Integrated nutrient management on crops

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under irrigated condition. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of ten treatments and the wheat variety was WH-1105. During both the years, application of 100% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost produced significantly higher plant height (99.33 and 102.27 cm) at harvest, Leaf area index (4.92 and 5.02) at anthesis, dry matter (235.77 and 243.61 g/mrl) at harvest and has taken significantly higher number of days to 50% heading (94.67 and 96.33), 50% anthesis (102.33 and 104.33) and maturity (150.00 and 153.33), produced significantly higher number of effective tillers (101.33 and 104.33 mrl-1) and test weight of 39.66 and 40.11 g during both the consecutive years, respectively, which was statistically at par with application of 100% RDN + 25% N through FYM and application of 100% RDN during both years of study.
The significantly higher grain yield of 5654 and 5798 kg per hectare of wheat was produced with application of 100% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost during both the consecutive years, respectively, being statistically at par with application 100% RDN + 25% N through FYM and application of 100 RDN during both the years. Application of 100% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost produced 1.9 and 2.1 percent higher grain yield over application of 100% RDN + 25% N through FYM, 3.1 and 3.8 percent higher grain yield over application 100% RDN and 164.82 and 165.60 percent higher grain yield of wheat over control treatment during both the consecutive years of experiment, respectively. The straw yield of wheat followed same trend as grain yield of wheat during both the years. 
Application of 100% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost produced significantly higher protein content of 11.94 and 12.31 percent during both the consecutive years, respectively, followed by application of 100% RDN + 25% N through FYM and application of 100% RDN during both the years of study. The significantly higher benefit cost ratio (1.79 and 1.81) of wheat during both years, respectively, was obtained with application of 100% RDN being statistically at par with application of 100% RDN + 25% N through FYM during both years.
Key words: nutrient sources, growth, yield, quality, wheat.

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) popularly known as egg plant belongs to family Solanaceae and India is its center of origin and diversity. It is highly productive and usually finds a place as " poor man's crop ". The growth, yield and fruit quality of brinjal are largely dependent on number of interacting factors. On the other hand egg plant is a long duration crop with high yield which removes large quantities of nutrients from the soil. An eggplant crop yielding 60t ha-1 of fruit removes 190 kg N, 10.9 kg P and 12 8kg K from soil. Now-a-days demands for brinjal as a fruit vegetable is increasing rapidly among the vegetable consumers in view of its better fruit color, size and taste only one source of nutrients like chemical fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers cannot improve the production or maintain the production sustainability and soil health. The integrated nutrient management is very useful in this context. Integrated plant nutrient management is the intelligent use of optimum combination of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient sources in a specific crop, cropping system and climatic situation so as to achieve and to sustain the optimum yield and to improve or to maintain the soil's physical, biological and chemical properties. Such a crop nutrition package has to be technically sound, economically attractive, practically feasible and environmentally safe.

Studies on impact of integrated nutrient management on nut yield and quality characters of coconut cultivar East coast tall revealed that the highest cumulative mean nut yield-1 palm-1 was recorded in the treatment T 4 (50% N as composted coir pith + 50% through chemical fertilizers-139 nuts palm-1 closely followed by T 2 (recommended dose of fertilizers-121 nuts palm-1) and T 3 (100% composted coir pith-120 nuts palm-1). The cumulative mean nut yield palm-1 after imposition of treatments compared with the figures prior to the experimentation exhibited 100% increase in nut yield in T 4 (50% N as CCP + 50% through chemical fertilizers) followed by 68.05% in T 3 (100% CCP) and 63.06% in T 2 (recommended dose of fertilizers) while in control T 1 showed 23.73 % decrease in nut yield. The same treatment exhibited a 3.0 fold increasing nut yield over control. Data on yield attributing characters revealed that T 4 resulted in maximum leaf production, spadices and female flower palm-1 year-1. The treatment that received more organic fertilizers (T 5 – Neem cake (10 kg) + bone meal (2 kg) + ash (20 kg) and T 3 – 100% Composted coir pith) recorded maximum TSS in tender nut water with very good taste. In respect of copra and oil yield, T 4 registered the highest copra (18.13 kg palm-1) and oil content (10.82 kg palm-1) followed by T 3 (16.5 & 10.76 kg palm-1) and T 2 (17.07 & 10.52) compared to only 6.73 kg palm-1 copra content and 5.82 kg palm-1 oil content in control (T 1). Fifty percent of nutrient supply (on N basis) as CCP + 50% through chemical fertilizers and 100% CCP have recorded more net income with cost benefit ratio of 3.47 and 3.21 respectively. The studies proved that application of nutrients could be more beneficial when applied 50% of nutrient supply (on N basis) as CCP + 50% though chemical fertilizers and 100% composted coir pith in coconut gardens under coastal ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh.

