Productivity, quality, nutrient use efficiency and economics of senna (Cassia angustifolia) as influenced by FYM and fertilizer nitrogen under rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for 4 consecutive rainy ( kharif) seasons between 2000-2003 on alfisols of Hyderabad to study the influence of FYM (0 and 5 tonne/ha) and fertilizer N (0, 25, 50, 75 kg/ha) on productivity, profitability, and nutrient use efficiency in senna ( Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). FYM application enhanced the senna leaf, pod and leaf equivalent yields significantly over its control. An increase of 54, 59, 70% in N, P and K uptake, respectively was recorded with FYM over control. FYM enhanced agronomic efficiency (AE) by 3.52 kg leaf equivalent yield / kg N; the apparent recovery efficiencies (ARE) of N P K increased from 40 to 53, 13.1 to 18.9 and 41.1 to 58.5%, respectively. The partial factor productivity (66.28 kg leaf equivalent yield / kg N) was improved with FYM. FYM application registered an additional net monetary return of Rs 4,190/ha. Nitrogen application im- proved the yield, sennoside content, ARE and monetary returns. Application of 25 kg N/ha recorded highest AE, ARE, and partial factor productivity (PFP) whereas the increasing levels of N beyond 25 kg/ha reduced the ARE, and PFP. 50 kg N/ha registered highest B: C ratio (2.3). The leaf yield of 2,733 kg/ha was recorded at economic optimum of dose (70.88 kg/ha) and the response to each kg-applied N was 37.5 kg.