Phosphorus management in opium-poppy (Papaver somniferum)-based cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 1990-93 to study phosphorus management (control, 40 kg P2051ha in kharif, 40 kg P,O J ha in rabi and 40 kg P2051ha in rabi and kharif both on opium-poppy in poppy (Papaver sommiferum L.)-based cropping systems (maize-poppy, urdbean- poppy and groundnut-poppy). On the basis of 3 years poppy in urdbean-poppy cropping system recorded maximum seed (995 kglha) and capsule husk (1 149 kglha) yields. The maximum mean seed (1,048 kglha), capsule husk (1,207 kgl ha) and latex (43.58 kglha) were obtained with 40 kg P20,/ha applied in both kharif and rabi, but it was at par with that applied in rabi in all 3 years. Further, urdbean-poppy cropping system also had significant higher P-uptake by seed, capsule husk and stover in comparison to maize-poppy and groundnut-poppy. The maximum net returns (Rs 65,334lha) obtained with the 40 kg P205/ha in both kharif and rabi in urdbean-poppy cropping system followed by 40 kg P20 Jha in rabi in urdbean-poppy cropping system (Rs 62,6061ha)