and RDF-Green leaf manure @ 6.25 t ha-1]. TPR with the INM practice of RDF + poultry manure compost @ 5 t ha-1 recorded maximum productive tillers m-2 (351), number of filled grains panicle-1 (130.2), grain yield (6709 kg ha-1) and straw yield (9015 kg ha-1) of rice. Rice fallow crops (black gram, maize and groundnut) recorded 10 – 24,10-18 and 10 - 21 % higher values of yield components and yield, respectively, in DSR with INM treatment of RDF + Green manure @ 6.25 t ha-1 . Thus, RDF plus green manure or poultry manure application is an apt INM practice for a rice-based sequential cropping system under DSR, and the rice-black gram is an economical and sustainable cropping system for dry tracts of the southern zone of Tamil Nadu.

Information on phosphorus (P) dynamics in soil is crucial for careful management of phosphorus fertilization in respect to the sustainable development of agriculture in IGP regions. The sorption and desorption of phosphate, different fractions of phosphate, dehydrogenase activity, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were studied in soils under organic inorganic and integrated nutrient management practices in four different cropping systems. The P adsorption maxima of long-term organic soil was highest (77.52 µg P g−1) under coarse rice-barley-green gram cropping system. The bonding energy of phosphorus in the soil solution varies from 0.38 to 0.20 ml µ−1. Average across the cropping systems, the bonding energy of adsorb P were 68.54% and 39.05% higher under organic and integrated nutrient-managed plots respectively as compared to the inorganic nutrient management. Maximum buffering capacity of phosphate was observed (29.59 ml g−1 soil) under Coarse rice-barley-green gram cropping systems in organic nutrient management practice. Application of organic nutrient management practice increases 26.04% higher water-soluble phosphorus (WSP) as compared to the inorganic nutrient management practice, average across the cropping systems. All other fractions of phosphorus in the soil were higher under inorganic nutrient management that leads to higher amount of total of phosphorus, average across the cropping systems. Long-term application of organic for 14 years increases the bonding energy and adsorption capacity for P in soil but decreased its desorption potential, increasing P availability to the plant and leading to higher P uptake irrespective of cropping systems.

Rice Wheat Cropping system is a major cropping system in Nepal representing one-fourth of the total cultivated land. 83% of the population are dependent on the system for income and employment. However, there are serious threats to sustainability of the Rice Wheat Cropping system in Nepal. The conventional practices are water, labor, and nutrient intensive. Puddling the soil for rice has degraded soil structure in the field and long turn-around period between rice and wheat has delayed wheat planting. Both have contributed to stagnant yield and therefore to low profitability of the Rice Wheat Cropping system. Various literatures related to conservation agriculture, its practices and its role in maintaining sustainable agriculture were studied and enough information were gathered for argument. Conservation agriculture practice mainly focuses on minimal soil disturbance, crop rotation and mulching. Conservation agriculture includes zero tillage, integrated nutrient management, alternate drying and wetting, bed planting and mulching, and crop rotation to diminish the threats to sustainability of Rice Wheat Cropping system. In Nepal, the extension work has been carried out as Climate Smart Agriculture which comes under Conservation Agriculture. However, less research and hesitation of farmers to adopt the technology have created hurdles in extension of conservation agriculture. Conservation Agriculture has proven itself to be the best cultivation practice to enhance productivity of any land without overexploiting the natural resources. Such technology is important to sustain our agriculture in future. Hence, CA is of utmost importance to sustain the livelihood of Nepalese farmers, which is, Rice-Wheat Cropping system of Nepal.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a sustainable approach aimed at enhancing crop productivity and maintaining soil health, particularly in cash crop systems. With the rising global population and increasing demand for food and agricultural products, the need for balanced nutrient management has become crucial. Conventional reliance on chemical fertilizers has led to soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, and environmental pollution. INM integrates organic manures, chemical fertilizers, andbiofertilizers to ensure optimal nutrient availability, improve soil properties, and reduce the adverse environmental impacts of excessive fertilizer use.This review highlights the role of INM in cash crops such as cotton, sugarcane, and potato, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving yield and soil health. Studies indicate that INM enhances nutrient use efficiency, promotes microbial activity, and sustains soil fertility in the long term. The combination of organic amendments like farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and biofertilizers with chemical fertilizers has shown significant improvements in crop productivity, nutrient uptake, and soil structure. Additionally, INM practices contribute to environmental sustainability by minimizing nutrient leaching and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.While INM presents a promising solution to the challenges of soil fertility depletion and declining yields, further research is needed to develop region-specific INM strategies and increase awareness among farmers regarding its benefits. The adoption of INM can serve as a long-term strategy for ensuring food security, sustaining soil health, and promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) demonstrations on pomegranate were conducted in 20 farmer fields in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kalyandurg-operated mandals of Ananthapur district in Andhra Pradesh state during 2022-23 and 2023-24. The aim was to demonstrate the influence of INM practice on enhancing yield attributing features, yield and economics in farmer fields. According to the data, INM practice resulted in a larger number of flowers/plants, fruits/plant, fruit setting percentage, average fruit weight and yield/plant than farmer’s practice, who used chemical nutrient management alone. The demonstration of INM practice resulted in 11.56% and 10.52% higher fruit output than farmers' practices in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. The enhanced yield in INM practice can be attributed to more fruits per plant and heavier fruit weight. INM approaches also provided a greater economic advantage, and their adoption resulted in a better benefit-cost ratio (5.87) than farmers' use of inorganic nutrient management (5.40). From the findings It can be concluded that, under current circumstances, adopting INM practices in pomegranate cultivation could result in a higher economic benefit than farmers' practices, encouraging more farmers to adopt INM practices not only in pomegranate but also in other major fruit crops in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The field experiment was carried out for two consecutive years (2014–2016) in split-plot design to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management and crop diversification through inclusion of legume and vegetable crops in direct seeded basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)–based cropping systems (DSRB) on nutrient availability for crop uptake. The study involved four cropping systems (CS) in main plots (DSBR‒wheat‒fallow (CS1), DSBR‒wheat‒greengram (CS2), DSBR‒cabbage‒greengram (CS3) and DSBR‒cabbage‒onion (CS4) and four nutrient management strategies under subplots (unfertilized (NS0), 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (NS1), 50% RDF + 25% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through leaf compost (LC) + biofertilizer (NS2), 50% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost (VC) + biofertilizer (NS3)). The results revealed that diversification of rice–wheat system with legume (greengram) or vegetable (cabbage and onion) crops and integrated nutrient management strategies had positive effect on nutrient uptake and available nutrient status in the soil. Significantly higher uptake of N, P and K in all crops and Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in rice and wheat were observed with NS2 and NS3 as compared to NS0. Available N, P and K status were significantly higher in NS2 and NS3 as against NS0 and NS1. Inclusion of cereal crops in the cropping systems showed a negative apparent N balance, but inclusion of vegetable crops in the cropping systems exhibited positive apparent N balance under different nutrient management strategies except NS0. The highest positive apparent N balance was observed in NS1 treatment. The apparent P balance was found to be positive in all the cropping systems with all the nutrients sources except NS0. Apparent K balance was found negative in all the cropping systems under different nutrient management strategies. Thus, cropping systems with summer greengram, cabbage and onion (CS2, CS3 and CS4) under integrated nutrient management practices (NS2 and NS3) were found more sustainable after two years of cropping cycle and can be advocated by the farmers of IGP.

