Long term effect of integrated nutrient management on soil fertility and nutrient balance in cotton + greengram (1:1) intercropping system on Vertisols

Abstract

A field study was conducted during kharif 2019-20 at Research field of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra to assess the long term effect of integrated nutrient management on soil fertility and yield of cotton+greengram intercropping system in Vertisols. The soil of the experimental site was Vertisol which was moderately alkaline in reaction, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The eight treatments replicated three times in randomized block design comprised of control, 50% and 100% RDF, 50% N ha-1 through gliricidia/FYM, 50% N fertilizers + 50% N ha-1 through gliricidia / FYM + 100% P2O5+ 100% K2O ha-1 fertilizers, 100% N ha-1 through gliricidia + 100% P2O5+ 100% K2O ha-1 fertilizers. The significant improvement in soil fertility with higher nutrient balance was recorded with application of 50% N through gliricidia + 50% N + 100% P2O5 + 100% K2O ha-1 through fertilizers and was on par with 50% RDN through FYM in combination with 50% N + 100% P2O5 + 100% K2O ha-1 through fertilizers in Vertisols under cotton+greengram(1:1) intercropping system.