Nutrient economy through land configuration and residue management in a greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping sequence with limited water supplies

Abstract

A field experiment on a greengram-wheat cropping sequence was carried out under limited water supply conditions in 1997-98 and 1998-99 at the farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The greengram was sown either on flat beds or on broad beds 2 m in width, divided by furrows, with 0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5/ha. After the harvest of greengram pods, wheat was grown in the same plots, either with the greengram stover removed or with the stover incorporated along with 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha applied to wheat. The grain yield of greengram was higher when sown on broad beds with furrows compared to flat bed sowing, and the application of 30 or 60 kg P2O5/ha resulted in significantly higher grain yields compared to no phosphorus application. The combination of broad bed and furrows with phosphorus fertilization was found to be ideal for achieving higher productivity in greengram. The land configuration treatments had no impact on the productivity of wheat. The application of phosphorus to the preceding crop had a significant residual effect on the grain yield of wheat. The incorporation of greengram stover also significantly increased the grain yield of wheat. The increasing levels of N increased the grain yield of wheat significantly up to 80 kg/ha. The combination of greengram stover incorporation and 80 kg N/ha applied to wheat significantly increased the grain yield. Further, there was a significant interaction effect between the phosphorus applied to the preceding crop and N levels given to wheat on the grain yield of wheat.