Integrated Phosphorus Management Improves Production of Rice–Wheat Cropping-System Under Salt Affected Conditions

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient and is deficient in most of the agricultural soils based on higher retention with soil and poor recovery from the applied fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted in 2009–2012 in which different organic wastes of agricultural and industrial origin with inorganic P fertilizer to improve crop yield, P use efficiency and physic-chemical properties of soils in salt affected soils under rice–wheat cropping system. The treatments included; P at farmer practice, P on soil need basis, PoM + chemical fertilizer (1:1), MSWC + chemical fertilizer (1:1), PrM + chemical fertilizer (1:1) and FM + chemical fertilizer (1:1). Analysis showed that nutrients source significantly improved vegetative and yield attributes of rice and wheat crops. However, application of PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of both crops and soil physic-chemical properties than all the other treatments. The effectiveness of treatments could be arrange as PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > FM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > MSWC + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > PrM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > P on soil need basis > P at farmer practice, respectively. In conclusion, integration of organic and chemical P fertilizer resulted in well-balanced nutrient management plan. Application of PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis is recommended as an effective and economical integrated nutrient management practice enhancing productivity of rice–wheat crop and improving physical and chemical properties of salt affected soils.