Balanced Fertilization for Enhancing the Productivity of the Pearl Millet-Wheat-Green Gram Crop Sequence in Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Pearl millet-wheat is a common cropping system in dryland areas of India. However, system yields are often low due to inadequate and unbalanced nutrient application to the crops. This study was initiated to intensify the pearl millet-wheat cropping system through balanced application of nutrients for a targeted system yield as well as by inclusion of a legume crop in the system.
IPNI-2012-IND-519
01 Feb 2013
Project Description
Objectives:
(i) To study the effect of balanced fertilizer application in pearl millet-wheat-green gram crop sequence
(ii) To evaluate the effect in terms of economics, crop efficiency and utilization of nutrients by the crop
(iii) To study the effect of various treatments on soil properties and fertility status of soil
Treatments:
Pearl millet
(i) Farmer practice
(ii) 70 kg N, 30 kg P2O5, 20 kg K2O ha-1 (3.75 t ha-1 targeted yield)
(iii) 84 + 43 + 30 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 (4.0 t ha-1 targeted yield)
(iv) 117 + 71 + 50 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 (4.5 t ha-1 targeted yield)
(v) 150 + 98 +70 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 (5.0 t ha-1 targeted yield)
(vi) 98 kg P2O5 + 70 kg K2O ha-1
(vii) 150 kg N + 70 kg K2O ha-1
(viii) 150 kg N + 98 kg P2O5 ha-1
Experimental sites: Five
Replication: Three
Design: Factorial randomized
Wheat
Wheat crop will be grown at the same sites after harvest of pearl millet crop with following treatments
(i) Farmer practice
(ii) 3 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE
(iii) 4.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE
(iv) 5.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE
(v) 6.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE
(vi) 6.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE -Nitrogen
(vii) 6.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE – P2O5
(viii) 6.0 t ha-1 targeted yield based on NE – K2O
Amounts of NPK to produce 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 t ha-1 yield of wheat will be calculated by Nutrient Expert (NE) Decision Support Tool for Wheat
Experimental sites: Five
Replication: Three
Design: Factorial randomized
Greengram
The crop will be grown without fertilizers on residual soil fertility after harvest of wheat
The experiments will be conducted for two consecutive years at five on-farm sites in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh
Observations:
(I) Growth characters
(II) Yield attributes
(III) Grain and straw/stover yield
Chemical analysis of grain and straw
(i) Grain and straw samples will be analyzed for their N, P, K and S content
(ii) Uptake of nutrients by the crops
Soil analysis
(i) Soil samples before sowing of crops and after harvest will be analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, available N, P, K and S contents. In addition, water holding capacity, particle density, bulk density, porosity, aggregate size will also be determined