Productivity enhancement of soybean as influenced by integerated nutrient and other agronomic interventions in sub - humid Punjab, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for three years under irrigated conditions for productivity enhancement of soybean through integrated nutrient and other agronomic interventions. Application of N, P, K and FYM significantly enhanced the yield of soybean over control. Maximum yield was observed in the treatment where FYM was applied with NPK and resulted in an increase of 15.1 per cent over NPK alone. Application of additional 30 kg N ha-1 at pre-flowering or at pod initiation did not significantly enhance the yield over the basal dose of NP applied at sowing. Application of 4 tonnes wheat straw mulch + 30 kg N +60 kg P2O5 and 30 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 showed similar effect on seed yield of soybean. No statistical difference in soybean yield was obtained in the conventional flat and bed sowing treatments. Pre-emergence application of pendimethaline @ 1.5 l ha -1 along with one hand weeding at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS were equally effective for weed control and in influencing the soybean yield. The application of N, P, K, FYM, in different treatments, treatment with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and sowing on beds all significantly improved the N, P and K uptake by soybean over control. Application of FYM to soybean resulted in maximum enhancement of nutrient uptake by soybean. After three years a significant improvement in soil OC, available N, P and K was observed in all treatments over control.