Impact of drip fertigation on arecanut cocoa system in humid tropics of India

Transcription

1 DOI 1.17/s Impt of rip fertigtion on renut oo system in humi tropis of Ini S. Sujth Rvi Bht Reeive: 27 July 212 / Aepte: 17 Novemer 212 Ó Springer Siene+Business Mei Dorreht 212 Astrt A 5-yer fiel tril ws onute on lterite soil to evlute the effets of orgni n inorgni fertigtions in renut sole n renut oo ln use systems t Vittl, Ini. Arenut registere similr yiel levels in sole n renut oo ropping situtions (3,22 3,117 kg h -1 ). Fertigtion of 75 % NPK, vermiompost extrt (VCE) 2 % N n VCE (1 n 2 % N)?25 % NPK registere the sme yiel levels (3,29 3,375 kg h -1 ). Dry en yiel of oo ws t pr with fertigtion of 75 % NPK n 2 % N VCE? 25 % NPK ( kg h -1 ). 75 % NPK inrese the yiel of oo y 52 % over VCE lone. The proutivity per unit re (kg h -1 ) ws signifint n higher y 12 % in renut oo system (3,45) thn renut sole (3,9). Proutivity ws similr to fertigtion of 75 % NPK, 2 % N VCE n VCE (1 or 2 % N)? 25 % NPK (3,316 3,665 kg h -1 ). Lef nutrient sttus of renut n oo inite lower levels of N n K n ove norml levels of C, Mg n mironutrients. The results inite tht rip S. Sujth (&) Rvi Bht Centrl Plnttion Crops Reserh Institute, Regionl Sttion, Vittl , Ini e-mil: s_sujth68@reiffmil.om Present Aress: Rvi Bht Division of Crop Proution, Centrl Plnttion Crops Reserh Institute, Ksrgo , Ini fertigtion inreses the proutivity, ut preision pplition of N n K is require for sustining the yiels. Keywors Arenut Coo Drip fertigtion Vermiompost extrt Proutivity Lef nutrient sttus Introution Arenut (Are tehu L.) n oo (Theorom o L.) re the two mjor sh rops sustining millions of people glolly. Aout 16 million people re epenent on renut inustry for their livelihoo in Ini (Rvi et l. 27). The Interntionl Coo Orgniztion estimte tht pproximtely 14 million people re iretly involve in oo proution (ICCO 23). The ultivtion of renut is minly onfine to Southest Asi with Ini ounting for mximum re. In Ini, it is ultivte in.38 million hetres with proution of.47 million tonnes (GOI 211). It is essentilly rop of smll n mrginl holers with low proutivity (1,22 kg h -1 ). Glolly, oo is ultivte in 8.92 m h with proution of 4.23 m tonnes n proutivity of 474 kg h -1 (FAO 21). In Ini, it is ultivte in 46,318 h s omponent rop in renut, oonut n oil plm plnttions with proution of 12,954

2 tonnes n proutivity of 38 kg h -1 (GOI 211). The proutivity of oth the rops is very low euse of severl rop/soil onstrints n improper mngement prties (Rvi et l. 27, 212). It is impertive to opt multispeies ropping system pproh to inrese the yiel potentil per unit re, s there is little sope for horizontl expnsion of the re uner huge popultion pressure in eveloping ountries for griulture n evelopmentl tivities (urniztion n inustriliztion). It is neessry to grow vlue-e n export-oriente interrops in this er of tre lierliztion (Sujth n Rvi 21, Sujth et l. 211). Coo is foun to e omptile interrop in oonut/renut plnttions. The mirolimte existing in renut is ongenil for oo. Ln Equivlent Rtio of renut oo system n e inrese to 1.74 giving 74 % yiel vntge over sole renut (Blsimh 29). It is vntgeous to grow oo t sping of 2.7 m m in renut with optimum nutrition n irrigtion t 1 % ET (Sujth et l. 211). The review of ropping system reserh in renut lerly estlishe the importne of inlusion of oo s omponent rop for improve proutivity, profitility n soil fertility (Rvi n Sujth 211; Sujth et l. 211). Provision of optiml she is neessry for enhne oo iomss proution (Beer et l. 1998; Is et l. 27, ), n 5 % is very iel for optimum yiels (Rvi 22). Irrigtion n nutrition re the two most importnt ftors for inresing the proutivity in renut n oo (Rvi 22; Rvi n Sujth 24) ue to huge iomss proution of t h -1 in renut oo system t ifferent ges. Annul inrements in iomss or net primry proutivity rnges from 1,38 2,66 kg h -1 in oo n 3,34 7,11 kg h -1 in renut (Blsimh 21). The ontriution of fertilizers for 4 6 % yiel inrese in severl rops hs een emphsize (Stewrt et l. 25). High ost n srity, nutrient imlne n soil iity re the prolems ssoite with the use of minerl fertilizers in tropil ountries. This le to reent interest in the use of griulturl wstes s nutrient soure in rop proution. Bulkiness, low nutrient qulity n lte minerliztion were the ottleneks to the sole use of orgni mnures for rop proution. Clerly,new pprohes for irrigtion n nutrient mngement re require tht will reue oth wter onsumption n etrimentl environmentl effets. Miro-irrigtion pproh inreses the yiel of renut n oo with 45 % wter sving (Aul Hris et l. 1999; Rvi n Sujth 24). Drip fertigtion is very iel for renut s it resulte in sustntil yiel inrese (Rvi et l. 27), soil fertility improvement (Rvi n Sujth 29) n reue ost of proution (Sujth et l. 2; Rvi n Sujth 26). The orgni wstes from renut n oo, whih otherwise hs no use, n e effiiently onverte to vermiompost (Chowpp et l. 1999). Orgni mtter reyling in renut se ropping system reues fertilizer requirement of eh omponent rop to 2/3r of the reommene ose (Rvi n Sujth 27). Long term pplition of vermiompost sustine yiel levels of renut t 2,7 kg h -1 ompre to 3,1 kg h -1 with minerl fertilizers (CPCRI 211) n 3,5 kg h -1 with rip fertigtion (Rvi et l. 27). Lehtes erive from vermiomposting re regre s enefiil, n n e use s liqui fertilizers ue to high onentrtion of plnt nutrients (Gutierrez-Mieli et l. 28; Tej et l. 28). Thus, it ws ontemplte to pply fresh vermiompost extrt (VCE) through rip irrigtion in this stuy to inrese nutrient use effiieny n to ountert soil/rop onstrints. With this kgroun, the present stuy ws plnne to ssess the impt of rip fertigtion of inorgni fertilizers n VCE lone n in omintion on renut oo interropping system n sole renut. Further, the lef nutrient sttus of renut n oo ws ssesse to know whether VCE n meet the nutrient emns of oth the rops. Mterils n methos Detils out experimentl site The investigtion ws onute t the Centrl Plnttion Crops Reserh Institute, Regionl Sttion, Vittl, Krntk, Ini (12 15 N ltitue n E longitue, 91 m ove se level) uring Deemer 27 to Deemer, 211. The verge nnul rinfll t this ple over lst 3 yers ws 3,67 mm, whih ws istriute over 12 ys yer. The men temperture rnge from 21 C (minimum) to 36 C (mximum), n the verge reltive humiity vrie etween 61 n 94 %. The totl rinfll of the experimentl lotion vrie from 3,188 to

