PERFORMANCE OF CARROT (Daucus carota L.) UNDER DIFFERENT INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN BER BASED CROPPING SYSTEM
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Date
2004
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ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
A study was undertaken on the performance of carrot (var. Early
Nantes) under different INM practices in ber-based cropping system in a
split-plot design replicated thrice during rabi season, 2003-04 at
Student’s Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
The effect of different organic manures viz., vermicompost, neem
cake, castor cake and farmyard manure in conjunction with inorganic
fertilizers besides seed treatment with biofertilizers (azatobacter and
phosphobacterium) was studied on growth, yield and quality of carrot
under different cropping situations in ber plantations i.e., underplanting,
intercropping and sole cropping, observing the changes in microclimatic
and physiological parameters. Effect of INM practices of carrot crop on
associated ber trees was also studied besides economic evaluation of the
cropping systems.
In general, cropping systems had a significant effect on the
performance of associated carrot crop. Sole carrot recorded maximum
root length, girth, dry and fresh weight except plant height which was
higher in underplanted crop. Similarly the root yield and quality of
carrot crop was superior in sole crop compared to intercropped and
underplanted carrot.
Among the different INM practices neem cake in combination with
half the recommended dose of NPK recorded maximum plant height, root
length, quality (carotene, sugars and TSS content) than other manures.
But root girth, fresh and dry weight of carrot was significantly higher
with castor cake in combination with half the recommended dose of NPK.
The micro climatic and physiological parameters of carrot crop were
also significantly affected by cropping systems, but the INM practices of
carrot had no effect. Maximum PAR availability, higher leaf temperature
lower relative humidity coupled with lower diffusive resistance and higher
transpiration rate was recorded in sole carrot, while the trend was reverse i.e.,
minimum in underplanted carrot and intermediatory in intercropped carrot.
The fruit yield of associated ber trees was significantly influenced by
the INM practices of carrot. Neem cake in combination with half the
recommended dose of NPK applied to carrot resulted in maximum fruit yield
of ber in underplanted situation.
The gross monitory returns were in general higher when carrot was
intercropped with ber followed by underplanting compared to sole carrot or
sole ber, irrespective of the INM practices adopted. But benefit-cost ratios
were higher for sole carrot. The Income Equivalent Ratios (IER) in ber-based
cropping system was greater than unity indicating advantage of either
underplanting or intercropping of carrot with ber over its sole cropping.
Maximum IER of 1.82 in underplanted carrot with neem cake in combination
with half of the recommended dose of NPK.
It is concluded that conjunctive use of organic manures (particularly
neem cake) with half the recommended dose of NPK and treating the seeds
with biofertilizers is highly productive when carrot is planted in ber as
intercrop besides its underplanting for effective utilization of available land in
the orchard and thereby maximizing economic returns on sustainable basis.
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Keywords
PERFORMANCE, CARROT, UNDER, DIFFERENT, INTEGRATED, NUTRIENT, MANAGEMENT, PRACTICES, BER, BASED, CROPPING, SYSTEM