Integrated nutrient management involving different organic sources like FYM, vermi-compost, crop residue, green manure, Bio-fertilizer and in-situ role of legumes along with balanced nutrient use (major and micro-nutrients) deserves due attention. In fact, based on series of experiments and studies conducted all over the country with reference to nutrient management for various crop as applicable to varying soil environment representing different agro-climatic zones have been generated at national level but the system based information’s on integrated nutrient management is still lacking and yet to be documented. In this publication 1, 3 and 4 deals with general issues and management options for integrated nutrient management with special reference to irrigated eco-system, while 2 focused on crop residue management. The 5 and 10 are enlightens the soil-test based nutrient management for sustainable soil health, while s 6 and 7 are related to nutrient economy through integrated farming system and inclusion of legumes under cereal based cropping systems. The 8 is focused on integrated nutrient management in rice-wheat cropping system, while 9 on oilseed based, 11 on soybean based, 13 on vegetable and 23 on seed spices based cropping systems. The issues related to SSNM, protected agriculture, soil chemical, biological and microbial diversity are discussed in 12, 14 and 18, respectively. The aspects related to system based nutrient budgeting, soil carbon management and sequestration, balanced crop nutrition in relation to crop diseases, economics and nutrient modeling have been duly discussed in s from 19 to 25.

Carbon sequestration in agricultural systems presents a promising avenue for mitigating climate change, with India's vast agricultural sector offering significant potential to contribute to this global effort. This study examines the carbon sequestration potential within Indian agriculture, highlighting its relevance in the context of global greenhouse gas emissions. Through an extensive literature review, it evaluates carbon stocks and sequestration rates across major cropping systems, emphasizing the impact of soil properties, management techniques and climatic conditions. The study identifies significant practices such as integrated nutrient management, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and organic farming, which enhance carbon storage while simultaneously supporting sustainable agricultural systems. However, several challenges limit widespread adoption. These include high initial expenses, a lack of financial incentives, fragmented land ownership and water limitations. Government initiatives aimed at promoting climate-smart agriculture are explored, highlighting the necessity for improved support structures and market connections. Despite these challenges, Indian agriculture possesses substantial capacity to contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, provided that existing barriers are addressed and sustainable practices are implemented at scale.

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