Integrated Plant Nutrition System Research Articles

Cropping system-based fertilizer strategies for crop productivity and soil health under minimum tillage in grey terrace soil

A cropping system that is based on three or four crops is currently a widely favored option for augmenting crop productivity to address the escalating global food demand. However, the improper fertilizer management and undue tillage adversely impacts both the productivity of crops and the fertility of the soil. A research investigation was conducted on tillage and nutrient management within the mustard-mungbean-Transplanting aus (T.aus)-Transplanting aman (T.aman) cropping system to examine the impact of fertilizer packages and tillage techniques on the overall productivity of cropping systems, as well as the condition of the soil in grey terrace soil. The research included tillage techniques viz; minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and deep tillage (DT); while nutrient management; NM1: 100 % STB (Soil test based) following FRG (Fertilizer Recommendation Guide-2018), all from chemical fertilizer, NM2: 125 % of STB following FRG- 2018, all from chemical fertilizer, NM3: 100 % STB (80 % from chemical fertilizers and 20 % from cowdung), and NM4: Native fertility (no fertilization). A total of twelve treatments replicated three times following the factorial completely randomized design for three consecutive seasonal years (2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21). MT outperformed DT and CT in terms of crop yield, rice equivalent yield (REY), system productivity (SP), and production efficiency (PE). Moreover, NM3 exhibited enhanced performance in terms of agricultural productivity measures. Field capacity (FC), soil organic matter (OM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and soil nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn and B) observed an enhancement as a result of the implementation of tillage MT and nutrition package NM3. The investigation indicates that implementing minimum tillage (MT) coupled with an integrated plant nutrition system package (NM3) can assist in the improvement of soil and the enhancement of crop productivity.

Effects of integrated plant nutrition systems with fertilizer deep placement on rice yields and nitrogen use efficiency under different irrigation regimes

Improved fertilizer management, with a combination of organic and inorganic inputs, has the potential to enhance rice yield while maintaining soil health. However, studies on the effects of broadcast prilled urea (PU) and urea deep placement (UDP) applied in combination with organic inputs (poultry litter [PL] and vermicompost [VC]), as integrated plant nutrition systems (IPNSs), on rice yields and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation are limited. We conducted field experiments during the dry and wet seasons of 2018, 2019, and 2020 to investigate the effects of fertilizer treatments, including control (no nitrogen), UDP, PU, and IPNSs (PU + VC, PU + PL, and UDP + PL) on rice yield and NUE under two irrigation regimes – AWD and continuous flooding (CF). The results revealed that fertilizer treatment and irrigation regime had significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects on rice yield and the agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) during the dry season. UDP significantly (p < 0.05) boosted rice yield, total dry matter (TDM), and NUE as compared to broadcast PU in both wet and dry seasons. Similarly, the IPNS treatment of UDP with PL significantly (p < 0.05) boosted rice yield, TDM, and NUE in comparison to broadcast PU. Under AWD irrigation, UDP alone produced higher rice yields than other treatments, while UDP, and UDP with PL produced similar yields under CF irrigation. During the dry season, AWD irrigation significantly (p < 0.05) increased rice yield, TDM, and AEN when compared to CF conditions, but during the wet season, AWD irrigation demonstrated a rice yield and NUE equivalent to CF. This research implies that using a UDP alone or in combination with PL as an IPNS could be a good way to boost crop productivity while also maintaining soil fertility.

