Recommended Dose Of NPK Fertilizers Research Articles

Influence of tillage and fertilizer management practices on productivity and resource use efficiency of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in Thar Desert of Rajasthan

Conventional tillage practices in Thar Desert of Rajasthan are posing a serious threat of natural resource degradation due to soil erosion induced by high temperature and winds. A 2-year study was conducted to explore the efficient tillage and nutrient management practices evaluate the effects of these practices on groundnut crop performance and resource use efficiency. It consisted 18 treatment combinations; 3 tillage practices, viz. T1 - minimum tillage, T2 - deep tillage, and T3 - conventional tillage main plots; and six fertilizer management practices, viz. F0 - no fertilization, F1 -recommended dose of NK fertilizer, F2 - recommended dose of NPK fertilizer (RDF), F3 - RDF + PSB @2.5 kg/ha, F4 - F3+ AMF @2 kg/ha, and F5 - F3+ AMF @4 kg/ha as sub plots. The highest LAI, crop growth rate and relative growth rate was recorded with deep tillage (T2) and F5 treatment combination. Deep tillage (T2) produced significant at par yields (pod and haulm) with conventional tillage (2981 and 4878 kg/ha). Higher water use efficiency of 4.72% and 13.25% were recorded with T3 compared to T2 and T1, respectively. Fertilizer management practices F5 and F4 recorded significantly at par and higher yields (pod, kernel, haulm and biological) compared to other combinations. The F5 treatment notable increased 16.7% and 90.2% water and nutrient use efficiency over RDF (6.69 kg/ha mm and 14.95 kg/kg), respectively. In Thar Desert, deep tillage along with chemical fertilizers and bio-inoculants found best management practices in terms of productivity and resource use efficiency.

Crop management practices influence the nodule characteristics, yield attributes and yield of groundnut

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner (Rajasthan). The treatment comprises of three tillage practices in main plots viz. T1 – minimum tillage (MT), T2 – deep tillage (DT) and T3 – conventional tillage (CT) and six fertilizer management practices in sub plots i.e. (i) control (F0)(ii) recommended dose of NK fertilizer (F1) (iii) recommended dose of NPK fertilizer (RDF) (F2) (iv) RDF + phosphate solubilizing bacteria(PSB) 2.5 Kg ha-1 (F3) (v) RDF + PSB 2.5 Kg ha-1 + Arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi (AMF) 2 Kg ha-1 (F4)(vi) RDF + PSB 2.5 Kg ha-1 + AMF 4 Kg ha-1 (F5). A total of 18 treatment combinations were laid out in split plot design and replicated four times. Deep tillage (DT) produced significantly higher number of pods per plant, kernels per pod, number and dry weight of root nodules, pod yield and seed index as compared to minimum tillage. DT also recorded higher net return and B:C ratiocompared to MT. Among various fertilizer management practices,RDF along with seed inoculation with PSBand AMF recorded significantly higher growth, yield and yield parameters compared to RDF without seed inoculation. Also recorded the maximum net return and B:C ratio over rest of the fertilizer management practices. Thus, deep tillagealong with RDF + PSB + AMF (4 kg ha-1) enhanced groundnutyield attributes, yieldsand net returns.

Response of basmati rice varieties to integrated nutrient management

Yield performance of Basmati varieties bred for unconventional areas were assessed under integrated nutrient management. A two-year study conducted in split plot design involving two varieties and three fertility levels in main plots and three bio-inoculants to sub plots. Variety HUBR 10-9 exhibited increased mean yield (18.8%) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) over HUBR 2-1. Integration of 75% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) with 25% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) applied as farmyard manure (FYM) registered highest yield and NUE. Combined application of blue green algae (BGA) and Azospirillum improved yields and NUE than their alone application. Findings suggest that HUBR 10-9 be grown with integration of 75% RDF, 25% RDN as FYM along with BGA and Azospirillum to enhance growth, yield, and NUE. More studies required in potential areas under diverse conditions.

Direct effect of boron and zinc on productivity, quality and nutrient uptake by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and their residual effect on succeeding pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in mustard-pearl millet crop sequence

A field experiment was conducted at Research farm of Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri, Agra to study the effect of boron and zinc on productivity, nutrient uptake and quality of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj and coss.) in mustard-pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] cropping sequece during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Boron and zinc levels alone and in different combinations were applied to mustard crop during 2015 and 2016 and their residual effect was studied in succeeding pearl millet crop. Higher levels of B and Zn along with RDF recorded higher growth and yield attributes at harvest, viz. plant height, branches/plant, siliquae/plant, seeds/siliqua and test weight of mustard crop than recommended dose of fertilizers and other treatments. Highest seed and stover yield of mustard crop was recorded with the combined application of 2 kg B + 8 kg Zn/ha along with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) which was at par with RDF + 1 kg B + 8 kg Zn/ha, RDF + 1 kg B + 4 kg Zn/ha and RDF + 2kg B + 4 kg Zn/ha, and significantly superior to RDF only and other treatments. The uptake of B and Zn by both seed and stover of mustard crop also increased with increasing levels of both these elements and was superior to RDF as well as RDF along with sole application of B or Zn. Oil and protein contents also followed the same increasing trend. The residual effect of combined application of 2 kg B and 8 kg Zn/ha on the grain and stover yields of succeeding pearl millet crop was also significant; the increases were 18.9 and 20.3% for grain and stover yield, respectively over RDF. Protein content in grain and stover of pearl millet also increased significantly with residual effect of 2 kg B + 8 kg Zn/ha. Boron and zinc uptake by pearl millet crop also showed an increasing trend which was statistically significant over RDF alone and other treatments. The status of B and Zn in post harvest soil also improved with their application.