3 3,952 mm uring The pn evportion vrie from 3.6 to 4.9 mm uring Deemer to My. The soil of the experimentl site is sny ly lom (lterite) with ph, 2. % orgni ron, 5 1 mg kg -1 P n 5 15 mg kg -1 K t 3 m soil epth. The soil is well-rine eep lterite omprising 5 % sn, 14 % silt n 36 % ly t 6 m soil epth. The ulk ensity of soil is 1.61 g m -3 n the fiel pity is %. Experimentl etils The plnttion ws estlishe in Deemer 1995 y plnting 1-yer-ol renut seelings (v. Mohitngr) in 2,93 m 2 re t sping of 2.7 m m. Drip fertigtion experiment ws onute from Deemer 1996 to My, 26 in this plnttion. Nutrients were not pplie uring June, 26 to Novemer, 27 to nullify the effets of previous tretment. Covrine nlyses of yiel t of 26 n 27 were one with oth verge n iniviul yiel t of The sme ws not signifint initing lerly the sene of impt of previous tretment. Grfte oo (vriety VTLCC-1) ws plnte in the existing 12-yer-ol renut plnttion in Otoer, 26. Coo ws plnte s mixe rop t sping of 2.7 m m in renut plnttion. During the first n seon yers of plnting, grfte seelings were mintine y giving struturl pruning llowing jorquette with 3 5 fn rnhes t m height. From the thir yer onwrs, mintenne pruning ws one every yer to give tree n umrell shpe. Require reommene prties were followe for oth the rops. Boreux mixture (1 %) ws sprye on unhes of renut twie every yer t 45-y intervl uring monsoon seson (June Septemer) to prevent fruit-rot iniene use y Phytopthor plmivor. Reylle iomss from oo ws reore every yer. Tretment etils The present experiment ws li out in split plot esign with three replitions in Deemer 27. Eh tretment onsiste of 12 renut plms n six oo trees s net plot. Coo nnot e grown s sole rop. The min plots omprise two systems, viz., sole renut n renut oo ropping system. The su-plots inlue six nutritionl tretments, viz., ontrol? Orgni mtter reyling (OMR) through vermiompost, 75 % reommene NPK, vermiompost extrt (VCE) 1 % of N equivleny, VCE 2 % of N, VCE 1 % of N? 25 % NPK n VCE 2 % of N? 25 % NPK. In renut n oo, the fertilizer ose is pplie per plm/tree sis n not on unit re sis. The reommene fertilizer ose is 1:18:117 g N: P: K plm -1 yer -1 for oth renut n oo grown on lterite soils (Rvi 22; Rvi n Sujth 24). The nutrients were pplie in the tive root zone re of plm/tree sin, n ompetition for nutrients etween renut n oo is unlikely t top soil lyers. The fertilizer ose for oo is the sme s for renut. In the first yer of oo plnting, 1/3r of fertilizer level ws pplie. Erlier stuies inite tht the nutrient requirement of renut is the sme in sole or renut oo ropping sitution, n the present tretments were fixe on the sis of results of severl long-term stuies t this institute (Rvi n Sujth 24; Rvi et l. 27). The rip fertigtion system onsiste of one 5-L tnk, fertilizer tnk, sn filter, ventury, sreen filter n two pressure guges. One lterl line ws provie for eh tretment with vlve to ontrol the tretment pplition. The rop ws rip irrigte t 1 % E pn uring post monsoon seson. Two emitters of 8 L hr -1 ishrge rte were ple 6 m wy from the se of the plm on two sies. Ure (46 % N), Dimmonium phosphte (DAP, 18 % N n 21 % P) n Murite of potsh (MOP, 5 % K) were use s soures of N, P n K fertilizers. The DAP ws soke in wter n fter softening, it ws mixe with ure n MOP just efore pplition. A ventury ws use to injet the fertilizer solution into the min line of rip system fter llowing the solution to pss through sreen filter. Every yer, the fertilizer n VCE were pplie in 21 split oses t 1-y frequeny from Deemer to My to oth renut n oo. The quntities of fertilizers n VCE pplie to renut were the sme in oth ropping situtions. Referene rop evpo-trnspirtion (ET ) ws lulte on ily sis using moifie Penmn metho (Doorenos n Pruitt 1977). The tul evpo-trnspirtion ws estimte y multiplying referene evpo-trnspirtion with rop oeffiient vlues for ifferent yers. The evportion t were ollete from USWB Clss An open pn evporimeter of meteorologil oservtory situte 2 m wy

