Balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization enhances productivity, profitability and partial factor productivity in rainfed castor (Ricinus communis)

R. MOHAN KUMAR; YAMANURA; N. NAGESHA

doi:10.59797/ija.v68i3.2813

Authors

R. MOHAN KUMAR All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065
YAMANURA All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065
N. NAGESHA All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v68i3.2813

Keywords:

Balanced nutrition, Castor, Fertilizer, Foliar, PFP, Productivity

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka to study the effect of balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization on productivity, profitability, and partial factor productivity of rainfed castor (Ricinus communis L.) during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019–20. Significantly higher seed yield (1,604 kg/ha) was observed with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P₂ O₅ , K₂ O and ZnSO4 through soil followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 days after sowing which gave 11.38 and 54.37% higher yield over 50, 50 and 25, i.e. 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and 40, 40 and 20 (100% RDF) kg N, P₂ O₅ , K₂ O/ha respectively. Foliar application of 2% 19 : 19 : 19 enhanced partial factor productivity (PFP). Higher gross returns (`75,425/ha), net returns (`46,042/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (2.57) were also higher with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P₂ O₅ , K₂ O, ZnSO₄ /ha through soil, followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 DAS. Therefore, integration of soil and foliar application of plant nutrient looks to be feasible nutrient-management modules of castor in boosting the crop productivity. Further, this nutrient-management module was validated in 50 farmers’ fields with large plot study (0.4 ha) showed 92.26% hike in yield (746 kg/ha) over farmers’ practice (388 kg/ha).

Author Biographies

R. MOHAN KUMAR, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065

Assistant Professor (Agronomy)
YAMANURA, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065

Assistant Professor (Plant Breeding)
N. NAGESHA, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 065

Assistant Professor (Biotechnology)

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