Influence of cultivars, cropping systems and nutrient levels on yield and quality of mango in north India

A field experiment was carried-out on 3-year-old mango trees (6 m × 6 m) during 2011–12 and 2012–13 at New Delhi to study the effect of cultivar, cropping system and nutrient level on yield and quality parameters. The experiment was laid out in a split-split-plot design with three replications. The main plots comprised offour cultivars, viz., Pusa Surya, Amrapali, Mallika and Dashehari, sub-plots consisted of four cropping systems, viz., vegetable cowpea-Indian mustard, green gram-Indian mustard, blackgram-Indian mustard and sole mango. Sub-sub plots included three fertility levels viz., control, 50% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) + 50%recommended dose of FYM (RD-FYM), and 100% RDF + 100% RD-FYM to mango. A marked variation in fruityield and fruit quality was observed among mango cultivars. ‘Amrapali’ exhibited supremacy over rest of thecultivars for yield and quality parameters. Under vegetable cowpea-mustard system, the mango fruit yield andyield parameters were comparatively higher. However, the physical and biochemical fruit quality parametersshowed a non-significant variation among cropping systems. Application of 100% RDF + 100% RD-FYM remainingat par with 50% RDF + 50% RD-FYM produced significantly higher number of fruits/plant (16.5 and 24.3), fruitweight (212 and 223 g) and pulp: stone ratio (5.01 and 5.02) during 2011–12 and 2012–13, respectively over control. Application of 100% RDF + 100% RD-FYM exhibited higher biochemical quality parameters viz., TSS, vitamin C, total carotenoids and total sugars during both years over other treatments. Overall, ‘Amrapali’, vegetablecowpea-mustard cropping system and application of 100% RDF + 100% RD-FYM were the best performingtreatments in terms of fruit yield and quality parameters in the current study.

Direct and Residual Effect of Zinc and Boron on Productivity, Nutrient Uptake and Quality on Mustard (Brassica juncea) and Succeeding Maize (Zea mays) in Subtropical Inceptisols of Jammu

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu to study the effect of levels of zinc (Zn) (5 and 10 kg ha−1) and boron (B) (1 and 2 kg ha−1) and their foliar application alone and in different combinations on productivity, nutrient uptake and quality of mustard (Brassica juncea) in mustard-maize cropping sequence during 2010–11 and 2011–12 in subtropical Inceptisols of Jammu region. Zinc and B levels alone and in different combinations were applied to mustard crop during 2010 and 2011 and their residual effect was studied in succeeding maize crop. Highest grain and stover yield of mustard crop was recorded with the combined application of 10 kg Zn + 2 kg B ha−1 along with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) and was at par with application of RDF + 10 kg Zn + 1 kg B ha−1, RDF + 5 kg Zn + 1 kg B ha−1 and RDF + 5 kg Zn + 2 kg B ha−1 but was significantly superior over RDF and other treatments. Higher levels of Zn and B along with RDF also recorded higher growth and yield attributes at harvest viz., plant height, branches plant−1, siliquae plant−1, seeds siliquae−1 and test weight of mustard crop than recommended dose of fertilizers and other treatments. Nutrient uptake viz., Zn and B uptake by both seed and stover of mustard crop also increased with increasing levels of both these nutrients and was superior over RDF as well as RDF along with sole application of Zn or B and foliar application treatments. Oil content and protein content also followed the same increasing trend. However, residual effect of application of Zn and B on the grain and stover yields of succeeding maize crop was non-significant though the increase was up to 13.3 and 11.36 per cent for seed and stover yield, respectively over RDF. Zinc and B uptake by maize crop also showed an increasing trend but the increase was statistically non-significant.

Nutrient recycling potential of rock phosphate and waste mica enriched compost on crop productivity and changes in soil fertility under potato–soybean cropping sequence in an Inceptisol of Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

This manuscript focuses on the nutrient recycling potential of enriched compost prepared using rice straw, low-grade rock phosphate (RP) and waste mica along with Aspergillus awamori and their effect on crop productivity and changes in soil fertility under potato–soybean cropping sequence in an Inceptisol of Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Enriched composts had higher total as well as bioavailable P and K content than ordinary compost. Data emanated from the field study revealed that yield and uptake of N, P and K by potato tubers were significantly increased due to application of inorganic fertilizer and enriched compost over control. Application of 50% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) along with 4.0 Mg ha−1 of enriched compost product-C prepared by rice straw + RP @ 4% P + waste mica 4% K + Aspergillus awamori resulted in 43.3% additional yield and 102.3, 67.0 and 62.2% additional N, P and K uptake by potato over control, respectively. Significant increase in yield and uptake of N, P and K by soybean grown on residual fertility were also observed over control. Post-harvest soil analysis indicated a significant build-up in soil organic C, available N, P and K due to application of enriched compost in combination with inorganic fertilizer over 100% RDF. The results clearly showed that enriched compost could be an alternative and cost effective option to prepare a value added product using agricultural wastes and low-grade minerals like RP and waste mica in place of costly chemical fertilizer for crop production and maintaining soil fertility.

