Water economization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through irrigation methods and nitrogen management and their residual effect on maize (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2010
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
IARI, DIVISION OF AGRONOMY
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the rabi and summer season (October- July) of
2007-08 and 2008-09 on sandy loam soil with adequate drainage system at the Research Farm of the
Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The soil at the
experimental field was low in organic carbon, total and available N, medium in P and K, electrical
conductivity and alkaline in reaction. Experimental plots were arranged in a split plot design with
three replications. The field experiment was laid out to study the effect of irrigation methods and N
management on potato and their residual effect on maize yield. There were 24 treatment
combinations comprising two irrigation methods [M1- conventional furrow irrigation (CFI) and M2-
alternate furrow irrigation (AFI)] and three irrigation regimes (I1- 60 mm CPE, I2- 80 mm CPE and
I3- 100 mm CPE) in main plots and four N management levels (N1- 90 kg N by urea + 30 kg N by
FYM, N2- 120 kg N by urea, N3- 120 kg N by urea + 30 kg N by FYM and N4- 150 kg N by urea) in
sub plots. The observation recorded for potato and statistical assay revealed that the application of
water through conventional furrow irrigation proved significantly the higher growth parameters,
yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and available nutrient in soil, and the highest consumptive use
of water, rate of water use, water use efficiency, moisture extraction from 0-15 cm soil depth,
economics, over alternate furrow irrigation. Among the irrigation regimes, irrigation at 60 mm CPE
produced significantly the highest growth parameters, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and available
nutrients in soil, yield, and the highest consumptive use of water, rate of water use, moisture
extraction from top soil layer, economics over irrigation at 80 mm and 100 mm CPE either at
conventional or alternate furrow irrigation. Highest water use efficiency was recorded at 100 mm
CPE followed by at 80 mm and 60mm CPE. The effect of nitrogen management on growth, yield
components and yield was also significant. Significantly the highest growth parameters, yield
attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and available nutrients in soil and the highest consumptive use of
water, rate of water use, water use efficiency, moisture extraction from top soil layer and economics
were obtained with an application of 120 kg N (urea) + 30 kg N/ha by FYM and it were at par with
150 kg N/ha by urea. Residual effect of irrigation methods and regimes applied to potato on grain
and stover yield of maize was found non significant, whereas, its effect on nutrient uptake were
significant. Significant residual effect of N management treatments applied to potato was noticed on
grain and stover yield and nutrients uptake of maize. Greater residual N which was the result of 120
kg N (urea) + 30 kg N/ha by FYM applied in potato to be exhibited through the grain and stover
yield and nutrients uptake of maize crop was observed in both the years significantly and it was at
par with 150 kg N/ha by urea applied to potato. Higher values of computed residual and actual N
balance in soil were found with alternate furrow irrigation, whereas, net N balance in soil was higher
under conventional furrow irrigation. Among the irrigation regimes, irrigation at 60 mm CPE
resulted in the lowest computed, actual and net N balance in soil, because of its higher uptake by
crop and the same was the highest with 100 mm CPE. Lower net nitrogen balance was worked out at
120 kg N (urea) due to higher N uptake than the availability. Thus, irrespective of the fact that the
balance sheet of N was positive, there exists some amount of unaccountable N. Crop sequence of
potato- maize showed a gain in the soil N in two years of study. However, this sequence was
observed to have positive impact on soil N status. The present study envisages that irrigation
management treatments fail to carry forward their residual effects on the succeeding crop. Therefore,
it is advocated from the present study that effect of irrigation treatments be studied on individual
crop basis and later they may be summed up, if required.
Description
T-8553
Keywords
irrigation, potatoes, organic compounds, fungi, furrow irrigation, yields, irrigation methods, farmyard manure, crops, maize