4 from the experimentl site. The estimte rop oeffiient vlues onsiere for lulting wter requirement were for young renut plms n for ering plms uring Deemer to My. The sme rop oeffiient vlues were opte for oo lso. Preprtion of vermiompost extrt (VCE) For preprtion of VCE, queous extrts were prepre y mixing fresh vermiompost ontining worms with irrigtion wter t rtio of 1:1 n store overnight in ement tnk onstrute ner the fertilizer tnk. The VCE ws ollete from the tnk iretly into fertilizer tnk n llowe to pss through the sreen filter n the rip system. Vermiompost ws proue y olleting fllen renut leves from the stuy site s per the proeure stnrize y Chowpp et l. (1999). The VCE n irrigtion wter were nlyse t regulr intervls. The nutrient omposition of vermiompost, VCE n irrigtion wter re presente in Tle 1. Quntifition of yiel The kernel yiels (KYs) of 27 n 28 were not onsiere in this stuy to nullify the impt of previous tretment n in turn use s pre-experimentl yiels. Hrvesting of renut ws spre over perio of 6 months from Otoer to Mrh. Ripe nuts Tle 1 Nutrient omposition of vermiompost, VCE n irrigtion wter Nutrient Nutrient ontent (mg kg -1 ) Vermiompost Vermiompost extrt (VCE) Irrigtion wter N 2. % P.6 % K.9 % C 1.9 % Mg.65 % Fe 4, Mn 52 9 ND Zn Cu NO 3 N were hrveste s n when rey n rie to 8 % moisture fter reoring fresh weight. Drie nuts were e-huske, n kernel weight ws reore for omputing the yiel. The flowering in oo initite in 27 n the yiel of 28 were not onsiere for rwing ny inferene. Hrvesting of oo ws one throughout the yer. Coo yiel ws reore s fresh po yiel, wet en yiel n ry en yiel (DBY). The yiel of oo ws onverte to renut kernel equivlent yiel for sttistil nlysis. The kernel equivlent yiel of oo ws estimte using the following formul: Kernel equivlent yiel of oo ¼ Yiel of oo kg h 1 Prie of oo Rs: kg 1 Prie of renut kernel Rs: kg 1 During , the pries of renut kernel n oo ry ens were the sme (Rs. 15 kg -1 equivlent to USD 3). System proutivity of renut oo system ws otine y ing the KY of renut to the kernel equivlent yiel of oo. Lef n soil smpling in renut n oo Lef smples were ollete from the mile portion of the 4th n 6th leves seprtely for nlysis. As the nutrient onentrtions in the 4th n 6th leves were foun to e similr, the men of two leves ws onsiere. Lef smples were lene with tp wter followe y istille wter, ir rie, pke in rown pper gs, oven rie t 6 C to onstnt weight n groun. The groun smples were kept in lelle utter pper gs for further nlysis. Mture leves in oo (usully the seon or thir lef of the lst mturing flush) were ollete for nutrient nlysis. Soil smples were ollete from renut n oo sins on ll four sies n mixe to get representtive smple. Soil smples were ollete from 3 n 3 6-m soil epth t 4 5 m wy from the se of the renut/oo tree uring the month of My. Soil smples of 2-mm frtion were use for nlysis. Soil n plnt nlysis Soil n lef nutrient nlyses were one using stnr proeures (Jkson 1973 n Piper 1966, respetively). The lef smples were nlyse for totl