Integrated use of crop residues and fertilizers for sustainability of potato (Solanum tuberosum) based cropping systems in Bihar

A field experiment was conducted at Patna for 4 years (2002-03 to 2005-06) on a fixed site to study the effect of crop residues(CR) recycling along with 2 levels of recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) i.e. RDF and 125% RDF in two potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) based cropping systems [potato-onion ( Allium cepa L.)-rice ( Or yza sativa L.) and potato-wheat ( Tr iticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol)-rice]. Incorporation of CR has im- proved the mean rice equivalent yields of system by 7.86% as compared to their removal (24.15 t/ha). Incorpora- tion of CR decreased the bulk density and increased infiltration rate, water holding capacity, microbial population, soil fertility than the initial values as compared to no residue treatment after four years of study. Increasing levels of RDF also increased the yield but did not show any significant effect on soil physico-chemical properties. Incor- poration of residues along with RDF improved the crop productivity in both the cropping systems and was at par with 125% RDF. The residue incorporation with NPK fertilizer resulted in the highest yield, nutrient uptake, im- proved residual soil fertility and soil microorganism status and ultimately high benefit: cost ratio.

Integrated nutrient management for sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) plant-ratoon system

A field experiment was conducted at Navsari during 2002-2006 to study the influence of integrated nutrient management (INM) for sustained sugarcane plant-ratoon production system. Integrated use of various organics (FYM, pressmud, vermicompost and biofertilizers) with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) to sugar- cane plant crop followed by trash incorporation and green manuring with NPK and bio-fertilizers to ratoon sug- arcane was studied. The results revealed that integrated use of FYM @25% of recommended dose of N (RDN) with RDF (250-125-125 kg N-P-K/ha) and biofertilizer ( Azotobactor and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) to plant crop followed by 10 t/ha trash incorporation with bio-fertilizer inoculation + RDF (300-6.25-125 kg N-P-K/ ha) application increased cane (13.3 to 30.6 t/ha) and commercial cane sugar (0.5 to 1.6 tonne/ha) yield. How- ever, the magnitude of variation in cane yield was marginal when total N was applied through fertilizer alone. Hence, it was possible to save 25% N when organics was applied along with bio-fertilizers Azatobacter + PSB.

Influence of integrated plant nutrient supply on growth, productivity and quality of baby corn (Zea mays) in Indo-Gangetic plains

A field experiment was conducted during 2004 and 2005 on sandy clay-loam soil of university research farm, Kalyani, on baby corn (Zea mays L.). Combined application of organic sources of nutrients, viz. neem seed pow- der @ 1.5 tonneslha or karanj-cake L. @ 1.25 tonnestha, farmyard manure @ 7.5 tonnestha, commercial formu- lation of pelleted form of organic manures @ 0.75 tonnestha and organic manure rich with humus @ 1.8 tonnesl ha along with 75% recommended dose of NPK fertilizer (RDF), were effective in increasing the standard corn yield by 6.20%-40.53% over the control (100% RDF). The biomax (pelleted form of organic manure) proved most effective in increasing the dehusked corn yield (30.32%) and standard yield (40.53%) over the control. Ap- plication of organics along with chemical fertilizer improved the yield attributes, quality parameter of protein con- tent of corn over the control. Judicious application of organic manure along with inorganic fertilizer improved fer- tility status of the soil (N, P, K and organic C). The maximum net return, benefit : cost ratio and removal of nutrient by baby corn (67.68, 13.88 and 90.02 kglha of N, P and K respectively) was obtained when the crop manage- ment was done with 75% RDF + pelleted form of organic manure.

Yield and quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) as influenced by irrigation and nutrient levels

Field experiments were carried out on sandy loam soil at Morena, during the winter ( rabi) seasons of 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 to study the effect of irrigation and levels of NPK nutrients (% of recommended dose) on growth, yield, economics and quality parameters of Indian mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj and Cosson]. Irri- gation at flower initiation and seed development stage achieved the maximum growth and yield attributes, resulting in 8.78% and 24.18% higher seed yield over one irrigation applied at flower initiation stage and siliquae develop- ment stage respectively. The application of 125% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RDF) induced signifi- cantly higher growth and yield characters, water use efficiency, protein and oil yield over other treatments and yielded 29.03%, 19.59% and 8.30% more seed yield over 50, 75 and 100% RDF, respectively.