Anchal Dass

Integrated Nutrient Management for Production, Economics, and Soil Improvement in Winter Vegetables

ABSTRACT There is concern that use of inorganic fertilizers alone cannot sustain high levels of productivity and cause deterioration of the soil and environment. The use of vermicompost (VC) and microbial inoculants (Azotobactor® and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria) to improve plant nutrition may address these issues. Effects of VC and microbial inoculants in combination with inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of crops and soil health need to be better understood. The eastern Ghats region of Orissa, India, has a favorable climate for year-round cultivation of vegetables. An on-farm experiment with seven treatments including chemical fertilizers, VC, cow manure (CM), and microbial inoculants was carried out for 3 consecutive years during winters of 2001 to 2003, at Koraput, India, on a red soil to determine the most effective integrated nutrient management option for enhancing productivity of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Vermicompost appeared to be the best soil additive in both crops in terms of yield, net economic return, and water use efficiency (WUE). In bell pepper, use of VC+50% recommended rate of synthetic fertilizers (RRF) produced significantly higher yield over 100% RRF, with a net return increase of 29.8%. There was a similar effect for yield of cabbage. In the 50% RRF+VC treatment, WUE was 32.6% higher in bell pepper and 6.2% higher in cabbage over treatment with 100% RRF. Bulk density of the surface soil after 3 years was reduced; its organic carbon and available N and P status improved due to treatment with CM and VC. The data indicate that 5 Mt·ha−1 of VC can meet 50% of the fertilizer requirement of bell pepper and cabbage while providing higher productivity, income, and residual soil fertility.

Growth Behavior, Nutrient Harvest Index, and Soil Fertility in Okra-Pea Cropping System as Influenced by AM Fungi, Applied Phosphorus, and Irrigation Regimes in Himalayan Acidic Alfisol

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), inorganic phosphorus (P), and irrigation regimes was studied in an okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system in an acidic Alfisol. Experimentation was carried out at Palampur, India, in a randomized bock design (RBD), replicated three times with fourteen treatments comprising AM fungi (Glomus mosseae), inorganic phosphorus (50, 75, and 100% soil-test-based recommended P dose), irrigation regimes (at 40 and 80% available water capacity), generalized recommended NPK and irrigations (GRD), and farmers’ practice. Effects of AM fungi on plant height, leaf area index (LAI), and dry-matter accumulation (DMA) were nominal at early crop growth stage, i.e., 50 DAS (days after sowing). However, at 100 DAS, AMF imbedded treatments led to higher plant height (4%), LAI (3%), and DMA (6%) in okra, whereas in pea the magnitude of increase in these parameters following AMF inoculation was 6, 5, and 8%, respectively, over non-AMF counterparts. AMF + 75% soil-test-based P dose at either of these irrigation regimes gave statistically similar yields in both okra and pea as that obtained under 100% soil-test-based P dose at either of two irrigation regimes, thus indicating an economy of about 25% in soil-test-based P dose. Regarding nutrient harvest index in okra and pea, statistically similar values were registered with most nutrients under both AMF inoculated and non-AMF counterparts. In the case of okra, P harvest index was registered less by 3% with AMF inoculation; however, its magnitude increased by 3% in pea following AMF inoculation compared to non-AMF counterparts at similar levels of P and irrigation. At completion of two cycles of okra-pea system, AMF imbedded treatments did not alter available soil nutrient status significantly in comparison to non-AMF counterparts. Overall, current study suggests that practice of AMF inoculation has great potential in enhancing growth parameters for better productivity, fertilizer-P economy, and nutrient harvest efficiency in okra-pea production system in Himalayan acidic Alfisol.

Integrated Nutrient Management to Improve Finger Millet Productivity and Soil Conditions in Hilly Region of Eastern India

Studies on effective integrated nutrient management (INM) modules for marginal landholders of eastern India relying upon crops, such as finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn), are lacking. Thus, an experiment was conducted on farmers field for three years (2002−2004) at Malipungar watershed in the Koraput district of Odisha, India, to evaluate various INM combinations and select the most remunerative INM option relative to productivity and profitability of finger millet crop and soil properties. The seven INM treatments consisted of different combinations of Gliricidia green-leaf manure, farmyard manure (FYM), synthetic fertilizers, and bio-fertilizers and compared with farmers practice. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete-block design replicated three times. Yield and net returns from Gliricidia-amended plots were greater than those from the FYM-amended plots. Soil-moisture status during crop period and bulk density, soil pH, organic carbon (C), and phosphorus (P) at the end of the three-year experiment were comparable between Gliricidia-and FYM-amended plots. Residual amounts of N and K were significantly higher in the plots amended with Gliricidia. Overall, the treatment receiving 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), Gliricidia at 2.5 t ha−1, and 2.5 kg ha−1 each of Azotobactor and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) as soil inoculants (INM7) produced the highest grain yield (3.95 t ha−1), net returns (US