Fertilizer Recommendations for Pearl Millet through Soil Test Crop Response-integrated Plant Nutrition System Approach on Alfisol

The field experiment was conducted in RBD with three replications at farmer's field which is located at Vagarai village, Dindigul district during February to May 2023 for refining the already existing Fertilizer Prescription Equations (FPEs) of hybrid pearl millet, which has been developed for Periyanaikenpalayam series to suit Palaviduthi soil series (Typic Rhodustalf). The performance of the pearl millet TNAU hybrid CO 10 was evaluated. The results of the experiment revealed that highest grain yield obtained from STCR - IPNS - 4.0 t ha-1, where farmyard manure along with inorganic fertilizers were combinedly applied. From the experimental data, basic parameters viz., nutrient requirement (NR), percent contribution of nutrients from soil (Cs), fertilizers (Cf) and FYM (Cfym) were computed. It has been found that the nutrient requirement for producing one quintal grain of pearl millet was 2.23 kg of N, 1.19 kg of P2O5, and 2.22 kg of K2O. The percent contribution from soil (Cs) and fertilizers (Cf) were 15.7 and 47.1 for N, 32.09 and 45.06 for P2O5, 10.04 and 66.71 for K2O respectively. Percent contribution from FYM was 36.09 for N, 16.84 for P2O5 and 33.29 for K2O. FPEs for Pearl millet were generated using these basic parameters through the Soil Test Crop Response based Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR-IPNS). Applying FYM at 12.5 t ha-1 combined with NPK fertilizers, was projected to result in a saving of 40, 21, and 27 kilograms of fertilizer N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively. Soil test-based fertilizer recommendations and integrated plant nutrient management will help farmers to conserve fertilizers as well as sustain soil health and high rates of productivity.

Sustaining Soil Fertility and Yield by Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model-based Fertilizer Prescriptions for Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Alfisols of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Background: Finger millet cultivation in Alfisols (Typic rhodustalf, Palaviduthi soil series) demands an optimal integrated plant nutrient supply to achieve desired yields. In order to develop the soil test crop response to fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) through integrated plant nutrition system (STCR-IPNS) in terms of nutrient uptake, yield and pre-sowing STVs, a field investigation on Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] was conducted at the farmer’s field of Thoppupatti village, Dindigul district, Southern Agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu, Southern India during December 2021-August 2022. Methods: By adopting the Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model before the test crop of Finger millet, a artificial soil fertility gradient was created by the application of graded levels of NPK fertilizers with fodder sorghum as a gradient crop. Result: The basic data viz., N, P and K nutrients for producing 1 tonne of finger millet grain were 48 kg, 23 kg and 44 kg; the soil contributed 14.86%, 19.18% and 18.95%; fertilizer contributed 44.16%, 32.79% and 59.75% for N, P and K and farmyard manure (FYM) contributed 28.47%, 11.77% and 33.78%, respectively. Fertilizer prescription equations for finger millet and ready reckoners for the operational range of soil test results for the intended yield target under NPK alone and IPNS (NPK + FYM) were produced using the basic data.

Effect of Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) and STCR –Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) Based Fertilizer Prescription Equations on Maize Productivity, Economics and Soil Fertility Status in Vertisols of Northern Karnataka

A study on Soil Test Crop Response based Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR - IPNS) was conducted adopting an Inductive cum Targeted yield model in vertisols of Northern Karnataka at Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka during kharif 2020-21 in order to develop STCR and STCR-IPNS fertilizer prescription equations (FPEs) for achieving desired yield targets of maize. Fertilizer doses at varying soil test values, for attaining 60, 80 and 100 q ha-1 target grain yield of maize have been worked out based on the initial soil test values of available N, P and K and the quantities of N, P and K added through farm yard manure (FYM). Using these equations, validation trials were conducted during kharif 2021-22 at MARS, Dharwad and Irrigation Water Management Research Centre (IWMRC), Belavatgi. The results of the experiment indicated that at both the locations, the per cent achievement of the targeted yield was within ± 10 % variation proving the validity of the equations for prescribing integrated fertilizer doses for maize. The highest grain yield was recorded in STCR-IPNS equation with 100 q ha-1 target yield (Dharwad -104.8 q ha-1, Belavatgi – 102.3 q ha-1) recording an increase of 67 and 69 per cent over recommended package of practices at Dharwad and Belavatgi, respectively. However, it was found to be on par with Jabalpur STCR equation with 100 q ha-1 target yield and STCR-NPK alone equation with 100 q ha-1 target yield. Higher gross returns were recorded under STCR-IPNS equation with 100 q ha-1 target yield owing to higher grain and stover yields. While STCR equation developed at Jabalpur with 100 q ha-1 target yield recorded higher net returns. The post-harvest soil available NPK indicated better build-up and maintenance of soil fertility by the soil test based fertilizer recommendation under IPNS. Targeting 100 q ha-1 grain yield for maize under STCR approach was found to be ideal in terms of yield, economics and soil fertility maintenance in vertisols of Karnataka. The fertilizer prescription equations developed for maize under IPNS can be recommended for vertisols of Northern Karnataka for achieving target yield of 100 q ha-1 with sustained soil fertility and it can be extrapolated to other agro-climatic zones of Karnataka on similar and allied soil types.

