Effect of integrated nutrient management on nutrient content and uptake in alfalfa under central dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on nutrient content and uptake in alfalfa under central dry zone of Karnataka at the farm field of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Konehalli, Tiptur, Tumkuru district of Karnataka state during kharif and rabi seasons from June 2016 to July 2017. There were nine treatments and four replication with Randomized complete block design. The results revealed that, the maximum nitrogen content of plant at first (1.14% & 1.15%), second (1.12% & 1.14%), third (1.16% & 1.15%), fourth (1.12% & 1.12%), fifth (1.11% & 1.09%), sixth (1.08% & 1.06%) and seventh harvest (1.07% & 1.05%) were recorded respectively during kharif and rabi season with the application 50% RDF+25% N through vermicompost+Rhizobium+PSB+VAM. The least nitrogen content of plant was recorded with the application of 10 t/ha FYM+100% N through FYM at all the harvests. The application of 50% RDF+25% N through vermicompost+Rhizobium+PSB+VAM has recorded maximum cumulative uptake of nitrogen (250.74 kg ha-1 & 235.36 kg ha-1), phosphorus (91.47 kg ha-1 & 84.36 kg ha-1) and potassium (176.46 kg ha-1 & 166.66 kg ha-1) by plant respectively during kharif and rabi season. The highest crude protein content of plant at first and subsequent harvesting of ratoon crops were recorded with the application of 50% RDF+25% N through vermicompost+Rhizobium+PSB+VAM in both the season. The experiment concluded that, the application of 50% RDF+25% N through vermicompost+Rhizobium+PSB+VAM has recorded maximum nutrient content and uptake in alfalfa during kharif and rabi season under central dry zone of Karnataka.