Performance of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a legume based cropping system for the inceptisols of NEPZ

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1 Indian J. Dryland Agric. Res. & Dev (1), Performance of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a legume based cropping system for the inceptisols of NEPZ Thomas Abraham and R.B. Lal Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University, Allahabad Uttar Pradesh, India ABSTRACT: A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 1998 and 1999 at Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University, Allahabad to study the effect of fertilizer levels, organic manures and biofertilizer along with organic spray on the yield of blackgram under blackgram wheat greengram system. Plant dry weight values showed no significant difference between one hundred per cent and 33% RDF levels. Similarly, some yield parameters showed same trends. Organic manure application showed increased yield over the control. Biofertilizer and organic spray helped in significant increase of the dry matter production and test weight. The interaction of these components registered better performance, thus inferring the importance of integrated nutrient supply system. Key words: Blackgram, legume based cropping system, fertility level, biofertilizer, organic manure, yield Integrating chemical fertilizers with organic manures has been found to be quite promising not only in maintaining higher productivity but also in providing greater stability in crop production (Nambiar and Aborol, 1992). Legumes constitute an important group of crops and have mainstay in Indian agriculture, as they restore fertility and improve physicochemical properties of the soil. The nutrient management for legumes, particularly pulses should be studied on cropping system basis and quantitative estimates of carry over effects of nutrients should beworked out (Ahlawat and Ali, 1993). The concept of sustainability in agriculture with respect to maintenance of soil fertility and stabilized crop production its he main concern in the present situation. Use of organic manures to meet nutrient requirement of crop would be an inevitable practice in the years to come for sustainable agriculture, since these manures generally improve the physical, chemical and biological properties along with conserving and improving the moisture and nutrient holding capacity of the soil and thereby resulting in enhanced crop productivity along with maintaining the quality of crop produce. The concept of INM for sustaining the soil fertility is not being followed by most of the farmers, leading to poor soil fertility status of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, an attempt was made to find out a sustainable INM package for blackgram in the cropping system. Materials and Methods The field experiment was carried out in kharif, rabi and zaid seasons during at the Crop Research Farm of the Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University ( N, E and 98 m). The soil was

2 82 Thomas Abraham and R.B. Lal sandy-loam alluvium and analyzed low in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus but high in potassium and the ph of 7.5. The cropping system chosen was a Blackgram-Wheat Greengram sequence. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block. Treatment combinations were 27, replicated thrice. Fertilizer (N and P) doses (F) were F 0 -Nil application, F 1-33% recommended dose (RDF), i.e., 6.66, 20 kg NP ha -1 and F 2-100% RDF i.e.,20, 60 kg NP ha -1. Forms of organic manures (C) were C 0 - Nil application, C 1 -Farm compost (FC)@5 t ha -1 + Vermicompost t ha -1 and C 2 - Farm compost 5 t ha -1 + Poultry manure 0.5 t ha -1. Forms of biofertilizers and/or foliar application of organic manure (B) used were B 0 -Nil application B 1 - Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + Rhizobium (Rhz) and B 2 Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + 2% foliar application of 33% cow s urine (CU). The manures and basal dose of fertilizer was administered by placement method into furrows and incorporated well prior to sowing. The plots with CU treatment were administered a foliar spray of 33 per cent CU at 25 and 45 DAS to each crop in both the years. Recommended plant protection measures and other agronomic practices were followed as and when required. Observations on growth and yield parameters were recorded at harvest from the plants drawn randomly. Soil samples were taken before the experiment and after the harvest of crop. Plot-wise analysis of soil samples for organic carbon, available phosphorus and potassium were conducted for each of the treatment. Crop analyses for plant dry weight, nodulation pattern and certain yield parameters were conducted. Results and Discussion Dry matter accumulation The different levels of fertilizer at 90 DAS significantly influenced the dry matter accumulation of blackgram crop in the system in both the years and at 75 DAS in the 2 nd year (table 1). In the 1 st year at 90 DAS, Significantly higher dry weight values in treatment 100% RDF (52.87 and g respectively). However, in the 2 nd year the maximum values were registered in 1/3 rd dose at 75 as well as 90 DAS. The full dose showed statistically comparable figures. This can be attributed to the high fertilizer use efficiency with the INM package in the cropping system. The feasibility of reduced dosage of fertilizer application has been purported by Dubey (1992). Significant influence on dry matter accumulation as a result of manorial forms was observable only at 75 DAS (Table 1) in the 1 st year as a result of the treatment FC+PM. However, at other stages also the same treatment recorded higher values than in other combination or control. The PSB+CU treatment of the biofertilizer and/or organic spray component were found to be significantly effective in maintaining higher dry weight (52.63 g) at 90 DAS in the 1 st year. Statistical parity was observed in treatment PSB + rhizobium. Either of the treatment combinations registered highest values in the other stages. The interaction between fertilizer levels and manorial forms were significant. At 90 DAS in the 1 st year the treatment 100% RDF with FC+VC (57,96 and 48.99g respectively). Treatments 33% RDF with FC+VC and 100% RDF alone were statistically comparable with the most effective treatment (Table 2). However, treatments 100% RDF with FC+VC, 33%