Fertilizer prescription for target yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in alluvial soils

Soil test crop response correlation studies were carried out to establish target yield prescription equations for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) at Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2019–2021. Fertilizer prescriptions under NPK alone and IPNS were developed for wheat crops using Ramamoorthy's “Inductive cum Targeted yield approach”. The amount of nutrients needed for producing 100 kg of wheat were 2.06, 0.78, and 1.95 kg/q of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The nutrients contributed by soil and fertilizer were found to be 52.3% and 54% N, 11.7% and 50% P, and 20.2% and 20.6% K, respectively. Likewise, the organic material in the form of rice residue incorporation contributed 42.0% N, 15.3% P, and 26.0% K and increased the nutrient (N, P and K) uptake. The incorporated rice residue increased the soil organic carbon and microbial population substantially resulting in more mineralization thereby increasing nutrient availability. Therefore, the site-specific targeted yield-based approach used for developing fertilizer prescription equations gives a shred of strong evidence for maintaining soil health with higher crop yields and efficient nutrient management.

Long-term nutrient management in an intensive rice-wheat cropping system improves the quantities, qualities, and availability of soil sulfur

In the last few decades, the deficiency of sulfur (S) has been noticed in the agricultural soils of India. Meanwhile, researchers reported that S plays a significant role in the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). For the quantification of S response, a long-term field experiment was started at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram, India. In total, 7 nutrient supply options were applied, i.e., organic, mineral fertilizer in the combination of integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), and IPNS + berseem (B)/IPNS + cowpea (C) in the S availability of the soil in the RWCS. The results showed that the highest contribution in S availability by the total S (39%) is followed by the organic S (35%), sodium bicarbonate extractable sulfur (NaHCO3-ES; 7%), heat-soluble sulfur (SS; 7%), water-soluble sulfur (WSS; 4%), available S (4%), and inorganic S (4%) under different long-term nutrient supply options of RWCS. The continuous application of organic fertilizer and various IPNS options, such as the inclusion of pulses, significantly improved all S fractions in the soil and also offers an additional benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health as compared to the inorganic fertilizer fields. Overall, the results showed that IPNS showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. The results also supported that the inclusion of pulses gives a further gain in terms of sulfur availability in soil systems under RWCS.

Soil test crop response based integrated plant nutrition system for hybrid castor on an Alfisol