Sugarcane ratooning is old age practice, due to heavy investment of input and crop itself provides good ratoonability hence it is not required to go for each time seeding /planting new crops. Sugarcane is heavy feeder of nutrient, it remove massive quantity of nutrient from soil if not provided improper amount and time. For efficient ratooning and to make it more profitable and sustainable, integrated nutrient management system (INMS) is way to harness production potential of sugarcane ratoon, marching ahead with nature in sustainable manner.

The continuous usages of chemical fertilizers have harmful effects on soil organic matter reserves, soil health and environmental safety. The use of Bio-fertilizers like Azolla not only increases the rice productivity but also improves the long term soil fertility. Azolla is a fast growing aquatic pteridophyte which fixes atmospheric Nitrogen by forming a symbiotic association with the Blue-Green Algae, Anabaena azollae.
Azolla is an efficient Nitrogen fixer. It is grown in lowland rice fields because flooded habitat is suitable for it. Under favorable field condition, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen at a rate exceeding that of the Legume-Rhizobium symbiotic relationship. It increases the rice yield equivalent to that produced by 30-60 kg N/ha. As green manure in water logged soil, it enhances the rapid mineralization of nitrogen. It reduces the NH3 volatilization losses through its influence on floodwater pH that leads to the conservation of urea-N in the system to improve the efficiency of N fertilizers. It significantly improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil including
improvement in soil microbial activities. It helps in addition of Organic Matter and release of cations such as Magnesium, Calcium and Sodium. The total N, available P and exchangeable K in the soil and N-uptake by rice can be improved. Therefore,
Azolla application is considered as a good practice for sustaining soil fertility and crop productivity irrespective of some limitations.

Soybean is one of the most important pulse crops in the world which supplies most of the protein and oil requirements. e efficient production of soybean crops is a constraint, with several biotic factors, abiotic factors, and crop management practices. Nutrient management is one of the important aspects for achieving higher production of crops. Effective nutrient management helps to assure the required nutrients needed for the plant without causing a significant decrease in the yield of crops. In addition to this, managing the nutrient efficiently helps the crop to cope with several types of biotic and abiotic stress. For soybean crop, altogether fifteen nutrients are needed, which comprises six macronutrients, namely, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, which are required relatively in large amounts, and nine micronutrients which include iron, boron, zinc, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and chlorine. ese nutrients can be supplied to the plants through soil incorporation or foliar spray of commercially available fertilizers. Nutrient requirements for soybean crops vary in concentration, and deviations can cause nutrient deficiency or toxicity in soybean crops. Nutrient availability to soybean crops depends on the available nutrients in the soil solution, the form of available soil nutrients, mode of uptake of nutrients, its interaction with other soil nutrients, soil chemistry, and method of fertilizer application. is review article explores essential nutrients for sustainable soybean production in relation to the role and functions of nutrients, required concentration, and visual syndrome shown during deficiency, including findings from several researches. e review article is aimed to guide soybean farmers for effective nutrient management and academicians in reviewing the literature in soybean nutrient management.

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is an important pulse crop grown for its dhal, fuel, and fodder belonging to the family fabaceae. It is an important crop amongst pulses and ranked second after chickpea in India interms of area and production. It provides protein rich food, firewood and income for resource poor small farmers. It is a protein rich legume grown throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world between 30° N and 35° S latitudes. However, in India major area under pigeonpea is lying between 14° and 28° N latitudes, which occupies an area of about 3.81 m ha with a production of 3.02 mt and average productivity of 806 kg ha-1. Integrated nutrient management practices are essential in realizing the higher productivity of pigeonpea and reducing cost of production on sustainable basis.

A field experiment was carried out at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari on clayey soils during rabi season of 2017-18 to study the "Integrated nutrient management in rabi Indian Bean (Dolichos lablab L.)". Recommended dose of fertilizer recorded significantly the highest growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, dry matter accumulation/plant, number of branches at 30 DAS, number of pods/plant, pod yield/plant, pod yield, stover yield and harvest index of rabi Indian Bean except number of branches at 60 DAS and test weight which remained at par with treatment 75% RDF. Application of biocompost @ 2.5 t/ha recorded significantly the highest growth as well and yield attributing characters and yields of rabi Indian Bean. All the growth attributes, yield attributes and yields of Indian Bean recorded significantly the highest under seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB over no seed inoculation.

