SOIL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF GROUNDNUT AS INFLUENCED BY INTEGRATED NUTRIENTMANAGEMENT UNDER RAINFED ALFISOLS
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Date
2017
Authors
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Publisher
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
Present investigation entitled ‘Soil health and productivity of groundnut
as influenced by integrated nutrient management under rainfed alfisols’ was
carried out for two consecutive kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Agricultural
Research Station, Ananthapuramu, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University,
Andhra Pradesh. The investigation comprised of two blocks one is under rainfed
condition and second is under protective irrigated situation. Experiment was laid
out in randomized block design, with three replications. The treatments comprised
of eleven different combinations of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen viz.,
Control (no organics and inorganics) (T1), recommended dose of fertilizer (T2), 50
per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through FYM (T3), 100 per
cent nitrogen through FYM (T4), 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent
nitrogen through leaf compost (T5), 100 per cent nitrogen through leaf compost
(T6), 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through sheep
manure (T7), 100 per cent nitrogen through sheep manure (T8), 100 per cent
nitrogen through sheep penning (T9), 100 per cent nitrogen through enriched
groundnut shells (T10) and 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen
through enriched groundnut shells (T11). The test variety of groundnut used in the
present investigation was ‘Kadiri-6’.
Different combinations of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen
exerted significant influence on the growth parameters, yield attributes, yield,
economic returns, soil physical properties, moisture content of soil, microbial load
and nutrient uptake of groundnut as well as post-harvest soil fertility status both
under rainfed and protective irrigation conditions.
Under rainfed condition, the tallest plants with largest leaf area and highest
dry matter production in groundnut were produced with the supply of 100 per cent
xx
N through sheep penning (T9) at all the stages of crop growth, which was at par
with 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through FYM (T3)
and recommended dose of fertilizer (T2), which was inturn, comparable with
supply of 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through leaf
compost (T5) under protective irrigation during both the years of study. All these
growth parameters were found to be at their lowest with control (T1), without
nutrient application at all the stages of observation.
Different combinations of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen failed
to exert a significant influence on days to 50 per cent flowering under both
farming situations. Number of branches plant-1 did not differ significantly due to
different combinations of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen under rainfed
situation. Whereas, under protective irrigation, supply of 100 per cent nitrogen
through sheep penning (T9) recorded higher number of branches plant-1
, which was
significantly superior to rest of the nutrient management practices tried.
The highest level of yield attributes viz., number of filled pods palnt-1
, 100
pod weight, 100 kernel weight, shelling percentage and the lowest number of ill
filled pods plant-1 were registered with the supply of 100 per cent of N through
sheep penning (T9), which was at par with 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50
per cent nitrogen through FYM (T3) and recommended dose of fertilizer (T2)
under rainfed condition, which was however comparable with supply of 50 per
cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through leaf compost (T5) under
protective irrigation. Non-supply of nutrients in control (T1) resulted in the
deflated stature of all the above said yield attributes.
Supply of 100 per cent of nitrogen through sheep penning (T9) recorded
significantly higher pod and haulm yield of groundnut, which was howe
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Under rainfed condition, supply of 100 per cent of N through sheep
penning (T9) recorded higher net returns in groundnut, which was however,
comparable with application of recommended dose of fertilizer (T2) and 50 per
cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through FYM (T3), which were
comparable among themselves. Under protective irrigation, the highest net returns
were realized with supply of 100 per cent of N through sheep penning (T9), which
was at par with recommended dose of fertilizer (T2) and the latter was intun
comparable with application of 50 per cent N through urea and 50 per cent
nitrogen through either FYM or leaf compost (T3 and T5) during the kharif, 2015.
The lowest gross and net returns were registered with control (T1) during both the
situations in kharif, 2014 and 2015.
The highest benefit-cost ratio was registered with supply of 100 per cent N
through sheep penning (T9), which was however comparable with recommended
dose of fertilizer (T2) under both situations except during second year under
protective irrigation, where it was significantly superior over rest of the nutrient
management practices tried.
Statistical disparity was not observed with respect to physical properties of
soil viz., bulk density and aggregate stability during the two consecutive years of
study both under rainfed and protective irrigated condition. However, numerically
and comparatively lower and higher values of bulk density and aggregate stability
were recorded with application of 100 per cent nitrogen through FYM (T4) and
100 per cent nitrogen through sheep penning (T9). Whereas, slightly higher and
lower values of bulk density and aggregate stability were observed with control
(T1) respectively.
