Growth, yield and economics of soybean-safflower cropping sequence as influenced by different land configuration and nutrient management

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Department of Agronomy, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, to study the performance of soybean-safflower cropping sequence under different land configuration and nutrient management. Treatment consists of eighteen treatment combinations comprising three land configuration (L1- flat beds, L2- ridges and furrow and L3- Broad bed furrow) and three superabsorbent levels (S1- 0 Kg ha-1, S2- 2.5 Kg ha-1 and S3- 5.0 Kg ha-1) in main plot, two nutrient levels i.e., N1 - 30:60:30 NPK kg ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1 and N2 - 30:60:30:30 NPKS kg ha-1 + 20 kg Zn SO4 + 5 t FYM ha-1 to soybean and N1 - 40:20:0 NPK kg ha-1 and N2 - 30:15:0 NPK kg ha-1 to safflower during kharif and rabi seasons respectively as sub plot treatments were assigned in a split plot design with three replication. Broad bed furrows planting method with the application of 30:60:30:30 NPKS kg ha-1 + 20 kg Zn SO4 + 5 t FYM ha-1 to soybean and 40:20:0 NPK kg ha-1 to safflower during kharif and rabi seasons respectively, recorded significantly higher growth, yield and yield attributes as well as net monetary returns during both the year of study.