S. Sudhishri

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.

Effects of conservation agriculture on crop productivity and water-use efficiency under an irrigated pigeonpea–wheat cropping system in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains

In search of a suitable resource conservation technology under pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan L.)–wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) on crop productivity and water-use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated during a 3-year study. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT) with planting on permanent narrow beds (PNB), PNB with residue (PNB + R), ZT with planting on permanent broad beds (PBB) and PBB + R. The PBB + R plots had higher pigeonpea grain yield than the CT plots in all 3 years. However, wheat grain yields under all plots were similar in all years except for PBB + R plots in the second year, which had higher wheat yield than CT plots. The contrast analysis showed that pigeonpea grain yield of CA plots was significantly higher than CT plots in the first year. However, both pigeonpea and wheat grain yields during the last 2 years under CA and CT plots were similar. The PBB + R plots had higher system WUE than the CT plots in the second and third years. Plots under CA had significantly higher WUE and significantly lower water use than CT plots in these years. The PBB + R plots had higher WUE than PNB + R and PNB plots. Also, the PBB plots had higher WUE than PNB in the second and third years, despite similar water use. The interactions of bed width and residue management for all parameters in the second and third years were not significant. Those positive impacts under PBB + R plots over CT plots were perceived to be due to no tillage and significantly higher amount of estimated residue retention. Thus, both PBB and PBB + R technologies would be very useful under a pigeonpea–wheat cropping system in this region.

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

Soil aggregation, carbon build up and root zone soil moisture in degraded sloping lands under selected agroforestry based rehabilitation systems in eastern India

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.