System productivity, nutrient use efficiency and apparent nutrient balance in rice-based cropping systems

Abstract

A 2-year field experiment was conducted to assess system productivity, nutrient use efficiency and apparent balances of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in diversified rice-based cropping systems at Gazipur, Bangladesh. Four cropping systems: wheat–fallow–rice, maize–fallow–rice, potato–fallow–rice and mustard–fallow–rice in main plots and four nutrient combinations: NPK, NK, NP and PK in sub-plots were arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Receiving the NPK treatment, all the component crops gave the highest yield, and omission of N from fertilizer package gave the lowest yield. The maize–rice system removed the highest amount of N (217 kg ha−1), P (41 kg ha−1) and K (227 kg ha−1) followed by wheat–rice, potato–rice and the least in mustard–rice system. The wheat–rice and maize–rice system showed negative K balance of –35.5 and –60.4 kg ha−1 in NPK treatment, while potato–rice system showed a positive K balance of 31.0 kg ha–1 with NPK treatment. The N, P and K uptake and apparent recovery by the test crops may be used for site-specific nutrient management. The K rates for fertilizer recommendation in wheat and maize in Indo-Gangetic plain need to be revised to take account for the negative K balance in soil.