Participatory Appraisal of Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System in Semi-Temperate Rice and Maize Based Cropping Systems of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Transcription

1 Thai Journal of Agricultural Science 2009, 42(3): Participatory Appraisal of Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System in Semi-Temperate Rice and Maize Based Cropping Systems of Jammu and Kashmir, India A. Kumar*, B.C. Sharma and V. Gupta Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu , J&K, India *Corresponding author. Abstract A field experiment with two predominant cropping systems, viz., rice (Oryza sativa)- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays)-wheat was carried out for three years ( to ) in participatory mode on farmer s fields in Jammu. s comprised recommended NPK, 5 t ha % NPK, 5 t ha % NPK along with In-situ green manuring Dhaincha +100 and 50% recommended NPK in rice-wheat cropping system whereas in maize-wheat cropping system instead of Green manuring, farmer s practice was taken as a treatment for comparison. The treatments Dhaincha (GM)+100%NPK, 100% NPK, 5 t ha % NPK and 5 t ha % NPK in rice-wheat cropping system gave 19.5, 14.5, 25.4 and 4.8% higher net returns over GM + 50% NPK. In maize-wheat system, the treatments 5 t ha % NPK, No FYM + 100% NPK and 5 t ha % recommended NPK gave 31.5, 19.0 and 9.5% higher net returns over farmer s practice, respectively. Use of FYM in combination with chemical fertilizers in rice-wheat and maize-wheat resulted in 50% saving of chemical fertilizers, as the productivity was comparable with 100% chemical fertilizers alone. In-situ green manuring in rice compared well with FYM with respect to crop yields at same level of chemical fertilizers and recorded highest benefit-cost ratio. Integrated plant nutrient supply (IPNS) system in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping system also improved soil fertility after 3 crop cycles. Keywords: rice-wheat, maize-wheat, cropping system, IPNS, yield, soil fertility Introduction Rice and maize based cropping in rainy season followed by wheat in winter are the two major cropping systems in foothills of Shivalik ranges of Jammu. These cropping systems need generous application of fertilizers to meet the needs of crops. Integrated plant nutrient supply system (IPNS) involving conjunctive use of chemical fertilizers and organic sources has great significance for improving crop productivity due to adequate availability of fertilizers. IPNS leads to soil and crop sustainability by balanced application of materials as these also supply small amounts of micronutrients to meet the crop needs which is also pre-requisite to increase fertilizer use-efficiency (Singh et al., 1999). Keeping above facts in view the present study was undertaken to find out the effect of IPNS on crop productivity and soil fertility in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping system in sub-temperate hill ecosystem of Jammu. Materials and Methods A field experiment was conducted in a participatory mode on cultivator s field on two cropping systems, viz., rice-wheat and maize-wheat for three consecutive years from to 2003-

2 126 A. Kumar et al. Thai Journal of Agricultural Science 04. The treatments applied to irrigated rice crop were T 1 : No FYM + 100% RDF, T 2 : 5 t ha % RDF, T 3 : 5 t ha % RDF, T 4 : In-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 100% RDF, T 5 : In-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 50% RDF; whereas in rainfed maize crop, T 4 and T 5 were replaced by the treatment normal farmer s practice (T 4 ) was taken for comparison. The recommended dose (100%) of fertilizers for irrigated rice and rainfed maize and wheat crops comprised of 100:50:25, 60:40:20 and 60:30:20 kg ha -1 of N, P and K 2 0, respectively. Whereas, in farmer s practice, the fertilizers dose was 60:0:0 kg N, P and K 2 0 ha -1 for both maize and wheat crops under rainfed conditions which has been the usual practice followed by the farmers in these locations. The experimental plot size was 500 m 2 and the experiment at individual farmer s field constituted 1-replication of randomized block design laid out at 5-locations both in District Udhampur and Rajouri for rice and maize based cropping systems, respectively. The transplanting of rice was done during Ist fortnight of July; sowing of maize was done with the onset of premonsoon or first monsoon showers but before 25 th June and the wheat crop was sown with preserved moisture or with the onset of winter rains (almost in 2 nd fortnight of November). These are the normal crop establishment practices prevalent in this region. The experiment was laid out at the same site each year. Net returns and benefit cost ratio for each treatment was worked out on the basis of market value of inputs and products. Soil fertility changes with respect to ph, organic carbon; available N, P and K were worked out after each crop cycle at both the sites. In rice-wheat cropping system, the soil texture varied from clay loam to loam, having ph , Organic carbon %, available N, P and K were in the range of , and kg ha -1, respectively. Whereas in maize-wheat system, the soil was sandy clay loam to clay loam having ph , organic carbon % available N, P and K were in the range of , and kg ha -1, respectively. Results and Discussion Rice-Wheat System Crop productivity under this system had little seasonal variation (Table 1). Three years data of rice crop indicated that maximum mean grain yield of the crop (4,246 kg ha -1 ) was recorded in treatment where 5 t ha % NPK (T 2 ) was applied closely followed by In-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 100% NPK (T 4 ) which however recorded significantly higher grain yield of rice as compared to all other treatments during each year. In case of wheat crop, statistical similar values of grain yield with the treatments where 100% NPK was applied in combination with 5 t ha -1 and in-situ incorporation of Dhaincha (GM). However, significantly lower grain yield was recorded where 50% NPK was applied either in combination with 5 t ha -1 or where in-situ Dhaincha crop was grown for green manuring. The treatment In-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 50% NPK produced lower grain yield than all other treatments. The net returns were 14.5, 25.4, 4.8 and 19.5 per cent higher with 100% NPK, FYM 5 t ha % NPK, FYM 5 t ha % NPK and in-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 100% NPK over the treatment in-situ Dhaincha (GM) + 50% NPK. Hedge and Pandey (1989) reported beneficial effect of cropping system where organic sources were used. Mehta (2004) and Singh et al. (1999) have also reported similar findings for wheat based cropping system. Integrated plant nutrient supply treatments conspicuously improved the soil fertility parameters like organic carbon, available N, P and K (Table 3). Application of 100% NPK resulted in greater build up of nutrients in soil as compared to 50% NPK addition where the soil nutrient availability in some cases declined below the initial value in rice-wheat cropping system. Maize-Wheat System The yearly variations in yield performance of crop were only seasonal and were not large in rainy as well as in winter seasons (Table 2) and in general the yield increased slightly with each successive year. yield of three years showed that significantly highest grain yield of maize

