Long-term influence of nutrient management on productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v63i1.5364Keywords:
Cropping system, Economics, Long-term fertilization, Maize, Productivity, WheatAbstract
A long-term fertilizer experiment on maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system was initiated during 1983 at the Birsa Agricultural University farm, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The present investigation was part of this long-term experiment started after 29 crop cycles during 2013–14 and 2014–15, to find out the effect of long-term fertilization on productivity and economics of maize–wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in partially confounded design with 18 treatments and 1 control with 4 replications. Treatment comprised 3 levels of nitrogen (40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha), 3 levels of phosphorus (0, 40 and 80 kg P2 O5/ha) and 2 levels of potassium (0 and 40 kg K2 O/ha). Results showed that balanced fertilization of maize–wheat cropping system with N120P80K40 kg/ha resulted in the maximum grain yield of maize (4.21 t/ha), wheat (4.52 t/ha) as well as maizeequivalent yield (9.41 t/ha) with net returns of 67,396/ha and benefit: cost ratio (1.09). Continuous application of 120 kg N/ha alone for more than 30 years drastically reduced the grain yield of maize (0.94 t/ha), wheat (1.50 t/ha) and maize-equivalent yield (2.66 t/ha), which was 29.05% less than the control (1.32 t/ha, grain yield of maize). However, an application of 40 kg P2 O5/ha along with nitrogen remarkably improved the productivity of individual crop as well as cropping system.
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