Resource Conserving Techniques for Improving Nitrogen-Use Efficiency

400 ha−1), and highest benefit:cost ratio (2.39). Year x INM interaction effects for growth parameters, such as shoots plant−1, dry matter plant−1, dry root weight plant−1, and straw yield were significant. The INM7 was significantly better than most of the other INM treatments for growth parameters and straw yield during two (2003 and 2004) out of three study years and hence was consistently better. Therefore, integrated use of 50% RDF, 2.5 t ha− 1 Gliricidia, and 2.5 kg ha−1 each of Azotobactor and PSB (INM7) is recommended for improving productivity of finger millet in eastern India.

Phytoremediation Mechanism in Indian Mustard ( Brassica juncea ) and Its Enhancement Through Agronomic Interventions

The use of nitrogen fertilisers has played an instrumental role in enhancing agricultural productions the world over including India. Currently, about 83 million tons N is used in agriculture globally. A large portion of applied N is lost through leaching, volatilisation and runoff, and only 50 % of applied N is assimilated by the crop plant. Recently, there have been serious concerns about environmental footprints of N fertilisers, particularly greenhouse gas emissions from the rice fields and escalating costs of fertilisers beyond farmers’ reach. To meet the growing need for N fertilisers due to the rise in food requirement for ever multiplying population on the one hand and an increasing environmental and atmospheric pollution on the other, improving nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) appears to be a viable solution. Certain resource conserving techniques, such as laser land levelling, zero or minimum tillage (save fuel), direct seeding, permanent or semi-permanent residue cover, new varieties that use plant nutrients more efficiently, furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB) technology, system of rice intensification (SRI), direct seeded rice (DSR), precision farming techniques, use of leaf colour chart (LCC), chlorophyll meter, GreenSeeker, etc. have been shown to increase crop yields and NUE. For example, the use of optical sensors like GreenSeeker, chlorophyll meter and FIRB saved 25–50 % N. Even laser levelling has been reported to increase NUE by 6–7 % in India. Hence the use of such resource conserving technologies should be facilitated and supported for the sustainability of agricultural production and the natural resource base (land and water).

Spring maize (Zea mays L.) response to different crop establishment and moisture management practices in north-west plains of India

The increasing heavy metal pollution in the agro-ecosystem has become a serious concern worldwide. These metals do not decay in the nature and become toxic to the plants, animals and human beings when exceed specific thresholds. Anthropogenic input of heavy metals in agricultural land includes industrial and agricultural disposal, waste incineration and urban effluent of wastewater. Phytoremediation, by using metal-accumulating plants like Brassica sp., including Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) for toxic metal removal from soil has been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. Phytoremediation is a cost effective and nondestructive, but the challenges in the fast extraction of heavy metals by Indian mustard include initial slow growth, ability to extract some particular metal only, poor bioavailability of heavy metals in soils and non-compartmentalization within plant parts. Addition of organic matter, organic chelates, soil amendments, adoption of suitable cropping systems, intercrops and fertilizer selection can enhance the phytoremediation capacity of Indian mustard. Growing Indian mustard with these agronomic interventions can augment the ability to absorb, uptake and concentrate heavy metal under contaminating soils.

Efficacy of vegetative barriers for rehabilitation of degraded hill slopes in eastern India

Maize cultivation for green cobs during the spring season is a remunerative proposition for the farmers in the north Indian plains. However, high evapo-transpiration demand of spring maize exerts considerable pressure on already depleting water resources. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted at GBPUA & T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India to determine the effect of rice residue mulch, earthing-up, alternate furrow irrigation and crop establishment methods on productivity, profitability and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of spring maize. Results revealed that application of rice straw mulch (6 t/ha) enhanced plant height, number of green leaves, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index and yield attributes. Reproductive stage set in advance in mulch treated plots compared to plots under other treatments. Green cob yield from mulched plot was the highest that was 37% higher over the flat planting alone. Broad bed planting and flat planting followed by earthing-up treatments produced the second and third highest cob yield, respectively. Planting on broad bed registered the highest IWUE (352.5 kg/ha-cm). Mulch treatment also earned higher net returns and B: C ratio than remaining treatments.