3 Vol. 42, No. 3, 2009 Integrated plant nutrient supply system rice and maize based cropping systems 127 Table 1 Effect of IPNS on yield and net returns under rice-wheat cropping system at Udhampur. T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 T 5 CD (P=0.05) Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Total productivity of rice-wheat system (kg ha -1 ) Percent increase over T Note: Rs denotes rupees in Indian currency; 1 US $ (US dollar) = Rs

4 128 A. Kumar et al. Thai Journal of Agricultural Science Table 2 Effect of IPNS on yield and net returns under maize-wheat cropping system at Rajouri. T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 CD (P=0.05) Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) Benefit:Cost ratio Total productivity of maize -wheat system (kg ha -1 ) Percent increase over Percent increase over farmer s practice Note: Rs denotes rupees in Indian currency; 1 US $ (US dollar) = Rs

5 Vol. 42, No. 3, 2009 Integrated plant nutrient supply system rice and maize based cropping systems 129 (3,623 kg ha -1 ) and wheat (2897 kg ha -1 ) were obtained when 100% NPK was applied along with 5 t ha -1 FYM followed by the treatments 5 t ha % NPK and No FYM +100% NPK. The farmer s practice produced significantly lower grain yield of both maize and wheat crops as compared to all other treatments. The net returns were 19.0, 31.5 and 9.5 % more in No FYM + 100% NPK, 5 t ha % NPK and 5 t ha % NPK over farmer s practice. There was a positive trend in yield of both the crops with incorporation of FYM along with chemical fertilizers. This effect may be due to more solubilization of added organic P through FYM by soil micro flora. Thus more yields could be obtained with continued incorporation of FYM in conjunction with chemical fertilizers, which maintained the soil fertility status (Table 4) and resulted in the sustainability of the system. Similar were the findings of Singh et al. (2004) and Hedge and Diwedi (1992). Table 3 Effect of IPNS on soil fertility changes after each rice-wheat crop cycle at Udhampur. CD T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 T 5 (P=0.05) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) Initial values: ph = , OC= %, available N = kg ha -1, available P = kg ha -1 and available K kg ha -1 ; NS = not determined.

6 130 A. Kumar et al. Thai Journal of Agricultural Science Table 4 Effect of IPNS on soil fertility changes after each rice-wheat crop cycle at Udhampur. T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 CD (P=0.05) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph NS Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) ph Organic carbon (%) Available N (kg ha -1 ) Available P (kg ha -1 ) Available K (kg ha -1 ) Initial values: ph = , OC= %, available N = kg ha -1, available P = kg ha -1 and available K kg ha -1 ; NS = not determined. Applications of FYM or in-situ green manuring in conjunction with chemical fertilizers in ricewheat and maize-wheat cropping systems gave more yields and net returns than the 100% recommended NPK fertilizers. Rice-wheat system was more remunerative than maize-wheat cropping system. Integrated plant nutrient supply in both system improved soil fertility appreciably (Tables 3 and 4) but there was not much depletion of nutrients below the initial values in farmer s practice and 50% NPK treatments, which might have happened due to inherent nutrient supply from soil to the system.

7 Vol. 42, No. 3, 2009 Integrated plant nutrient supply system rice and maize based cropping systems 131 References Hedge, D.M. and B.S. Diwedi Nitrogen management in rice-wheat cropping system in India. Fertilizer News, 37: Hedge, D.M. and R.K. Pandey Twentieth Asian Rice Farming Systems. Working Group Meeting held on 27 October at Bogor, Indonesia. Singh, R.P., M.C. Mundra and S.C. Gupta Response of integrated nutrient management in wheat based cropping sequences. Crop Research 18: Singh, B.P., M.C. Mundra, S.C. Gupta and R.P. Singh Integrated nutrient management in predominant cropping systems in Haryana through participatory approach. Indian Journal of Agronomy 49: Mehta, S Effect of integrated nutrient supply on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivaum). Annals of Agricultural Research New Series 25: Manuscript received 25 April 2009, accepted 30 October 2009 Now online at