Performance of Lens culinaris Medic. under integrated nutrient management practices and soil application of basic slagin eastern Indian old alluvial plains

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during rabi2016-17 and 2017-18 at the farm of Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone) under Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practice and soil application of basic slag on lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomised block design with nine treatment combination and replicated thrice. The experimental soil was initially slightly acidic, medium in available nitrogen, low in available phosphorus and low in available potassium. Integrated nutrient management practice with 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer + 5 t ha-1 FYM + seed inoculation with Rhizobium performed as the best treatment amongst the treatment combinations in terms of higher number pod plant-1(113.4), higher number of seed pod-1(1.78), and higher seed yield (1293.7 kg ha-1)with better return rupee-1 of investment(1.79). This treatment fetched 21.28% yield increment of lentil with higher number of root nodule formation plant-1 at 45 DAS (13.61) and 60 DAS (16.78) over the sole use of chemical fertilizer. Soil application of basic slag@ 20% of the lime requirement also showed its potentiality in seed yield of lentil (1289.6 kg ha-1), better return rupee-1 of investment of (1.89) with a higher number of root nodule formation plant-1at 45 DAS (15.28) and 60 DAS (16.64) compared to the treatment with no use of soil ameliorative materials at old alluvial soil of the eastern India.