5 N using miro-kjelhl igestion metho (Jkson 1973). The powere plnt smples were igeste in 3:1 nitri perhlori i mixture for totl P, K n mironutrient estimtions. Totl P ws etermine y vnomolyte metho (Piper, 1966). Estimtions of K, C, Mg n mironutrients like Cu, Zn, Fe n Mn were performe using Atomi Asorption Spetrophotometer (AAS). Dt nlysis Sttistil nlysis ws one using stnr nlysis of vrine (ANOVA) tehnique. The yiel n nutrient t of renut were sujete to split plot nlysis of vrine with three replitions using MSTATC. For ompring the yiel levels of ifferent fertigtion levels in the two ln use systems, the yiel of renut sole n system proutivity of renut oo were sttistilly nlyse in split plot esign. For nlysis of oo t, simple rnomize lok esign (RBD) ws use onsiering t for eh tree s one replition. Results Yiel of renut n oo The pre-experimentl yiel of renut ws not signifintly influene euse of ln use system n fertigtion in The ovrine nlysis lso showe tht there ws no impt of previous tretments on the present stuy. Poole t of 4 yers revele tht yers n fertigtion tretments signifintly influene the KY of renut (Tle 2). Among the yers of the stuy, signifintly higher yiel levels of renut were registere in 211 (3,544 kg h -1 ) n 29 (3,226 kg h -1 ) thn in 21 (2,652 kg h -1 ). Arenut registere similr yiel levels in sole n renut oo ropping situtions (3,22 3,117 kg h -1 ). Yiel levels mong 75 % NPK, VCE 2 % N, VCE 1 % of N? 25 % NPK n VCE 2 % of N? 25 % NPK were t pr (3,29 3,375 kg h -1 ). Similrly, yiel levels mong OMR, 1 % N VCE n 1 % of N VCE?25 % NPK were not signifintly ifferent mong themselves. Tle 2 Influene of rip fertigtion with inorgni fertilizers n VCE on kernel yiel of renut (KY) n ry en yiel of oo (DBY) in kg h -1 Yers System (S) Fertigtion (F) Men LSD (5 %) OMR 75 % NPK 1 % N VCE 2 % N VCE 1 % N VCE? 25 % NPK 2 % N VCE? 25 % NPK 28 KY (Sole) S : NS KY (System) F : Men S 9 F:NS 29 KY (Sole) S : NS KY (System) F : Men S x F : NS DBY -Coo F : NS 21 KY (Sole) S : NS KY (System) F : 479 Men S 9 F: NS DBY -Coo F : NS 211 KY (Sole) S : NS KY (System) F : 671 Men S 9 F:NS DBY -Coo F: 11 Poole KY (Sole) S : NS KY (System) F : 389 Men (28 211) S 9 F:NS Y: 392 DBY -Coo (29 211) F : 64.7 Y : 63.6

6 Proutivity (kg h -1 ) Arenut sole Arenut-oo Poole(29-11) Yers () Proutivity (kg h -1 ) OMR 75% NPK 1% N VCE 2% N VCE 1% N VCE + 25% NPK 2% N VCE + 25% NPK Poole(29-11) Yer () Fig. 1 Proutivity of renut sole n renut oo system ompute per unit re per unit time (LSD (5 %) for yers: 379). Brs with sme letters o not iffer signifintly Poole nlysis of 3-yer t inite tht ry en yiel (DBY) of oo ws signifintly influene ue to fertigtions with NPK n VCE (Tle 2). Yer-wise vrition in DBY of oo ws signifint n showe inresing tren uring The DBY (kg h -1 ) level ws signifintly higher in 211 (314) thn those in 29 n 21 (22 n 227, respetively). DBY of oo ws t pr with fertigtions of oth 75 % NPK n 2 % N VCE? 25 % NPK (291 n 335 kg h -1, respetively) n signifintly more uring OMR, with 1 %. Influene of ln use system on proutivity. Influene of fertigtion tretments on proutivity N VCE n 1 % N VCE? 25 % NPK. Fertigtion of 75 % NPK inrese the DBY of oo y 65 % over ontrol (OMR). Proutivity per unit re The influene of ln use system n fertigtion on the proutivity per unit re per unit time is epite in Fig. 1. The yer-wise vrition in proutivity per unit re ws signifint. Proutivity (kg h -1 ) ws higher in 211 (373) thn in 29 (3339) n 21

