Integrated nutrient management effects on yield, nutrient uptake and economics of soybean (Glycine max)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Research-cum Instructional Farm of the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to examine the interactive effects of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers on the yield, nutrient uptake and economics of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. Treatments comprised 4 nutrient sources, viz. control, wheat-crop residues @ 5 t/ha, FYM @ 5 t/ha, poultry manure @ 2.5 t/ha in main plots, and 5 levels of fertilizer, viz. control, 50% Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 100% RDF, 50% RDF + Zn @ 5 kg/ha and 100% RDF+ Zn @ 5 kg/ha, to soybean in subplots, and in the case of wheat the residual effect of previous 4 treatments in main plots and 5 nutrient levels, viz. control, 50% RDF, 100% RDF, 50% RDF + Zn @ 5 kg/ha, and 100% RDF + Zn @ 5 kg/ha, were tested in split-plot design with 3 replications. Results revealed that, among different nutrient sources, poultry manure @ 2.5 t/ha significantly resulted in the highest grain (2.20 t/ha and 2.84 t/ha) and straw yield (4.27 t/ha and 6.00 t/ha), net return (72,215 `/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (5.49). Among various nutrient levels, application of 100% RDF along with Zn @ 5 kg/ha significantly recorded the highest grain (2.28 t/ha and 2.99 t/ha) and straw yield (4.30 t/ha and 6.14 t/ha) and economic returns (72,370 `/ha) as well as improved the available nutrient status (N 220.50 and 212.10 kg/ha, P2 O5 22.54 and 21.69 kg/ha, K2 O 326.85 and 322.09 kg/ ha) after the harvest of soybean (N 220.50, N 22.54 and k20 326.85) and wheat (N 212.10 kg/ha, p 21.62 k20 322009) crops as compared to all other treatments.