An experiment was conducted in 2012 and 2013 at Assam Agricultural University to assess various weed and nutrient management practices on growth and yield of tuberose and soil fertility status. Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was evaluated in comparison with mixture of vermicompost and different proportions, i.e. 75, 50 and 35% of RDF (Comlizer) under three weed management treatments, viz., black polythene mulch (BPM), application of herbicides oxadiargyl 150 g/ha or Metribuzin 500 g/ha followed by grubber at 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) in factorial randomized block design with three replications. In the first year, BPM significantly reduced weed population compared to integrated weed management involving pre-emergence herbicide application and mechanical weeding. However, no significant variation was observed in weed density and dry weight otherwise, irrespective of the years. There was comparable dominance of grassy and broadleaved weeds up to 60 DAP, which shifted to the dominance of the latter as the crop growth progressed. The effect of nutrient management practices on weed growth was not significant. Neither crop growth nor flower yield or yield attributing characters was affected by weed management practices. Highest flower yield in terms of number of spikes per plant, or fresh weight (q/ha) was observed with RDF and was at par with comlizer applied as vermicompost 250 g + 75% RDF, or vermicompost 200 g + 50% RDF, or vermicompost 250 g + 50% RDF per square meter. Application of comlizer as vermicompost 250 g + 35% RDF per square meter significantly reduced number of spikes/plant and fresh flower yield (q/ha). The contents of available N and P in soil increased following their application under integrated weed management, while that under BPM was inconclusive. The soil properties and available nutrient contents after harvest of the crop were not affected by the treatments.

Low crop productivity is a general problem facing most farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). These low yields are pronounced in grain legumes and are often associated with declining soil fertility and reduced N2-fixation due to biological and environmental factors. Unfortunately, the majority of African small farmers are now unable to afford the high mineral fertilizer prices. More than 75% of the fertilizers used in Africa are imported, putting pressure on foreign exchange. Low cost and sustainable technical solutions compatible with the socioeconomic conditions of small farmers are needed to solve soil fertility problems. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), a key source of N for farmers using little or no fertilizer, constitutes one of the potential solutions and plays a key role in sustainable grain legumes (e.g., soybean) production. Given the high cost of fertilizer in Africa and the limited market infrastructure for farm inputs, current research and extension efforts have been directed to integrated nutrient management, in which legumes play a crucial role. Inoculation with compatible and appropriate rhizobia may be necessary where a low population of native rhizobial strains predominates and is one of the solutions which grain legume farmers can use to optimize yields. It is critical for sustained yield in farmlands deficient in native rhizobia and where N supply limits production. Research on use of Rhizobium inoculants for production of grain legumes showed it is a cheaper and usually more effective agronomic practice for ensuring adequate N nutrition of legumes, compared with the application of N fertilizer. Here, we review past and on-going interventions in Rhizobium inoculation (with special reference to soybean) in the farming systems of SSA with a view to understanding the best way to effectively advise on future investments to enhance production and adoption of BNF and inoculant technologies in SSA. The major findings are: (1) complete absence of or very weak institutions, policy and budgetary support for biotechnology research and lack of its integration into wider agricultural and overall development objectives in SSA, (2) limited knowledge of inoculation responses of both promiscuous and specifically nodulating soybean varieties as well as the other factors that inhibit BNF, hence a weak basis for decision-making on biotechnology issues in SSA, (3) limited capacity and lack of sustainable investment, (4) poorly developed marketing channels and infrastructure, and limited involvement of the private sector in the distribution of inoculants, and (5) limited farmer awareness about and access to (much more than price) inoculants. The lessons learned include the need: (1) to increase investment in Rhizobium inoculation technology development, and strengthen policy and institutional support, (2) for public private partnership in the development, deployment and dissemination of BNF technologies, (3) to develop effective BNF dissemination strategies (including participatory approach) to reach farmers, (4) for greater emphasis on capacity building along the BNF value chain, and (5) for partnership between universities in SSA and those in the North on BNF research.

A field experiment was conductedin a farmer’s field at Jhargram, PaschimMedinipur, West Bengal for consecutive two seasons (rabi and kharif, 2009) to access the effect of the integrated use of organic amendments viz., rice straw, glyricidialeaves, FYM and vermicompost,intended to supply 1000 kg carbon ha-1,integrated with chemical fertilizers in comparison with chemical fertilizers alone on growth and yield of rice variety IR-36. The amount of N, P, K in the organic amendments were subtracted from the total amount to arrive at a rate of 80 kg N, 40 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O ha -1.Substitution of chemical fertilisers with organic amendments for supplying a part of N, P, and K requirement of rice crop resulted in lower values of different plant parameters. The tallest plants (73.59 cm), highest numbers of tillers and panicles (536.33 and 513.17 m-2, respectively),number of grains panicle-1 (120.83), test weight (24.9 g), straw yield (5.03 t ha-1) and grain yield (5.42 t ha-1) were recorde...