7 (2768). Poole t of 3 yers revele tht the proutivity per unit re ws signifintly higher in renut oo system (345 kg h -1 ) thn in renut sole (3,9 kg h -1 ). This implies tht there ws 12 % inrese in yiel per unit re per unit time espite initil ering stge of oo. The proutivity inrese y 4 % in 29, 3 % in 21 n 6.5 % in 211. Fertigtion with 75 % NPK, 2 % N VCE, 2 % N VCE? 25 % NPK n 1 % N VCE? 25 % NPK registere sttistilly similr proutivity levels (3,316 3,665 kg h -1 ). Averge proutivity with OMR ws less (2,876 kg h -1 ) thn the fertigtion tretments. Lef nutrient sttus of renut The influene ftors of ifferent tretments on lef nutrient sttus of renut in ifferent yers re epite in Figs. 2 n 3. The lef N ontent ws signifintly influene ue to fertigtion tretments, ut not ue to yers n ln use system (Fig. 2). OMR mintine signifintly higher lef N ontent (2.62 %) thn with VCE pplition lone ( %). Lef P ontent (%) vrie signifintly mong yers, ln use systems n fertigtion tretments. Lef P inrese from.2 % in 29 to.25 % in 211. Arenut registere higher P (.24 %) in sole ropping sitution thn in system (.22 %). Lef P ws the lowest with fertigtion of VCE lone (.21 %) ompre with other tretments ( %). Ln use system showe signifint effet on lef K with sole rop registering higher K (.99) thn renut oo system (.86). The onentrtions of lef C n Mg were not ffete y oth ln use system n fertigtion, while their effets over the yers were signifint (Figs. 2, 3). Lef C inrese rnging from.59 to.88 % n lef Mg from.19 to.25 % uring Lef Fe onentrtion signifintly inrese from 154 to 318 mg kg -1 uring (Fig. 3). Arenut oo system h signifint impt of lef Fe ontent (279 mg kg -1 ) ompre with sole renut (194 mg kg -1 ). Mngnese onentrtion in renut lef ws signifintly influene ue to yers, ln use system n fertigtion (Fig. 3). Lef Mn ws nerly oule uring Mngnese onentrtion in lef tissue of renut ws higher in renut oo system (176 mg kg -1 ) thn in sole renut (116 mg kg -1 ). Applition of VCE lone inrese lef Mn onentrtion ( ) signifintly over other fertigtion tretments ( ). The lef Cu in renut lso vrie signifintly ue to fertigtion tretments. The yer-wise vrition in lef Cu ws signifint with inrese in lef Cu from 2.5 in 29 to 14.2 in 211. Though yers n ln use system showe signifint effet on the lef Zn onentrtion in renut, no efinite tren ws notie exept tht lef Zn inrese sustntilly uring Lef Zn onentrtion ws signifintly lower with 75 % NPK fertigtion thn with fertigtion of VCE. Lef nutrient sttus of oo Lef nutrient sttuses of oo in ifferent yers re epite in Fig. 4. The signifint reution in N onentrtion from 1.77 % in 21 to 1.56 % in 211 inite the higher N emn of oo. Lef N onentrtion ws t pr mong fertigtion tretments exept in 1 % N VCE? 25 % NPK. Lef P ontent ws high (.2.29 %) in oth yers. Lef K (%) inrese signifintly from 1.8 in 21 to 1.52 in 211. Yers influene signifintly lef C, whih ws 1.84 % in 21 n 1.52 % in 211. Yers signifintly influene lef Mg, whih vrie etween.5 % in 211 n.67 % in 21. Among mironutrients, lef Mn ws very high in oth yers (Fig. 4). The lef Cu in oo ws influene ue to fertigtion in oth yers. However, poole t showe signifint vrition mong yers. Like in renut, yers showe huge n signifint vrition in lef Zn of oo. Lef Zn showe signifint vrition ue to fertigtion with VCE registering higher Zn thn NPK pplition. Reylle iomss in oo The reylle iomss in oo, whih inlues prune iomss n litter fll, is shown in Fig. 5. Yer-wise vrition in proution of reylle iomss ( kg tree -1 ) ws not signifint. Fertigtion of 75 % NPK n VCE 2 % N? 25 % NPK proue signifintly higher iomss thn OMR n VCE pplitions lone.

8 Fig. 2 Nutrient onentrtion in renut lef s influene y system n fertigtion. (LSD (5 %) for yers N: NS, P:.18, K: NS, C:.136). Brs with sme letters o not iffer signifintly. T1-OMR through vermiompost, T2-75 % reommene NPK, T3-Vermiompost extrt (VCE) 1 % of N equivleny, T4-VCE 2 % of N, T5-VCE 1 % of N? 25 % NPK, T6-VCE 2%ofN? 25 % NPK P (%) N (%) Poole Ln use system.12.6 K (%) Poole Ln use system.3 C (%) Poole Ln use system Poole Ln use system

9 Agroforest Syst Fig. 3 Nutrient onentrtion in renut lef s influene y system n fertigtion (LSD (5 %) for yers Mg :.9, Fe: 41.7 Mn: 22.8, Zn: 1.8, Cu:.96). Brs with sme letters o not iffer signifintly. T1-OMR through vermiompost, T2-75 % reommene NPK, T3- Vermiompost extrt (VCE) 1 % of N equivleny, T4-VCE 2 % of N, T5-VCE 1 % of N? 25 % NPK, T6-VCE 2%ofN? 25 % NPK Fe (mg kg -1 ) Mg (%) Mn (mg kg -1 ) Poole Ln use system e e Poole Ln use system Cu (mg kg -1 ) Poole Ln use system Poole Ln use system Zn (mg kg -1 ) Poole Ln use system

10 N (%) Fe (mg kg -1 ) Poole Yer Poole Yer P (%) Mn (mg kg -1 ) C (%) K (%) Poole Yer Poole Yer Zn (mg kg -1 ) Cu (mg kg -1 ) Poole Yer T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T Poole Yer Poole Yer Poole Yer Mg (%) Poole Yer Nutrient Men vlue LSD (5%) Poole for yers N P K C Mg Fe Mn Zn Cu

