Effect of integrated nutrients on performance of soybean (Glycine max) under vertisols of Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Integrated nutrient management has emerged as a crucial approach that increases crop yields while simultaneously improving nutrient use efficiency and sustaining agricultural production over the long term. A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) for Dryland Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Indore, India, to study the effect of different combinations of organic manures and inorganic fertilizer inputs on the performance of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soybean (cv.RVS-24) was grown in a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications. Results revealed that the maximum number of pods plant-1 (49.7 at harvesting). Seed index (12.0 g), seed yield (2125 kg ha-1), Straw yield (2495 kg ha-1) and harvest index (46.0%) were noticed with treatment T6 (FYM 6 t ha-1 + N20 P13). The balanced application of fertilizers resulted in significantly higher plant height, increased number of branches per plant, improved seed index and a superior harvest index compared to imbalanced nutrient application, indicating the importance of optimum nutrient management for enhanced soybean growth and yield.