A field experiment was conducted during 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Agronomy Research Area, CCS HAU Hisar to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield attributes and yields of wheat. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replication and ten treatments viz. T 1 .Control, T 2 .100% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen)+25% N through FYM, T 3. 100% RDN+25% N through vermicompost, T 4 .75% RDN+25% N through FYM, T 5 .75% RDN+ 25% N through vermicompost, T 6 .50% RDN+50% N through FYM, T 7. 50% RDN+50% N through vermicompost, T 8 .25% RDN+75% N through FYM T 9 .25% RDN+75% N through vermicompost and T 10. 100% RDN. The highest yield attributes and yield of wheat was produced with application of 100 percent recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)+25 percent nitrogen through vermicompost during both the consecutive years, but it did not differ significantly with application of 100 percent recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)+25 percent nitrogen through FYM and the treatment where 100 percent of recommended dose of nitrogen was applied. On the basis of two years pooled data, T 3 produced 94.96 percent higher number effective tillers, 34.14 percent taller spike length, 25.47 percent more test weight, 165.21 percent higher grain yield and 157.13 percent higher straw yield of wheat over control.
Keywords: INM, yield attributes, yield, wheat

Micronutrients play a vital role in the growth and productivity of cotton crop. A study was carried out to access the exogenous application of micronutrients on growth and yield of cotton crop. The experiment was comprised of nine treatments as T 0 (control), T 1 (Fe chelated), T 2 (B), T 3 (Mo), T 4 (CuSo 4 + ZnSo 4 + MnSo 4), T 5 (CuSo 4 + ZnSo 4 + MnSo 4 + Fe chelated), T 6 (CuSo 4 + ZnSo 4 + MnSo 4 + B), T 7 (CuSo 4 + ZnSo 4 + MnSo 4 + Mo) and T 8 (CuSo 4 + ZnSo 4 + MnSo 4 + Fe chelated + B). Data on different growth attributes showed that there was significant positive increase with the application of micronutrients. Leaf area was increased after applying micronutrients at 99 days after sowing (DAS) and then a decreasing trend was observed. Chlorophyll contents were increased at 81 DAS and then decreased towards the final harvest. Similarly, different yield components showed that seed cotton yield were significantly increased with the application of Fe, B, Mo, Zn, Cu and Mn compared to control treatment. Earliness index, mean maturity date and production rate index were increased significantly after combined use of foliar spray of Zn, Cu, Mn and Mo.

Field experiments were conducted at Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University to evaluate the
effect of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and economics of irrigated cotton cv. LRA 5166. The experiments consisted
of eight treatments and laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that application of
NAA @ 40 ppm (T2) recorded the maximum growth, yield attributes and yield. The application of NAA @ 40 ppm (T2) also
recorded the higher net return of Rs. 25311 ha-1 and return rupee-1 invested of Rs. 2.46. It was followed by application of
mepiquat chloride @ 100 ppm (T4).

The objective of the study is to reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizers by using biofertilizers with the aim of sustainable agriculture. The field experiment was conducted at the HRS, Mondouri, BCKV, West Bengal, India during rabi season of 2019-20. The experiment consisted of 14 treatments replicated thrice, comprising of three levels inorganic fertilizers (50, 75 and 100%) of recommended NPK and three biofertilizers viz. Azospirillum lipoferum (N fixer), Bacillus megaterium (potash mobilizer) and Fraturia aurantia (K mobilizer) as soil application. The results indicated that the maximum plant height (86.06 cm) at 100 DAS, number of primary (10.66) and secondary branches (17.33), number of capsules plant-1 (25.33), number of seeds capsule-1 (97.66), test weight (3.54 g) and projected yield (538.50 kg ha-1) were recorded in 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + KS. The yield was at par with 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + KS (536.74 kg ha-1). Considering the economics, maximum net retu...

Two field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, to determine whether management can improve faba bean competitiveness with weeds, thus helping to achieve its yield potential. The experiment included five treatments, composed of organic and mineral fertilizers, alone and mixed at different rates, along with a control and six weed control treatments, including oxadiargyl, prometryn, hand hoeing treatments alone or mixed with the herbicides, and a nonweeded treatment (control).The herbicide treatments were not superior to the two hand-hoeing treatments. Using compost favored growth and yield of faba bean more than of weeds. Adding fertilizer also improved most yield parameters. Application of compost alone or combined with 50 or 100% of the recommended NPK rate improved faba bean growth in terms of net assimilation rate, specific leaf area, and leaf weight ratio as components of relative growth rate. This improvement in growth resulted in increase of seed yield, yield components and protein of faba bean. Faba bean yield performance improved under interactive fertilizer effects and weed control treatments as growth improved, as a result of nutrient release from fertilizers and weed control.