11 Fig. 4 Lef nutrient onentrtion in oo s influene y fertigtion. Brs with sme letters o not iffer signifintly. T1-OMR through vermiompost, T2-75 % reommene NPK, T3-Vermiompost extrt (VCE) 1 % of N equivleny, T4-VCE 2 % of N, T5-VCE 1 % of N? 25 % NPK, T6-VCE 2%ofN? 25 % NPK Disussion The lterite soil region in humi tropis of Ini is well known for lrge-sle ultivtion of plnttion rops espeilly renut. Cropping systems n rip fertigtion re iel tehnologies to ountert soil n rop onstrints in renut trt (Rvi et l. 27; Sujth et l. 211). In Ini, the ultivtion of oo is fst inresing s n interrop in plnttions. The iologil effiieny n eonomi fesiility of renut oo system hve een highlighte reently y Sujth et l. (211). Assessment of nutrient requirement eomes most importnt for perennil rops s higher frtion of nutrients re immoilize in stning iomss (Hrtemink 25). In the present stuy, renut yiels were similr in sole n mixe ropping situtions initing the sene of ompetition etween renut n oo. This suggests tht provision of optimum irrigtion n nutrition to oth renut n oo reues the ompetition etween omponent rops in ropping system. In renut, fertigtion of 2 % N registere higher yiel level of 3,1 kg h -1 in this stuy ompre to 2,7 kg h -1 with soil pplition of 1 % N (CPCRI 211). It is ler tht orgni fertigtion n enhne nutrient use effiieny over soil pplition. Another vntge is the reuse of leftover vermiompost fter otining extrt. However, the overll yiel levels of renut erese in this stuy (3,7 kg h -1 ) ompre to 3,5 kg h -1 with rip fertigtion of NPK (Rvi et l. 27). In generl, yiel pttern of renut stilizes y the 8th yer with uniform yiel levels up to 2 yers uner optimum mngement. Being perennil rop, lternte ering hit is notie in renut one in 4 or 5 yers. Though fertigtion of 75 % NPK registere yiel levels of 3,375 kg h -1, still the nee for inresing the fertilizer ose is notie. Despite goo yiel levels in renut, omine pplition of VCE n 25 % NPK might not e le to meet the nutrient emns of N n K in the long run s lrge quntities of N n K re immoilize in stning iomss of perennil rops (Hrtemink, 25) n in renut s well (Rvi n Sujth 212). It is ler from the yiel trens of oo tht VCE lone nnot meet the nutrient emns s yiel reution ws 33 % over fertigtion of 75 % NPK. Nutrients, espeilly N, re supplie through ifferent soures like irrigtion wter, lef fll of oo, n rinfll intereption (Rvi n Sujth 28). Fertigtion of VCE oul meet the N emn of oth rops ut not K s oth these rops re hevy feeers of K (Mniknn et l. 1987; Rvi n Sujth 211; Rvi n Sujth 212). Further, reports of lower yiels n epletion of soil test K with vermiompost pplition in renut (CPCRI 211; Sujth n Rvi 212), higher optimum level of K for lterite Reylle iomss (kg tree -1 ) OMR 75% NPK 1% N VCE 2% N VCE 1% N VCE + 25% NPK 2% N VCE + 25% NPK Poole Yers Fig. 5 Influene of fertigtion on reylle iomss proution in oo. Brs with sme letters o not iffer signifintly

12 soils (Rvi et l. 212) n optimum lef nutrient norms of renut n oo sustntite the ove results n the nee for supplementing K for sustinle yiels of renut n oo. Though N is supplie se on emn, nitrogen use effiieny might hve reue euse of less K. It is well known tht K in soil improves nitrogen use effiieny n sustins proutivity (Blevins 1985; Brennn n Bollr 27; Li et l. 29). In this stuy, soil orgni ron ws ove optimum ( % in renut n % in oo) n soil test K (3 18 mg kg -1 ) ws elow optimum (Personl ommunition), whih is 192 mg kg -1 oring to Rvi et l. (212). The results imply tht yiels might hve reue ue to introution of orgni fertigtion n insuffiient nutrient supply of N n K, whih ws evient from lef nutrient sttus. As orgni prouts re in gret emn, the nee for only orgnis ws relize. It ws ntiipte tht iret pplition of wter-solule nutrients in the root zone through rip fertigtion uring nut/po-formtion stge woul improve the nutrient use effiieny n in turn woul reue the input requirement. However, the present results lerly showe ifferent tren. Wlworth et l. (1986) stte tht the relisti strtegy woul e to mintin nutrient levels t or very lose to the optiml levels, lthough the optimum nutritionl rnges my e use s guielines. Irrespetive of ln use system, the nutrient onentrtions of P, C, Mg n mironutrients in renut leves were well ove the optimum levels s per the erlier report (CPCRI 211) n the onentrtion of N n K ws elow optimum (Fig. 2). Similr tren ws oserve in lef tissue of oo lso. The optimum level of mironutrients ws high for lterite soils in renut elt (Rvi et l. 212). The vilility of DTPA extrtle Cu, Zn, Fe n Mn (mg kg -1 ) rnges vrie etween 1 45, 7, 4 67 n t 6-m soil epths, respetively, in the present experiment (Personl ommunition). Soil, eing slightly ii, is the min soure of mironutrients like Cu, Fe n Mn. Vermiompost extrt, irrigtion wter n Boreux mixture spry to ontrol Phytophthor iseses might lso hve inrese the nutrient onentrtions of C, Mg n mironutrients in renut n oo (Tle 1). Higher fine root proution with rip fertigtion (Rvi n Sujth 28) might hve improve the uptke of wtersolule n reily ville nutrients. In renut, the lef N ontent reue from 2.61 to 2.4 % uring Arenut ws not visily ffete, ut lef nutrient t lerly showe insuffiient N n K nutrition. Comine pplition of NPK n VCE i not rise lef N n K. It shoul e mentione tht K n Zn re ommonly efiient in lterite soil (Brinth et l. 1998). Lehing of K n higher yiel levels might hve resulte in higher K removl (Rvi n Sujth 212). Lower lef K of renut in renut oo system thn in sole rop sitution might e ue to ompetition. Interspeifi root ompetition is high for resoures uring the erly growth phse (Is et l. 27, ). However, the onentrtion of mironutrients in renut ws higher in renut oo system thn sole rop. This might e ue to oo litter fll. Coo provies sustntil inputs of litter fll to the system (Beer 1988). For suffiient erly growth, nutrition is ritil, s efiienies of N, P, n K my lower iomss llotion to folir tissue thus reuing tive photosyntheti re, prtiulrly for the perennil oo rops(willson 1999; Blingr et l. 25). This is evient from lower reylle iomss proution of oo in VCE pplie tretments n reue yiel levels. The lef nutrient levels in oo were ompre with ritil nutrient limits suggeste y Snoek n Jin (1992). Like renut, the verge onentrtions of lef nutrients exept N n K were ove norml in oo. Potssium ontent (1.52 %) ws grossly elow the ritil level of 2 % in oo folige. During monsoon seson of 211, the symptoms of K efiieny were suenly visile in oo in OMR n 1 % N VCE tretments. The nutrient removl of K from oo is very high (Rvi n Sujth 211). This stuy lerly highlights the hevy feeing nture of oo for N n K. Lef Zn onentrtion inrese sustntilly uring experimentl perio oth in renut n oo. This spet nees to e stuie in etil to know whether Zn umultion in leves might e sesonl or ue to ontinuous pplition of VCE uring post monsoon seson. If Zn umultion is sesonl, then it is likely to e prtitione to reproutive prts s reproutive stge is long n tive uring June Deemer in renut n oo. In generl, the nutrient pplition is eie on the sis of nlysis of soil or plnt or oth. It ws stte tht future fertiliztion requirements n e etermine se on lef nutrient sttus s it gives n

