Sarmin Sultana

Crop Yields, Nutrient Uptake and Apparent Balances for Lentil-Mungbean-T. Aman Rice Cropping Sequence in Calcareous Soils

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) nutrition of the Lentil-Mungbean-T. Aman rice sequences (L-M-R) are important for increasing crop productivity and improving soil fertility. Field experiments on Lentil-Mungbean-T. Aman rice cropping sequence was conducted in calcareous soils of Madaripur, Bangladesh tomeasure the crop yields, nutrient uptake and apparent balances. Four fertilizer treatments were considered viz . absolute nutrient control (T 1 ); farmer’s practice (T 2 ); AEZ basis fertilizer application (T 3 ) and soil test basis fertilizer application (T 4 ). The treatments were compared in a randomized completely block design with three replications over two consecutive years. The average yields of lentil, mungbean and T. aman rice ranged from 675 to 1067 kg ha -1 , 1075 to 1801 kg ha -1 and 3049 to 4843 kg ha -1 , respectively showing T 4 as the best treatment. Soil test basis fertilizer application (T 4 ) exhibited the highest nutrients uptake by all tested crops. The apparent balance of N and K was negative; however it was less negative for T 2 and T 4 treatment. The apparent P balance was positive in T 2 , T 3 and T 4 but negative in T 1 . Positive S balance observed in T 3 and T 4 but negative in T 1 and T 2 . Zinc and B balance in the sequence was positive in case of T 3 and T 4 . Considering highest yield, gross margin and soil fertility have been recommended that the soil test basis fertilizer application is profitable for Lentil-Mungbean-T. Aman rice cropping sequence in calcareous soils of Bangladesh. The study clearly indicate a possibility for the re-adjustment of the N, P, K, S and micronutrients (Zn & B) fertilizer doses for the different rice-based cropping sequence in different agro-ecological zone of Bangladesh.