Background: In the era of precision agriculture, application of fertilizer based on soil testing is an essential tool to prescribe nutrient doses for crops to improve nutrient use efficiency and yield of hybrid castor. Methods: Field experiment was conducted in 2021 at the Tapioca and Castor Research station, Yethapur, region near Salem city, Tamil Nadu, India (11035’N, 78029’E). By adopting inductive cum targeted yield model fertilizer prescription equation (FPEs) were developed for hybrid castor under irrigated condition for Alfisol soil order. Initially soil fertility gradient were established with respect to soil available N, P and K nutrients and twenty four treatment were imposed in three fertility strips under factorial randomized design. The basic parameters [nutrient requirement (NR) and nutrients contributions from soil (Cs), fertilizer (Cf) and farmyard manure (Co)] were calculated from the field experimental data. Result: The nutrient required for producing one quintal of hybrid castor seed yield was evaluated as 3.20 kg of nitrogen, 1.23 kg of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and 3.28 kg of potassium oxide (K2O). The study revealed that soil nutrient contribution was high in case of available phosphorus (41.87%), available nitrogen (21.56%) and available potassium (19.12%) respectively toward P, N and K nutrient uptake by hybrid castor. The nutrient contribution from farmyard manure (Co) towards the total uptake was 21.40% of N, 10.35% of P2O5 and 26.06% of K2O respectively. Using basic data, FPEs were developed for hybrid castor and ready reckoner were developed for operational range of soil test values for desired yield target under NPK alone and IPNS (NPK and FYM).

Impact of Long-Term Nutrient Supply Options on Soil Aggregate Stability after Nineteen Years of Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Continuing soil degradation remains a serious threat to future food security. Soil aggregation can help protect soil organic matter from biodegradation; it affects soil physical (aeration), chemical (water infiltration), and biological (microbial) activities. The integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) and organic farming (OF) options have been contemplated as a sustainable strategy to sustain soil aggregate stability under adverse climatic conditions and a possible tool to restore degraded soil systems. Results suggested that the application of plant nutrients based on IPNS and soil test crop response (STCR) including mineral fertilizers and organic manure (farmyard manure: FYM) improved soil aggregate stability and mean weight diameter (MWD) under rice–wheat cropping systems. A long-term (19 year) cropping system (rice–wheat) experiment was examined to identify best nutrient management practices. Seven nutrient supply options were applied: organic, mineral fertilizer in combination with IPNS, IPNS + B/IPNS + C to improve soil aggregate stability and MWD after completing 19 cropping cycles of rice–wheat cropping systems. Results showed that significantly higher (+31%) macroaggregates were dominant in the surface soil layer than in the subsurface soil. The significantly highest macroaggregates were observed under OF (60.12 g 100 g−1 dry soil) management practices followed by IPNS options. The MWD was significantly increased (+17%) between surface and subsurface soil. Maximum MWD was reported with OF (0.93 mm) management practices followed by the IPNS + C (0.78 mm), IPNS + B (0.77 mm), IPNS (0.70 mm), STCR (0.69 mm), NPK (0.67 mm), and unfertilized control (0.66 mm) plots. Overall, results suggest that the adoption of IPNS options, such as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea), significantly improved all soil aggregation fractions in the soil system and also offered an additional benefit in terms of soil sustainability.

Reconstruction of fertiliser prescription equations for hybrid bhendi under drip fertigation through STCR-IPNS approach on Inceptisol

A field experiment was conducted on Palaviduthi soil series (Typic haplustalf, Red non- calcareous, sandy loam soil) by adopting the Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) under Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) approach during rabi season of 2021-22 with the main objective of reconstruction of fertiliser prescription equations for hybrid bhendi (COBhH-4) under drip fertigation using the existing fertiliser prescription equations for bhendi variety grown under conventional method fertiliser application and surface irrigation on a Periyanaickenpalayam soil series (Vertic Ustropept, Mixed black calcareous, clay loam soil). The field experiment consisted of eleven treatments viz., absolute control, FYM @6.25 and @ 12.5 alone, STCR-NPK alone and STCR-IPNS for targeted yield of 18, 20 and 24 t ha-1, blanket recommendation with 100% RDF (200:100:100 kg NPK ha-1) and 100% RDF + 12.5 t ha-1 FYM which were replicated thrice in randomized block design (RBD). The basic parameters viz., nutrient requirement (NR), contribution of nutrients from soil (Cs), fertiliser (Cf) and farmyard manure (Cfym) were calculated from field experiment data. It has been found that the nutrient requirement (NR) for producing one quintal of bhendi fruit 0.52 kg of N, 0.18 kg of P2O5 and 0.59 kg of K2O were required. The per cent contribution of nutrients from soil (Cs) as 22.63, 28.69 and 10.03 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively, per cent contribution from fertilisers (Cf) as 39.34, 22.65 and 55.18 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively and per cent contribution from FYM (Cfym) as 35.79 for N, 9.40 for P2O5 and 27.58 for K2O. Using these basic parameters, the fertiliser prescription equations were reconstructed by adopting Soil Test Crop Response under Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR-IPNS) and nomograms were formulated for the suitable yield target of hybrid bhendi for a range of soil test values under drip fertigation.