3 Performance of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a legume based cropping system for the inceptisols of NEPZ 83 Table 1 Effect of INM on dry weight (g/plant), root nodulation and certain yield parameters of blackgram during and Factors Dry weight (g/plant) Root nodule count (number/plant) Pods/plant Test weight (g) Seed yield (kg/ha) 74 DAS 90 DAS 45 DAS 60 DAS Levels of Fertilizers (F): F F F CD(0.05) Ns ns ns ns ns ns Forms of manure (C): C C C CD(0.05)4.680 ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns Biofertilizers and/or organic spray (B): B B B \ CD(0.05) ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns= non-significant

4 84 Thomas Abraham and R.B. Lal Table 2 Effect of interaction of fertilizer levels and manurial forms on dry weight of blackgram (g/plant) at 90 DAS Factors C 0 C 1 C 2 Mean C 0 C 1 C 2 Mean F F F Mean CD (0.05) 8.71 CD (0.05) 9.11 RDF alone and FC+PM were comparable with the 2 nd best treatment combination i.e., 33% RDF with FC+VC. In the 2 nd year the treatment 33% RDF with FC+VC recorded significantly higher value than treatment FC+RM alone (38.31 and g respectively). The treatments 100% RDF alone, with FC+PM and with FC+VC, 33% RDF alone and with FC+PM were statistically on par with the most effective treatment. The interaction between these factors indicates the importance of integration of various sources of nutrients for a sustainable agronomic package for the legume based cropping system. Several researchers have supported this practice and suggested it to be eco-friendly. Moharram et al.(1999) found that Bradyrhizobium + compost significantly increased, plant dry weight, N yield and N fixation compared with uninoculated plants. Nodulation pattern The nodulation of the blackgram crop in the system was significantly influenced by the treatment 33% RDF at 60 DAS during both the years (Table 1) registering the maximum values (51.43 and 30.16) of nodule count. However, statistical comparability with the other treatments, i.e., 100% RDF was observed. Observations indicate that the lower doses of fertilizer were more efficient in nitrogen fixation (Table 1). Vara et al. (1998) observed that the number of nodules decreased with increasing level of N application. This might be due to the reason that at higher levels of N, the plant receives its N from N applied to the soil and hence bacteria do not fix atmospheric N, as they become inactive in the presence of sufficient soil N. The different forms of manorial combinations (Table 1) markedly influenced the nodule count at some of the stages in balckgram crop in the system. In the 1 st year the maximum values were registered in treatment FC+PM at 60 DAS and in treatment FC+VC at 45 DAS. At 45 and 60 DAS during the 2 nd year the treatment FC+PM recorded higher figures (27.28 and respectively) over 0 level combinations (18.47 and respectively). Significant influence of biofertilizer and/or organic spray on the nodule count of blackgram was not observable at any stage in either of the experimental years (Table 1). The nodule count was highest in treatment PSB+Rhz at 45 DAS during both the years. Nodulation pattern was comparable in all treatments. This could be due to the sufficient native and inoculated rhizobium population of the associated species, and their efficiency. The trend of higher nodulation pattern with the

