EFFECT OF LONG TERM FERTILIZATION ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM
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Date
2017
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Publisher
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6
Abstract
Maize-wheat is the third most important cropping system in India (1.8 m ha) and
second most important in Jharkhand. Both the crops are fertilizer responsive and exhibit
full yield potential when supplied with adequate quantities of nutrients at proper time.
But poor economic resources of the Jharkhand farmers compel to go for imbalance
fertilizer use leading to deterioration of soil fertility and crop productivity. Considering
this fact, a long term experiment was started since 1983 at Birsa Agricultural University
Farm, Ranchi, on maize-wheat cropping system with different fertilizer level to find out
growth, productivity, economics, nutrient utilization and soil fertility. The present
investigation was part of this long term experiment started after 29th crop cycle during
2013-14 and continued for two consecutive years.
Experiment was laid out in partially confounded design with 18 treatments and
one control replicated four times. Treatments comprising of three levels of nitrogen: 40,
80 and 120 kg N ha-1, three levels of phosphorus: 0, 40 and 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 and two
levels of potassium: 0 and 40 kg K2O ha-1. Variety used for maize and wheat was Suwan
and K 9107 respectively. At the beginning (1983), experimental soil was sandy-loam in
texture having pH (6.4), available N (260 kg ha-1), available P (19.5 kg ha-1) and
available K (195 kg ha-1). However, before start of present investigation it varies
depending on the fertilizer level. Maximum reduction in pH (4.65) was observed in plot
receiving only nitrogen (N120P0K0 kg ha-1).
Result revealed that maize fertilized with N120P80K40 kg ha-1 produced maximum
grain (42.09 q ha-1) and stover (56.23 q ha-1) yield, net return (` 26,785 ha-1) and B:C
ratio (0.89) due mainly to maximum dry matter production (1143 g m-2), plant
population (54,372 ha-1), number of cob per plant (1.65), number of grains per cob (438)
and 100 grain weight (25.25 g).
Similarly, wheat raised with N120P80K40 kg ha-1 produced maximum grain (45.22
q ha-1) and straw (61.91q ha-1) yield, net return (` 40,611 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.29) owing
to high dry matter production (1316.46 g m-2), effective tillers (367 m-2), number of
grains per spike (41) and 1000-grain weight (45.38 g).
Maize-wheat cropping system, fertilized with N120P80K40 kg ha-1 to both the crops
in sequence also produced maximum maize equivalent yield (94.14 q ha-1), net return (`
67,396 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.09) along with sustaining the soil fertility with soil pH
(5.02), available N (328.61 kg ha-1), P (76.81 kg ha-1) and K (87.98 kg ha-1) without
much deteriorating the soil health. However, continuous application of only nitrogenous
fertilizer (N120P0K0 kg ha-1) for long term, not only deteriorate the soil health (pH 4.52,
available N 262.66, P 12.18, and K 106.08 kg ha-1) but also drastically reduced the crop
productivity.
On the basis of above findings it may be concluded that balance fertilization with
N120P80K40 kg ha-1 in long-term maize-wheat cropping system maintained maximum
individual crop yield (42.09 q ha-1 maize), (45.22 q ha-1 wheat) as well as system yield
(94.14 q ha-1 MEY) and gave profitable economy return of ` 26,785; 40,611 and 67,396
ha-1 and B:C ratio of 0.89, 1.29 and 1.09 for maize, wheat and maize-wheat cropping
system respectively.
Description
EFFECT OF LONG TERM FERTILIZATION ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM
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