Long-Term Nutrient Supply Options: Strategies to Improve Soil Phosphorus Availability in the Rice-Wheat System

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers can deteriorate soil, grain, and environmental quality; still, these can be restored if integrated nutrient management options with inclusion of legumes in the cropping system are adopted. A long-term (19 year) rice-wheat system experiment was examined to find out the best nutrient management practices (BNMP) through recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), soil test crop response (STCR), farmyard manure (FYM), along with the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea). Seven nutrient management practices were applied in combination of organic and chemical fertilizer in the rice-wheat system. Results showed that a significant variation was seen in phosphorus (P) fractions among the treatments and soil depths. The results showed a significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher contribution to phosphorus availability by Residual-P followed by NaHCO3-Po &gt; NaOH-Pi &gt; NaOH-Po &gt; HCl-P &gt; NaHCO3-Pi &gt; available P and lowest in WSP under different long-term management options in rice-wheat system after completing 19 crop cycles. Variations in soil P-fractions with depth were compared to different treatment combination, and a considerable increase in all the major P-fractions was noticed. The continuous application of various IPNS options as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and the inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea) significantly improved all P fractions in the soil system and offered an added benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health compared to the solo application of chemical fertilizers. Overall, results showed that IPNS options (berseem and cowpea) showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. This study suggests that the inclusion of pulses would increase P-availability in soil system.

Recalibration of Targeted Yield Equations through Integrated Plant Nutrition System for Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) on Alfisol

In India, greengram (Vigna radiata L.) is a popular pulse crop. With the concern for achieving desired yield with ensured soil health, the Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) approach develops the fertilizer prescription equations (FPEs) for the desired yield in greengram by conducting a field experiment on red non-calcareous, sandy loam soil belonging to Palaviduthi soil series (Typic Rhodustalf) during rabi 2021-22. The experiment includes 11 treatments viz., Absolute control (T1), FYM @ 6.25 t ha-1 (T2), 12.5 t ha-1 (T3), STCR-based NPK fertilizer recommendations (STCR-NPK) for the targeted yield of 1.0 (T4),1.2 (T5),1.4 t ha-1 (T6), STCR-NPK+FYM @12.5 t ha-1 for the targeted yield of 1.0 (T7),1.2 (T8),1.4 t ha-1 (T9), Blanket (100% RDF) (T10) and Blanket (100% RDF) +FYM @12.5 t ha-1 (T11), in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The results revealed that a high targeted yield of 1.4 t ha-1 T9 (STCR-NPK+FYM @12.5 t ha-1) was more supercilious than others. Initial soil test values, grain yield, total nutrient uptake, applied fertilizer doses and farmyard manure were used for obtaining four important basic parameters such as nutrients required to produce one quintal grain (NR), contribution of nutrients from soil (%Cs), contribution of nutrients from fertilizer (%Cf), as well as contribution of nutrients from FYM (% Cfym). The nutrient requirement of greengram to produce one quintal of grain yield in terms of N, P2O5, and K2O were 4.77, 3.58 and 5.42 kg q-1, respectively. The per cent contribution of nutrients from soil, fertilizer and FYM were 14.00, 48.90 and 34.11 for nitrogen; 36.51,29.59 and 10.24 for phosphorus; and 7.00, 62.65 and 32.12 for potassium, respectively. By using these basic parameters, the fertilizer prescription equations were formulated for greengram in Palaviduthi soil series.