5 Performance of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a legume based cropping system for the inceptisols of NEPZ 85 usage of organic manure further proves their synergistic effects in soil due to the interaction between fertilizer levels and manorial forms. The findings are in line with that of Nagaraju et al. (1995) who reported similar interactive effect, expressed in terms of nodule dry weight. The peak nodulation was found between 45 and 60 DAS. Yield attributes and yield. Statistical analysis of the data pertaining to certain yield attributes of balckgram revealed that the levels of fertilizer influenced these parameters significantly (Table 1). The pod count per plant was influenced by both the fertilizer dosages in a comparable manner. The pod count per plant in the 1 st year was significantly higher in treatment 33% RDF level (51.43), and in the 2 nd year in treatment 100% RDF level (44.09) than in the 0 level combinations. The data on test weight and seed yield in the 1 st year showed no significant difference. However, the highest figures were registered in the treatment 100% RDF level (32.63 g and kg ha -1 respectively) In the 2 nd year the test weight and seed yield (38.20 g and kg ha -1 respectively) were significantly higher in treatment 33% RDF than in treatment with 0 level combination. Statistical comparability between the two levels, viz., 100% and 33% RDF was observed in both the years. Significant differences between treatments with regard to yield and certain yield attributes were not perceivable as a result of the different forms of manure (table1). However, the maximum figures of pod count and test weight in both the years were registered in treatment FC+PM. The highest value of seed yield was recorded in treatment FC+VC in the 1 st year, and in the 0 level combination in the 2 nd year. The test weight was maximum in the PSB+CU combination of biofertilizer and/or organic spray and in FC+PM combination of manures during both the years. Tomar et al. (1993) observed that the application of phosphatesolubilizing bacteria significantly increased the seed yield over the control from 9.5 in the 1 st year to 22.5% in the 2 nd year. Influence on the pods/plant and seed index was also evident. The seed yield of blackgram in the 1 st year as affected by the interaction of manorial forms and biofertilizer and/or organic spray showed significantly higher values in treatment PSB+Rhz alone than control plot ( and kg ha -1 ).Treatments FC+VC alone, with PSB+CU and with PSB+Rhz, FC+PM alone and with PSB+Rhz and PSB+CU alone were statistically at par with the most effective treatment (Table 3). Mahanta and Borah (1998) observed that poultry manure was most effective in increasing the Table 3 Effect of interaction of manurial forms and biogertilizer and/or organic spray on seed yield of blackgram (kg/ha) at harvest Factors B 0 B 1 B 2 Mean B 0 B 1 B 2 Mean C C C Mean CD (0.05) CD (0.05)

6 86 Thomas Abraham and R.B. Lal yield of blackgram. The yield parameters responded well to the combination of these factors. The seed yield also exhibited similar trend in terms of response to the interactions between the factors, proving further that the INM package is the most suitable agronomic technology for legume based cropping system. The work done by Latha and Subramanian (1991) and Dwivedi et al. (1993) is in agreement with the present findings. Post-cropping status of soil The organic carbon status (table 4) was markedly higher in the 1 st year in plots with 33% RDF than the 0 level plots (0.66 and 0.23%) respectively). However, in the second year there was no significant difference in the value obtained. This may be attributed to the reason that the second year s crop was taken up after a legume and a cereal crop component each, unlike, the first year s crop which was preceded by only a legume. In both the years the available phosphorus and potassium levels were significantly higher in plots with 100% RDF treatment (37.59 and kg ha -1 respectively in the 1 st year and and kg/ha respectively in the 2 nd year) than in plots with 33% RDF level, which again registered significantly higher values than the control plots. The organic carbon, available phosphorus and potassium in both the years were significantly higher in treatment FC+PM (0.61%, and kg/ha respectively in the 1 st year and 0.38%, and kg/ha respectively in the 2 nd year).statistical comparability was noticed in treatment FC+VC with regard to available phosphorus (23.19 kg/ha) in the 2 nd year. Further, the percentage organic carbon was significantly higher in treatment FC+VC over the control during both the years. Most of the physico-chemical parameters showed significant effects of individual factors as well as their positive interaction. The status of available phosphorus and potassium were high in both the years in the interaction create a balancing effect among the soil microflora, Table 4 Effect of blackgram cropping under INM system on the Physico chemical properties of the soil Factors Organic carbon (%) Available P 2 O 5 (kg/ha) Available K 2 O (kg/ha) Levels of Fertilizers (F): F F F CD (0.05) ns Forms of manure (C): C C C CD (0.05) ns = non-significant