13 inition of tree nutritionl sttus n urrent soil fertility (Benton 1985; Wlworth n Sumner 1988). Bse on yiel levels n lef nutrient sttus, it n e onlue tht the present pplition rte of NPK n VCE is not suffiient to sustin the yiel of oth renut n oo n to meet the nutrient emn in the long run espeilly K. The present stuy highlights the nee to hnge the fertilizer progrm se on yiel levels in renut n oo. Further long-term stuies re require to ssess nutrient requirements of renut n oo in mixe ropping sitution. Conlusions The overll results inite tht renut proution oul e sustine with fertigtion of NPK lone or in omintion with VCE. However, lef nutrient sttus suggests higher nutrient requirement for oth renut n oo to further improve the proutivity. The results revel tht reommene osge nees to e reonsiere n linke with soil n plnt nlysis. Drip fertigtion tehnology fouses on reuing fertilizer inputs n eveloping preise plnt nutrition tehnology for renut oo system in the tropis. Preision fertilizer pplition is require se on yiel level. Referenes Aul Hris A, Blsimh D, Sujth S, Rvi Bht, Kher KBA (1999) The influene of rip irrigtion n fertilizer on yiel n photosyntheti hrteristis of oo in mixe ropping system with renut. J Plnttion Crops 27: Brinth MR, Gjenrg, Blkrishn Ro K (1998) Distriution of mironutrients in lterite soils of Puttur in reltion to some soil properties. In: Sehgl J, Blum WE, Gjhiye KS (es) Re n Lteriti soils, vol 1. Oxfor & IBH Pulishing Co, New Delhi, pp Blsimh D (29) Effet of sping n pruning regimes on photosyntheti hrteristis n yiel of oo in mixe ropping with renut. J Plnttion Crops 37(1):9 14 Blsimh D (21) Net primry proutivity, ron sequestrtion n ron stoks in re-oo mixe rop system. In: Pro.16th Interntionl Coo Reserh Conferene (ISBN ), Bli, Inonesi pp Blingr VC, Bune JA, Biley BA, Mho RC, Pomell WV (25) Cron ioxie n photosyntheti photon flux ensity effets on growth n minerl uptke of oo. J Foo Agr Env 3: Beer J (1988) Litter proution n nutrient yling in offee (Coffe ri) or o (Theorom o) plnttions with she trees. Agrofor Syst 7: Beer J, Mushler R, Kss D, Somrri E (1998) She mngement in offee n o plnttions. Agrofor Syst 38: Blevins DG (1985) Role of Potssium in Protein Metolism in Plnts. In: Munson RD (e) Potssium in Agriulture. Amerin Soiety of Agronomy, Mison, pp Brennn RF, Bollr MDA (27) Influene of potssium n nitrogen fertilizer in yiel, oil, n protein onentrtion of nol (Brssi npus L.) grin hrveste in south Western Austrli. Aust J Exp Agr 47: Chowpp P, Bipp CC, Sujth S (1999) Effiient reyling of orgni wstes in renut (Are tehu L.) n oo (Theorom o L.) plnttions through vermiomposting. Inin J Agri Si 69: CPCRI (211) Reserh Highlights for Centrl Plnttion Crops Reserh Institute, Ksrgo, Ini Doorenos J, Pruitt WO (1977) Guielines for preiting rop wter requirements. Irrigtion n Dringe pper 24. Foo n Agriulture Orgnistion, Rome, p 144 FAO (21) FAO sttistis Foo n Agriulturl Orgniztion. Rome, Itly GOI (211) Agriulturl Sttistis t Glne. Diretorte of Eonomis n Sttistis, Ministry of Agriulture, Govt of Ini, New Delhi Gutierrez-Mieli FA, Gri-Gomez RC, Rinon RR, Au- Arhil M, Mri- Angel OL, Gullin-Cruz MJ, Denooven L (28) Formultion of liqui fertilizer for sorghum (Sorghum iolour (L.) Moenh) using vermiompost lehte. Bioresoure Tehnol 99: Hrtemink AE (25) Nutrient stoks, nutrient yling, n soil hnges in oo eosystems: review. Av Agron 86: ICCO (23) Coo stt. Interntionl Coo Orgniztion, Lonon Is ME, Ulzen-Appih F, Timmer VR, Qushie-Sm SJ (27) Erly growth n nutritionl response to resoure ompetition in oo-she interroppe systems. Plnt Soil 298: Is ME, Timmer VR, Qushie-Sm SJ (27) Erly growth n nutritionl response to resoure ompetition in ooshe interroppe systems. Nutr Cyl Agroeosyst 78: Jkson ML (1973) Soil Chemil Anlysis. Prentie Hll of Ini Pvt. Lt., New Delhi Jones Benton (1985) Soil testing n plnt nlysis: guies to the fertiliztion of hortiulturl rops. Hort Rev 7:1 68 Li SX, Wng ZH, Mlhi SS, Li SQ, Go YJ, Tin XH (29) Nutrient n wter mngement effets on rop proution n nutrient n wter use effiieny in ryln res of Chin. Av Agron 12: Mniknn P, Joshi OP, Khn HH, Mohptr AR, Bipp CC (1987) Nutrient profile in n renut-o system on lterite soil. Trop Agr 64:13 16 Piper CS (1966) Soil n Plnt Anlysis. Hns Pulishers, Bomy Rvi B (22) Climte, Soil n Agronomy. In: Blsimh D (e) Coo. CPCRI, Ksrgo, pp 48 69