BIO-COMPOSTING OF SERI-FARM RESIDUES BY TRICHODERMA VIRIDE

With a view to minimize the consumption of chemical fertilizers, farming community should beable to produce and apply organic manures as part of Integrated Plant Nutrition System for reducing costof production of their produce. Adequate quantity of farmyard manure could not be produced due todwindling population of cattle wealth in recent years. Hence, bio-composting is the best option to utilize on farmwastes effectively for nutrient recycling and soil health improvement. Hence, a study on compostingof sericultural residues by using Trichoderma viride was undertaken at 6 farm holdings in Avathanapatti and7 farm holdings at Kasiripalli / Gollapalli in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. The objectives were to studymulberry growth parameters by using the compost prepared by mediation of T. viride and its impact onsilkworm rearing. A quantity of 1 kg of inoculum was mixed with one ton of moistened Seri residue. Thedecomposition was completed in 90 days after inoculation. Thus prepared compost was applied to mulberryand observations were made on growth parameters such as plant height, biomass, leaf yield, shoot weightand leaf shoot ratio and silkworm rearing. The results of the present study revealed that application ofcompost prepared by using T. viride resulted in improvement of biomass and leaf yield besides plant heightin the compost treated plots of both the villages when compared to control. The impact on silkworm rearingwas found better with all the rearing parameters like single larval weight, single shell weight, and singlecocoon weight and shell ratio percentage better besides improvement in cocoon yield.

Soil Test based Targeted yield equations for blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) through Integrated Plant Nutrition System on Alfisol

Using Ramamoorthy's inductive methodology for assessing the soil test based crop requirement by adopting an Integrated Plant Nutrition System to create Fertilizer Prescription Equations (FPEs) for blackgram with the prime objective of attaining the targeted yield by the farmers. A field experiment was conducted out on red non-calcareous sandy loam soil belonging to the Palaviduthi soil series (Typic Rhodustalf) during rabi 2021-22. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments viz., STCR - NPK alone and STCR - IPNS for yield targets 1.0,1.2,and 1.4 t ha-1, Blanket (25:50:25) @ 100% with and without FYM (12.5 t ha-1), FYM alone @ 6.25 and 12.5 t ha-1 and absolute control in randomized block design with three replications. From the experimental data, basic parameters viz., nutrient requirement (NR), per cent contribution from soil (Cs), per cent contribution from fertilizers (Cf), and per cent contribution from FYM (Cfym) were computed. The quantity of fertilizers contributed by the application of Farmyard manure was assessed. It has been found that the nutrient requirement for producing one quintal grain of blackgram was 4.77 kg of N, 4.50 kg of P2O5, and 5.05 kg of K2O. The per cent contribution from soil (Cs) was 15.61, 29.91, and 8.12 for N, P, and K respectively and the percent contribution from fertilizers (Cf) and FYM (Cfym) was 48.61 and 37.19 for N, 44.78, and 14.63 for P2O5 and 55.72 and 31.71 for K2O. FPEs for blackgram were generated using these basic parameters through a Soil Test Crop Response based Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR-IPNS). Fertilizer Prescription Equations (FPEs) created in this mode were used to create nomograms for a range of soil test values and yield targets. Thus the Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model used to develop fertilizer prescription equations provides a strong basis for soil nutrient maintenance consistent with high productivity and efficient nutrient management in farming for sustainable and enduring agriculture.

