Yield of cowpea and uptake of nutrients and soil chemical status as influenced by STCR fertilizer dose with humic acid and multi-micronutrient mixture in Southern Dry Zone (Zone 6) of Karnataka

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to validate the cowpea STCR equation developed for Zone 5 in Zone 6 and to assess its performance with foliar application of humic acid and multi-micronutrient mixture during Kharif 2016 on sandy loam soil at college of Agriculture, V.C. Farm, Mandya. The experimental results revealed that significantly higher total N uptake was observed in T12 (142.58 kg ha-1), total P uptake of 14.58 kg ha-1 in T13 and total K uptake in T11 (127.62 kg ha-1). The uptake of all the micronutrients were higher in the treatments with foliar application of MM with humic acid at 30 and 45 DAS, followed by foliar application of MM alone. Available nutrient status of soil after the harvest of the crop showed a significant effect due to treatments. Higher nitrogen status was reported in T11 (257.13 kg ha-1) followed by T12 (250.85 kg ha-1) and least was in control (175.69 kg ha-1). Higher soil P status was recorded in the treatment having RDF + FYM (86.76 kg ha-1) followed by T3 receiving STCR fertilizer dose with 50% RDP without FYM (85.23 kg ha-1). Higher K status of the soil was recorded in T5 (235.34 kg ha-1) with STCR (50% RDP) with FYM. However, lowest was recorded in control (155.89 kg ha-1).