Productivity and Profitability of Summer Blackgram in Response to Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Background: Pulse crops are commonly known as “rich man’s vegetable”. Blackgram is the most important pulse crops of Odisha after greengram. Poor productivity of blackgram in Odisha is due to soil related constraints such as organic matter and nutrient availability. Use of unbalanced and inadequate fertilizers accompanied by restricted use organic manures resulted decline in crop yield. Promising results of balanced fertilization was documented in various pulse crop but limited research was under taken in blackgram in East and South Eastern coastal plain zone of Odisha. Therefore, current experiment focused on improving productivity of blackgram with different source of nutrient. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Siksha “O” Anusandhan (Deemed University), Bhubaneswar, during summer season of 2020 and 2021 to study the Influence of integrated nutrient management on productivity, nutrient uptake and soil fertility of summer blackgram (Vigna mungo L.). Blackgram variety ‘LBG 787 (Tulsi)’ was sown at a spacing of 25 × 10 cm under randomized block design (RBD) with 12 treatment combinations of FYM, inorganic and foliar fertilizer. Result: Application of 100% RDF + FYM + nutrient priming + 2% DAP spray twice at 30 and 45 DAS led to maximum pods per plant (18.5), pod length (4.5 cm), seeds per pod (7.0), test weight (52.0 g), seed yield (843 kg/ha), stover yield (1214 kg/ha) and harvest index (41.0%). Besides, it also recorded highest gross return (Rs 54,840/ha), net return (Rs 27,050/ha), B:C ratio (2.1), production efficiency (10.83 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (360.67 Rs/ha/day) and was at par with 75% RDF + FYM + nutrient priming + 2% DAP spray. The later recorded 49.1% higher yield and 152.4% higher net return/ha, respectively than that of 100% RDF alone in East and South Eastern coastal plain zone of Odisha.