www.thaiagj.org Thai Journal of Agricultural Science 2009, 42(3): 125-131 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-180 009, J&K, India *Corresponding author. Email: khushihapti@rediffmail.com 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, FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% NPK, FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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, FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% NPK and FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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 FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% NPK, No FYM + 100% NPK and FYM @ 5 t ha -1 +5 0% 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-
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 : FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% RDF, T 3 : FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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 2 0 5 and K 2 0, respectively. Whereas, in farmer s practice, the fertilizers dose was 60:0:0 kg N, P 2 0 5 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 6.5-6.8, Organic carbon 0.43-0.46%, available N, P and K were in the range of 190.4-201.2, 17.5-20.6 and 175.3-182.4 kg ha -1, respectively. Whereas in maize-wheat system, the soil was sandy clay loam to clay loam having ph 6.5-6.8, organic carbon 0.38-0.41% available N, P and K were in the range of 182-192, 15.2-16.1 and 132-142 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 FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% 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 FYM @ 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 FYM @ 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 -1 + 100 % NPK, FYM 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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
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 ) 3802 4148 3724 4043 3621 90.35 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 3075 3279 2950 3105 2820 232.9 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 42800 46202 41519 44441 40056 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 23011 22213 23066 23390 23288 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 19789 23989 18453 21051 16768 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.86 2.08 1.80 1.90 1.72 Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) 3898 4252 3812 4128 3762 129.5 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 3190 3378 3005 3220 2939 235.9 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 44123 47469 42405 45698 41676 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 23470 25249 24654 24437 23815 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 20653 22220 17751 21261 17861 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.88 1.88 1.72 1.87 1.75 Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) 3984 4338 3946 4239 3830 128.8 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 3210 3395 3020 3246 2958 237.4 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 44769 48096 43306 46533 42207 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 23941 27173 23409 24884 23319 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 20828 20923 19897 21649 18888 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.87 1.77 1.85 1.87 1.81 Rice yield (kg ha -1 ) 3895 4246 3827 4137 3738 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 3158 3351 2992 3190 2906 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 43897 47256 42410 45557 41313 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 23474 24878 23710 24237 23474 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 20423 22377 18700 21320 17839 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.87 1.91 1.79 1.88 1.76 Total productivity of rice-wheat system (kg ha -1 ) 7053 7597 6819 7327 6644 Percent increase over T 5 6.16 14.34 2.63 10.28 ------- Note: Rs denotes rupees in Indian currency; 1 US $ (US dollar) = Rs. 48.70
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 ) 3036 3532 3100 2882 145.3 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 2596 2804 2600 2418 98.8 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 32054 35886 32400 30127 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 16438 18987 18409 16831 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 15616 16899 13991 13296 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.95 1.89 1.76 1.79 Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) 3106 3633 3230 2996 131.1 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 2550 2900 2682 2354 104.8 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 32105 37015 33583 30281 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 16297 19380 18867 16823 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 15808 17635 14716 13458 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.97 1.91 1.78 1.80 Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) 3181 3703 3319 2951 130.0 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 2776 2988 2708 2328 90.2 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 33949 37937 34197 29887 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 17321 19356 18687 16243 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 16628 18581 15510 13644 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.96 1.96 1.83 1.84 Maize yield (kg ha -1 ) 3108 3623 3216 2943 Wheat yield (kg ha -1 ) 2641 2897 2663 2367 Gross returns (Rs ha -1 ) 32703 36946 33393 30098 Cost of cultivation (Rs ha -1 ) 16685 19241 18654 16632 Net returns (Rs ha -1 ) 16017 17705 14739 13466 Benefit:Cost ratio 1.96 1.92 1.79 1.81 Total productivity of maize -wheat 5749 6520 5879 5310 system (kg ha -1 ) Percent increase over Percent increase over farmer s practice 8.26 22.79 10.72 ------ Note: Rs denotes rupees in Indian currency; 1 US $ (US dollar) = Rs. 48.70
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 FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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, FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 100% NPK and FYM @ 5 t ha -1 + 50% 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 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.5 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.40 0.49 0.45 0.47 0.44 0.01 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 204.8 213.5 203.5 208.8 200.4 0.81 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 18.8 20.1 18.6 19.3 18.2 0.17 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 189.2 193.7 188.0 195.4 182.0 0.87 ph 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.37 0.52 0.48 0.50 0.47 0.02 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 208.8 222.1 208.1 215.2 198.0 1.69 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 19.3 20.5 19.0 19.7 17.8 0.27 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 192.2 199.9 191.0 197.4 180.4 2.07 ph 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.40 0.54 0.50 0.52 0.48 0.02 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 213.4 228.0 208.2 220.1 197.4 3.22 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 20.0 21.2 18.5 20.4 17.6 0.38 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 196.8 205.8 191.4 201.6 181.6 2.41 ph 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.5 Organic carbon (%) 0.39 0.52 0.48 0.50 0.46 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 209.0 221.2 206.6 214.7 198.6 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 19.4 20.6 18.7 19.7 17.9 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 192.7 199.8 190.1 198.1 181.3 Initial values: ph =6.5-6.8, OC=0.43-0.46%, available N =190.4-201.2 kg ha -1, available P = 17.5-20.6 kg ha -1 and available K 175.3-182.4 kg ha -1 ; NS = not determined.
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 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.6 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.38 0.44 0.43 0.38 0.01 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 200.0 206.5 198.7 186.8 2.73 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 17.3 17.8 17.1 15.6 0.25 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 140.6 144.8 139.2 136.8 1.79 ph 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.6 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.36 0.46 0.45 0.37 0.02 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 208.8 218.6 210.8 182.5 2.75 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 18.2 19.1 18.2 15.4 0.35 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 143.8 148.2 142.8 134.4 2.68 ph 6.7 6.6 6.8 6.7 NS Organic carbon (%) 0.36 0.49 0.46 0.36 0.02 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 213.4 223.6 210.4 180.5 3.19 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 18.6 19.7 18.4 15.1 0.35 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 146.4 151.4 145.6 131.6 2.44 ph 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.6 Organic carbon (%) 0.37 0.46 0.45 0.37 Available N (kg ha -1 ) 207.3 216.2 206.6 183.3 Available P (kg ha -1 ) 18.0 18.9 17.9 15.4 Available K (kg ha -1 ) 143.6 148.1 142.5 134.3 Initial values: ph =6.5-6.8, OC=0.0.38-0.41%, available N =182-192 kg ha -1, available P = 15.2-16.1 kg ha -1 and available K 132-142 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.
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. 1992. Nitrogen management in rice-wheat cropping system in India. Fertilizer News, 37: 27-41. Hedge, D.M. and R.K. Pandey. 1989. 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. 1999. Response of integrated nutrient management in wheat based cropping sequences. Crop Research 18: 195-198. Singh, B.P., M.C. Mundra, S.C. Gupta and R.P. Singh. 2004. Integrated nutrient management in predominant cropping systems in Haryana through participatory approach. Indian Journal of Agronomy 49: 135-139. Mehta, S. 2004. Effect of integrated nutrient supply on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivaum). Annals of Agricultural Research New Series 25: 289-291. Manuscript received 25 April 2009, accepted 30 October 2009 Now online at http://www.thaiagj.org