Development of Soil Test based Fertilizer Prescription Equations under IPNS for Rice in Salt affected soils of Tamil Nadu

Soil Test Crop Response - Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR - IPNS) technology in restoring soil fertility in sodic soil was well established in this study. STCR -IPNS correlation studies were conducted with rice in black calcareous sandy clay loam (Vertic Ustropept) sodic soils of Tamil Nadu, Southern India during 2019 – 2021and fertilizer prescription equations under Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) were developed. A ready reckoner of fertilizer doses at varying soil test values, for attaining 6 and 6.5 t ha-I target grain yield of rice has been worked out. Using these equations, test verification trials were conducted on farmer's holding in Manikandam block of Tiruchirapalli district. The per cent achievement of the targets aimed was more than 90 indicating the validity of the equations for prescribing fertilizer doses for rice under sodic soils. The STCR -IPNS treatments recorded relatively higher response ratio (RR) and benefit - cost ratio (BCR) over blanket, STCR - NPK alone treatments and farmer's practice. Post-harvest soil tests for NPK revealed that there was maintenance of soil fertility under sodic soil.

Effect of Initial soil Fertility and Integrated Plant Nutrition System on Yield and NPK Uptake by Barnyard Millet

This study examined the effect of soil fertility and Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) on the yield of barnyard millet (var. MDU 1) on the field of Eastern Block Farm in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Coimbatore. based on the inductive technique (fertility gradient concept). Among the three fertiliser strips, the first phase of the experiment involved adding graded fertilisers and growing fodder sorghum as a gradient crop to develop soil fertility variations. During the second phase, the barnyard millet test crop experiment included four levels each of N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizers, plus three levels of farmyard manure (FYM). The results show that overall yield recorded in the highest initial fertility strip III. The highest yield of 2966 kg ha-1 was obtained with 60:30:40 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5, and K2O along with 12.5 t ha-1 of FYM in strip II with initial soil available NPK status 198, 31, and 521 kg ha-1, respectively. The lowest yield 1056 kg ha-1 was recorded in strip I under absolute control and the initial soil test values were 157, 13 and 470 kg ha-1 of KMnO4-N, Olsen-P and NH4OAc-K, respectively. Application of 12.5 t ha-1 of FYM alone increased yield of barnyard was 27.73 per cent over absolute control. Barnyard millet grain production and NPK uptake rose when initial soil fertility and fertiliser N, P2O5, K2O, and FYM levels increased.

Integrated Plant Nutrition System in Cotton – An Approach Towards Climate Change Mitigation

Agriculture is both affected by climate change but also contributes to it. As a sector, agriculture must therefore both adapt to changes and offers options for mitigation ie reducing greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon. The objective of the study is to explore the optimum level of plant nutrient for sustaining the desired crop productivity in hybrid cotton through optimization of benefit from all possible resources of plant nutrients in an integrated manner and to mitigate the green house gas emission through the adoption of Integrated Plant Nutrition System. The experiment was carried out in three locations with different soil fertility status with special emphasis to nitrogen levels in the soils. The fertilizer doses were fixed based on the soil test values and fertility grouping / indexing by International soil fertility evaluation and improvement programme. As part of organics, FYM was applied at two different levels, and the fertilizers were reduced accordingly. The results proved that application of organic manure @ 12.5 t ha-1 along with the recommended doses of nutrients proved superior in seed cotton production as well reduced nitrous oxide emissions.

Inductive cum targeted yield model based Integrated fertilizer prescriptions for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol

Soil test crop response (STCR) correlation studies under Integrated Plant Nutrition System were conducted in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu during 2020-2021 to devise the fertilizer prescription equations for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol. The equations were derived by following Ramamoorthy’s Inductive cum targeted yield model. The nutrient requirement of N, P2O5 and K2O for producing one quintal of tomato fruit was found to be 0.22, 0.11, 0.27 kg respectively. The per cent contribution of nutrients were 37.93, 46.73 and 29.53 of N, P2O5 and K2O from soil (Cs) and 47.84, 31.12 and 74.13 of N, P2O5 and K2O from fertilizers (Cf) respectively. Two organic sources were applied viz., FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and Biocompost and the per cent contribution of nutrients from FYM were 38.36, 13.22 and 52.17 of N, P2O5 and K2O and from biocompost were 43.34, 10.90 and 57.00 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. Fertilizer adjustment equations were formulated for STCR-NPK alone, STCR-IPNS (FYM) and STCR-IPNS (Biocompost) by applying the basic parameters such as NR, Cs, Cf, Cfym, Cbiocompost. A ready reckoner of fertilizer doses for a set of soil test values at yield targets 80 and 90 t ha-1 was computed. The findings also showed that the adoption of STCR-IPNS could save more fertilizers.