Supply of 100 per cent N through organic manures viz., FYM, sheep
penning, leaf compost, sheep manure, enriched groundnut shells (T4, T9, T6, T8 and
T10) recorded significantly higher water holding capacity and infiltration rate over
substitution of 50 per cent N through urea with the above organic manures (T3, T5,
T7 and T11) and recommended dose of fertilizers (T2) both under rainfed and
protective irrigated condition. The deflated stature of above said parameters were
recorded with control (T1).
At all the stages of the crop growth, maximum values of moisture content
in the soil was recorded with supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through FYM (T4),
which was at par with application of 100 per cent nitrogen through sheep penning
(T9), leaf compost (T6), sheep manure (T8) and enriched groundnut shells (T10) i.e.,
where 100 per cent N was supplied through organics. However, it was comparable
with substitution of 50 per cent nitrogen through sheep manure (T7) during the
second year of investigation under both the situations. Control (T1) recorded the
minimum values of moisture content in the soil.
Under rainfed and protective irrigated condition, application of either
organics alone or in combination with inorganic sources of nitrogen has not shown
any statistical disparity on pH and EC of the soil after harvesting of the groundnut.
Post-harvest organic carbon content in the soil was comparable among the nutrient
management practices except control (T1), which recorded the lowest organic
carbon content.
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During two consecutive years of study, supply of 100 per cent nitrogen
through sheep penning (T9) recorded significantly higher number of colony
forming units of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes over rest of the nutrient
management practices tried after harvesting of the groundnut, while it was
recorded lowest with control plot (T1) both under rainfed and protective irrigated
situations.
During two consecutive years of experimentation, at all the stages of the
crop growth the highest nitrogen uptake of groundnut was registered with supply
of 100 per cent nitrogen through sheep penning (T9), which was in parity with
recommended dose of fertilizers (T2) under rainfed condition, which was inturn
comparable with 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen either
through leaf compost or FYM (T3 or T5) at all the stages of crop growth except at
30 DAS, where it was on par with recommended dose of fertilizers (T2) under
protective irrigation.
During two consecutive years of the study, at all the stages of crop growth,
maximum phosphorus uptake of groundnut was recorded with supply of 100 per
cent nitrogen through sheep penning (T9) under rainfed condition, which was
significantly superior over rest of the treatments tried. Whereas under protective
irrigation, it was comparable with application of either inorganic fertilizers (T2) or
substitution of 50 per cent nitrogen through FYM or leaf compost (T3 or T5) at
latter stages of crop growth i.e., at 90 DAS and at harvest. The highest potassium
uptake in groundnut was recorded with supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through
sheep penning (T9). Whereas, the lowest N, P and K was associated with control (T1).
Significantly higher post-harvest soil available nitrogen status was recorded
with supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through organic sources viz., FYM, sheep
penning, leaf compost, sheep manure and enriched groundnut shells (T4, T9, T6, T8
and T10) over rest of the nutrient management practices tried during kharif, 2014
and 2015 both under rainfed and protective irrigated situations. The post-harvest
soil available phosphorus recorded with supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through
sheep penning, leaf compost, enriched groundnut shells and sheep manure (T9 T6
T10 and T8) was comparable among themselves and significantly superior over rest
of the treatments. Supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through sheep penning (T9)
recorded maximum post-harvest soil available potassium, which was in parity with
application of 100 per cent nitrogen either through sheep manure (T8) or enriched
groundnut shells (T10). Whereas, the minimum values of post-harvest soil available
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were registered with control (T1).
In conclusion, the present study has revealed that there is ample scope for
enhancing the productivity and economic returns of groundnut as well as soil
health in rainfed alfisols with supply of 100 per cent nitrogen through sheep
penning or 50 per cent nitrogen through urea + 50 per cent nitrogen through FYM.
However, sheep penning practice is proved as most promising, economically
viable, environmentally safe and ecologically sustainable option for rainfed alfisols
of Scarce Rainfall Zone of Andhra Pradesh
Description
D5500
Keywords
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