14 Rvi B, Sujth S (24) Crop Mngement. In: Blsimh D, Rjgopl V (es) Arenut. CPCRI, Ksrgo, Ini, pp Rvi B, Sujth S (26) Cost-enefit nlysis of ferti-rip irrigtion in renut (Are tehu L.). J Plnttion Crops 34(3): Rvi B, Sujth S (27) Soil fertility sttus s influene y renut se ropping system n nutrient mngement. J Plnttion Crops 35(3): Rvi B, Sujth S (28) Rinfll intereption in renut se ropping system. J Plnttion Crops 36(1):58 6 Rvi B, Sujth S (28) Root istriution of renut (Are tehu L.) s influene y rip fertigtion in lterite soil. Inin J Agr Si 78(9):84 87 Rvi B, Sujth S (29) Soil fertility n nutrient uptke y renut (Are tehu L.) s ffete y level n frequeny of fertigtion in lterite soil. Agr Wter Mnge 96: Rvi B, Sujth S (211) Orgni mtter reyling in renut se high ensity multispeies ropping system. In: Thoms GV, Krishnkumr V, Mheshwrpp HP, Bht Rvi, Blsimh D (es) Arenut se ropping/frming systems. CPCRI, Ksrgo, pp Rvi B, Sujth S (211) Nutrient uptke pttern in oo. Proeeings of Seminr on Strtegies for enhning proutivity of oo CPCRI, RS, Vittl, In, pp Rvi B, Sujth S (212) Influene of iomss prtitioning n nutrient uptke on yiel of renut (Are tehu L.) grown on lterite soil. Commun Soil Si Plnt Anlysis 43(13): Rvi B, Sujth S, Blsimh D (27) Impt of rip fertigtion on proutivity of renut (Are tehu L.). Agr Wter Mnge 9: Rvi B, Sujth S, Jose CT (212) Assessing soil fertility of lterite soil in reltion to yiel of renut (Are tehu L.) in humi tropis of Ini. Geoerm :91 97 Snoek J, Jin P (1992) Co. In: IFA Worl Fertilizer Use Mnul. IFA, Pris, p Stewrt WM, Di DW, Johnston AE, Smyth TJ (25) The ontriution of ommeril fertilizer nutrients to foo proution. Agron J 97:1 6 Sujth S, Blsimh D, Rvi Bht (2) Fertigtion requirement of renut (Are tehu L.) uring pre-ering stge. In: PLACROSYM XIV (Interntionl Conferene on Plnttion Crops), Hyer, Ini. Deemer 12 15, 2 Sujth S, Rvi Bht (21) Response of vnill (Vnill plnifoli A.) interroppe in renut to irrigtion n nutrition in humi tropis of Ini. Agr Wter Mnge 97(7): Sujth S, Rvi Bht, Knnn C, Blsimh D (211) Impt of interropping of meiinl n romti plnts with orgni frming pproh on resoure use effiieny in renut (Are tehu L) plnttion in Ini. In Crop Pro 33(1):78 83 Sujth S, Rvi Bht, Blsimh D, Apshr Elin S (211) Arenut se inter/mixe ropping systems. In: Thoms GV, Krishnkumr V, Mheshwrpp HP, Bht Rvi, Blsimh D (es) Arenut se ropping/frming systems. CPCRI, Ksrgo, pp 6 26 Sujth S, Rvi Bht (212). Impts of vermiompost n nitrogen, phosphorus, n potssium pplition on soil fertility sttus in renut grown on lterite Soil. Commun Soil Si Plnt Anlysis 43 (in press) Tej M, Gonzlez JL, Hernnez MT, Gri C (28) Agriulturl use of lehtes otine from two ifferent vermiomposting proesses. Bioresoure Tehnol 99: Wlworth JL, Letzsh WS, Sumner ME (1986) Use of ounry lines in estlishing ignosti norms. Soil Si So Am J 5: 128 Wlworth JL, Sumner ME (1988) Folir ignosis: A review. In: Tinker B, Luhli A (es) Avnes in Plnt Nutrition. Preger, New York, pp Willson KC (1999) Coffee, oo n te. CAB Interntionl, Wllingfor, UK