A replicated field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to determine the effect of foliar application of Biozyme on yield and physico-chemical properties of rainy season crop of guava at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. The guava trees under investigation were subjected to different concentrations of Biozyme (5 ppm, 10 ppm and 15 ppm) and a control (water spray only). Foliar application of Biozyme @ 10 ppm recorded maximum no. of shoots meter-1 of main branch (15.80) and length of shoot (20.60 cm). Highest fruit set % (65.26 %), total no. of fruits tree-1 (142.60), fruit yield (8.20 t ha-1) and amount of total chlorophyll content (32.12 mg 100 g-1) also obtained with the application of Biozyme foliar spray @ 10 ppm which was highly significant to rest of the treatments. The best fruit physical attributes such as fruit weight (92.54 g), fruit volume (89.38 cm 3), fruit length (5.80 cm), fruit diameter (5.56 cm) and also lowest number of seeds fruit-1 (131.20) were recorded with same concentration of Biozyme as foliar application. Fruit chemical qualities also improved with Biozyme application over control while highest TSS: acidity ratio (42.1), vitamin C content (195.75 mg 100 g-1), total sugar (9.31%) and reducing sugar (3.81%) were recorded with the application of 10 ppm Biozyme solution.

In order to alleviate the drought adversities on maize (Zea mays L.)biomass accumulation and radiation use efficiency (RUE), a field study was conducted under drought stress levels of D1 = well-watered, D2 = drought stress at blister stage, D3 = drought stress at blister and dough stages; and integrated nutrition levels, N0 = control, N1 = NPK, 125-60-62 kg ha-1 , N2 = NPK, 125-60-62 kg ha-1 + FYM at 10 t ha-1 , N3 = NPK, 125-60-62 kg ha-1 + FYM at 15 t ha-1 , N4 = NPK, 250-120-125 kg ha-1 , N5 = NPK, 250-120-125 kg ha-1 + FYM at 10 t ha-1 , N6 = NPK, 250-120-125 kg ha-1 + FYM at 15 t ha-1. Drought stress caused a significant decline in growth traits, interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), RUE and finally biomass production. The highest leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, interception of PAR and dry matter accumulation was recorded in plants applied with NPK (250-120-125 kg ha-1) in combination with FYM (15 t ha-1), whereas only NPK application did not significantly improve light interception and dry biomass production. Fraction of intercepted (Fi) radiation was significantly improved by integrated nutrient management under well-watered as well as drought stress conditions. A substantial decrease in total dry matter and grain yield basis RUE was recorded from higher to lower plant nutrition rates, as the highest value of RUE was found with treated plants of 250-120-125 kg NPK ha-1 + FYM at 15 t ha-1. Thus, our study demonstrates that supplemental NPK with FYM is an effective strategy to boost the drought tolerance through improved RUE and biomass accumulation in maize.

To evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems, the dynamics of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were studied at field and farm scales in Teghane micro-catchment, Northern Highlands of Ethiopia. Three farm wealth groups (rich, medium and ...

The objective of the study is to reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizers by using biofertilizers with the aim of sustainable agriculture. The field experiment was conducted at the HRS, Mondouri, BCKV, West Bengal, India during rabi season of 2019-20. The experiment consisted of 14 treatments replicated thrice, comprising of three levels inorganic fertilizers (50, 75 and 100%) of recommended NPK and three biofertilizers viz. Azospirillum lipoferum (N fixer), Bacillus megaterium (potash mobilizer) and Fraturia aurantia (K mobilizer) as soil application. The results indicated that the maximum plant height (86.06 cm) at 100 DAS, number of primary (10.66) and secondary branches (17.33), number of capsules plant-1 (25.33), number of seeds capsule-1 (97.66), test weight (3.54 g) and projected yield (538.50 kg ha-1) were recorded in 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + KS. The yield was at par with 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + KS (536.74 kg ha-1). Considering the economics, maximum net return (Rs. 1,08,083.74 ha-1) and B: C ratio (4.14: 1) was obtained from 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + KS. These results suggested that combination of Azospirillum + PSB + KS with 75% RDF was best for optimum production of black cumin without loss in yield and reduction of 25% of inorganic fertilizers through application of biofertilizers and environmental pollution to some extent.