Integrated nutrient management in groundnut (Arachis ..d hypogaea)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system on vertisols of western Maharashtra plains zone

Abstract

A field experiment on integrated nutrient management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) var. Phule Pragati-wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori. & Paol.) var. HD 2189 cropping system revealed that maximum and significantly higher (57% higher over control) pod yield of rainy season (kharif) groundnut (2,751 kglha) and winter wheat yield under control (2,232 kglha) as well as recommended dose of fertilizer (5,415 kglha) were recorded due to application of 2.5 tonnes farmyard manure (FYM) + 75% recommended fertilizer to kharif groundnut. Application of recommended fertilizer dose to wheat crop recorded 5,100 kglha grain yield compared with the control giving only 1,924 kglha. Significantly higher groundnut-equivalent yield (5,947 kglha), net returns (Rs 55,61 llha) and benefit : cost (B :C) ratio (4.54) of the groundnut-wheat cropping system were also observed due to application of 2.5 tonnes FYM + 75% recommended fertilizer to kharif groundnut and full recommended fertilizer to wheat crop, closely followed by application of 10 tonnes wheat straw (crop residue) + 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) to kharifgroundnut. These treatments are helpful in building up so11 fertility too.