Development of soil test crop response based fertilizer prescriptions through integrated plant nutrition system for aggregatum onion (Allium cepa L.) under drip fertigation

An insight into the balanced crop nutrition and efficient irrigation will be rewarding to attain profitable bulb yield of shallow-rooted and high nutrient requiring aggregatum onion. To develop fertilizer prescription equations(FPEs) for aggregatum onion under drip fertigation by encompassing the Soil Test Crop Response approach (STCR), a field experiment was conducted in Palaviduthi soil series with 15 treatments viz., Absolute control (T1), Blanket recommendation (60:60:30) + Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 12.5 t ha-1(T2), STCR based NPK fertilizer recommendation (STCR-NPK) for the targeted yield of 14 (T3),15 (T4),16 t ha-1 (T5), FYM @ 6.25 (T6), 12.5 t ha-1 (T7), STCR–NPK+FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1 for the targeted yield of 14 (T8),15 (T9),16 t ha-1 (T10), Biocompost @ 2.5 (T11), 5 t ha-1 (T12) and STCR–NPK+Biocompost @ 5 t ha-1 for the targeted yield of 14 (T13),15 (T14),16 t ha-1 (T15). The results revealed that T10 was more supercilious than others. The basic parameters were deliberated from the experimental data on total nutrient uptake, initial soil fertility status, applied fertilizer doses. The aggregatum onion (variety CO 4) required 0.43, 0.32, 0.45 Kg of N, P2O5, K2O to produce one quintal of bulb yield. The percent contribution of nutrients from soil and fertilizer was 14.01, 54.57 for N, 35.11,50.50 for P2O5 and 12.69, 70.12 for K2O, respectively. The contribution of N, P2O5, K2O from FYM and biocompost were 41.02, 16.23, 41.53 and 47.98, 15.87, 49.56 percent sequentially. Based on the above parameters, the fertilizer prescription equations were formulated for aggregatum onion under drip fertigation in Palaviduthi soil series.

Soil Test Based Fertilizers Application for Targeted Yield of Soybean (Glycin max L.) in Saurashtra Region of Gujarat

Background: Soil test based application of plant nutrients helps to realize higher response ratio and benefit: cost ratio as the nutrients are applied in proportion to the magnitude of the deficiency of a particular nutrient and the correction of the nutrients imbalance in soil helps to harness the synergistic effects of balanced fertilizationMethods: Soil test crop response correlation studies were conducted to formulate the fertilizer adjustment equations for soybean (Var. GS-3) under integrated plant nutrition system on medium black calcareous soils during year 2016 and 2017 in kharif season following Ramamoorthy’s inductive-cum-targeted yield approach.Result: The nutrients requirement for producing one quintal of soybean was 5.65, 0.91 and 2.53 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively in presence of FYM (indicate dose). The per cent contributions from soil and fertilizer nutrients were found to be 35.03 and 74.5 for nitrogen, 55.13 and 27.6 for phosphorus and 10.36 and 51.6 per cent for potassium with FYM, Similarly, the per cent contribution of fertilizers was 65.25 for nitrogen, 22.49 for phosphorus and 43.89 for potassium without FYM. The per cent nutrient contribution of FYM was 28.27 for nitrogen, 4.97 for phosphorus and 10.48 for potassium.