7 Performance of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in a legume based cropping system for the inceptisols of NEPZ 87 physical conditions and the chemical constituents. Hegde (1998) noticed that integration of fertilizers and organic sources improves the organic carbon status of soil, which help in long-term sustainability. The findings corroborate with those by Prabhakar and Patil (1998) who observed that combined application of inorganics and organics improved soil physical condition and eventually helped sugarcane crop. The percentage organic carbon and available nutrient status of P 2 O 5 and K 2 O also showed increase due to the integration. References Ahlawat, I.P.S. and Ali, M. (1993) Fertilizer Management in Pulses. In : Fertilizer Management in Food Crops (Ed. Tandon, H.L.S.), FDCO, N.Delhi pp Dubey, S.K. (1992) Effect of mycorrhizae, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and phosphorus level on nodulation, yield and yield attributes in soybean (G. max). Ind. J. agric. Sc. 63(11): Dwivedi, M.; Upadhayay, R.M. and Dwivedi, G.K. (1993) Effect of inorganic, organic and biogertlizers on yield and nutritional quality of blackgram and wheat grown in sequence. Ind.J.agric. Chem 26 (2-3) Hegde, D.M. (1998) Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity and soil fertility in pearl millet (P. glaucum) wheat (T. aestivum) cropping system. Ind.J.agron. 43(4): Latha, K.R. and Subramanian, S. (1991) INM in sorghum (S. bicolor) intercropping system under dryland vertisols. Ind. J. agron. 36 (Supplement)L Mahanta, B. and Borah, A. (1998) Effect of organic amendments for the management of Meloidogyne incognita on greengram and blackgram. J. agric. Sci. Soc. N.E. India. 11 (1): Moharram,.T.M.; Mohandas,.E.L. and Badawi, M.A. (1999) Effect of inoculation and organic manure application on symbiotic N 2 fixation, microbial and nutrients availability is sandy soils cultivated with soybean and peanut. Annals of Agric. Microbio. Sci. Cairo. Nagaraju, A.P.; Shambulingappa, K.G. and Sridhara, S. (1995) Efficiency and sources of fertilizer phosphorus and organic manure on growth and yield of cowpea (V. unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Crop Res. Hisar 9(2): Nambiar, K.K.M. and Abrol, I,P. (1992) Long term fertilizer experiments in India An overview. Fertiliser News 34 (4) : Prabhakar, A.S. and Patil, B.N. (1998) Assessment of Long Term Manurial Studies in Relation to Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity. In: Organics in sustaining fertility and productivity pp The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India. Tomar, S.S.; Pathan, M.A.; Gupta, K.P. and Khandkar, U.R.91993) Effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria at different levels of phosphate on blackgram (V. mungo). Ind. J. agron. 38(1) Vara, J.A.; Modhwadia, M.M.; Patel B.S., Patel, J.C. and Khanpara, V.D. (1994) Response of soybean (G. max) to nitrogen, phosphorus and Rhizobium inoculation. Ind.J. agron 39 (4);