Yield, Quality of Soybean (Glycine Max)-Onion (For Seed) (Allium Cepa) and residual soil fertility as influenced by integrated nutrient management

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Post Graduate Institute Research Farm, Central Campus, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar (MS) during 2014-15 and 2015-16 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield on soybean-onion (for seed) crop sequence. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of combinations of 5 nutrient sources in main plots were applied to kharif soybean and 3 fertilizer levels in sub plot treatments to onion (for seed) The residual effect of the integrated nutrient sources applied to kharif soybean was tested in the succeeding rabi onion (for seed). Three fertilizer levels as sub plot treatments to onion (for seed). Application of 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) to preceding crop reported significantly higher values for growth and yield attributes, seed yield (25.86, 27.5 q ha-1) in soybean. The succeeding crop of onion (for seed) too showed a similar trend gross and net monetary returns and benefit : cost ratio in rabi onion (for seed), however, it was found at par with 50 % recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical fertilizers (CF) + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through vermicompost (VC) followed by the treatment 50 % recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical fertilizers (CF) + 50 % RDN through farmyard manure (FYM) during both the years. Among the integrated nutrient sources higher values observed with application of 50 % RDN through chemical fertilizers (CF) + 50 % RDN through vermicompost (VC) followed by 50 % RDN through chemical fertilizers (CF) + 50 % RDN through farmyard manure (FYM). Among fertilizer levels to succeeding rabi onion (for seed) significantly higher values registered for growth and yield attributes, seed yield ((5.05, 5.45 q ha-1), gross and net monetary returns and benefit: cost ratio with the application of 125% RDN through chemical fertilizers (CF) over 75 % RDN through chemical fertilizers (CF) and at par with 100% RDN through chemical fertilizers (CF) during both the years. After two years completion it was concluded that, combined application of 50% RDN (25 kg ha-1) through chemical fertilizers + 50% RDN through vermicompost (19.5 t ha-1) or farmyard manure (46 t ha-1) to kharif soybean followed by 100 per cent RDN (100 kg ha-1) through chemical fertilizers to rabi onion (for seed) along with recommended dose of phosphorus and potassium to both the crops is necessary for getting higher yield in soybean-onion (for seed) crop sequence and also markedly improved the oil content in soybean. Use of FYM and VC helped in maintaining soil fertility and rhizospheric microbial population.