RICE
Effect of integrated nutrient management on lowland paddy
Field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2007 (variety Shah Sarang) to study the effect of
integrated nutrient management practices on rice yield and on soil properties. The experiment consisted of 4 levels of NPK (0, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of recommended NPK) and 04 levels of management practices namely; control, crop residue, crop residue + FYM, and crop residue + FYM + biofertilizers in 16 treatment combinations in split plot design with three replications. The recommended dose of fertilizer was 80:60:40 (100%). Full dose of P and 1/3 of N and K was applied at the time of transplanting and, the remaining N and K was applied in two split doses at active tillering and panicle initiation stage. The results obtained indicated that yield of paddy increased with increasing fertilizers doses.
Application of FYM, crop residues and biofertilizers also increased the yield significantly.
Among the treatment combinations, 75% NPK+
FYM (5 t/ha) + crop residues (10 t/ha) + biofertilizers registered highest grain yield (41.3 q/ha) followed by 100% NPK + FYM (5 t/ha) + Crop residues (10t/ha) + Biofertilizers (Fig. 1). All the treatments increased the grain yield of the crops significantly over the control. Application of FYM, crop residues and biofertilizers had significant influence on soil fertility. The maximum organic carbon content was recorded in the treatment receiving 50% NPK + Crop residues (10 t/ha) + FYM (5t/ha). Application of crop residues (10 t/
ha) along with 100% NPK recorded the highest available N and K2O whereas, the amount of P2O5 was highest in the treatment receiving crop residues (10t/ha) + FYM (5t/ha) + Biofertilizers + 50% NPK (Fig. 2).
Crops: Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw
Control Crop residues Corp res.+FYM Crop res.+FYM+
Biofertilizer
Fig. 1 Effect of INM on yield parameters of rice
GROUNDNUT
Response of groundnut to SSP, DAP with CaSO4 to delineate the role of sulphur:
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2007, for the 2nd year with SSP, DAP and DAP with CaSO4 to study the response of groundnut to these sources. DAP and SSP were applied to supply 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 per hectare. CaSO4 was applied equivalent to sulphur supplied from SSP in combination with DAP. Like first year, in second year also, highest pod yield was recorded in the soils treated with SSP @ 90 kg P2O5 per hectare (3.42 t/ha) where as, treatment receiving DAP @ 90 kg P2O5 recorded the highest straw yield (2.35 q/ha) (Fig.3). Available sulphur content of the soil
as well as in the plant was more in the soils treated with DAP + CaSO4 as compared to control and other treatments (Fig. 4). Application of phosphate fertilizers with calcium sulphate had significant influence on soil N, P, K and S content of the soil.
MAIZE
Effect of different sources of nitrogen and phosphorus along with boron and zinc on maize yield and on soil fertility:
An experiment consisting of 13 treatments with different sources of nitrogen (urea and DAP) and phosphorus (DAP and SSP) along with boron and
zinc was conducted to study the effect of these sources as well as the interaction effect of zinc and boron on the yield of maize and on soil fertility.
NPK fertilizer was applied in the ratio of 80:72:40 kg/ha. Zinc and boron was applied @ 20 and 40 kg/ha, respectively. Lime was applied @1 t/ha in all the treatments. Application of urea, single superphosphate along with boron and zinc recorded the highest grain and straw yield (3.1 t/ha and 1.9 t/ha, respectively) followed by the combined application of DAP, single super phosphate and boron (Fig. 5). Application different sources of fertilizers significantly influenced and increased the available nutrient concentration. Application of zinc and boron in combination with both sources of N and P fertilizers increased the yield. Lower pH was recorded in the treatment receiving urea compared to DAP (Table 1).
Response of maize to lime mud and dolomite This experiment was conducted on an acid soil having pH 4.8, exchangeable Al 1.8 me/100 g and exchangeable Ca+Mg 4.1 me/100 g. the calcium carbonate equivalence (CEC) of lime mud and dolomite was 95.2% and 79.3%, respectively. The lime requirement (LR) of soil was 18.4 t/ha. The lime rates were 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 % of lime requirement. Both sources of lime were broadcasted in 12 m2 plot size before the sowing of maize, mixed in soil with spades and left for one month for the completion of lime reaction with soil. The experimental design was split plot design in three replicates. After one month of lime application, recommended dose of fertilizers were applied in each plot and seeds of maize (variety (RCM-1-1) was sown in 60 cm from row to row and 25 cm from seed to seed. All the recommended
practices were followed through the growing period. After the maturity of crop, yield of grain and straw were recorded. Soil samples were also taken for soil acidity parameters measurements.
Maize well responded to the application of liming materials and lime mud better performed than that of dolomite (Fig. 6). The application of lime equivalent to 30% of LR gave almost optimum yield maize. The application of lime mud increased the soil pH comparatively more than the limestone, mainly caused by better quality of the former.
Evaluation paper mill sludge as acid soil amendment
This experiment was also conducted on soil having similar properties of the earlier experiment.
The efficiency of paper mill sludge was compared with dolomite for augmenting the maize productivity on acid soil. The CCE of paper mill sludge (PMS) was 31.2%. There were 8 treatment combinations namely; T1 (no lime), T2 (10 t PMS/
ha), T3 (20 t PMS/ha), T4 (Lime 10% of LR), T5 (lime 20% LR), T6 (lime 40% LR), T7 (PMS 10 t and lime 10% LR), and T8 (PMS 20 t and lime 10% LR). These sources of liming materials also applied one months before sowing of maize in 12 m2 plot size in triplicates. All the practices for maize crop raising were followed as given earlier.
The application of PM significantly increased the maize yield over control and performed slightly poor as compared to dolomite. The application of PML and dolomite (10% LR) improved the productivity of maize as compared to PMS alone. It indicated that the productivity of maize can be enhanced further when PMS applied with lower rate Table 1. Effect of different sources of nitrogen and phosphorus along with boron and zinc on soil
fertility
Treat pH OC% N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Fe Mn Zn Cu
(kg/ha) (kg/ha) (ppm)
T1 4.79 1.88 319.9 71 432.1 2.0 1.2 77.9 18.25 2.90 1.135 0.80
T2 5.08 1.26 246.7 50.3 438.4 2.8 1.2 81.8 17.57 3.01 0.50 0.68
T3 5.09 1.29 363.7 93.8 420.7 2.5 1.2 80.0 22.56 2.62 0.65 0.45
T4 5.18 1.72 242.5 47.3 264.3 2.7 1.1 91.9 21.57 3.01 0.45 0.50
T5 5.02 1.14 259.2 34.3 256.7 1.7 0.8 98.7 21.43 5.62 4.65 0.74
T6 5.12 1.68 234.1 89.3 360.6 2.1 1.1 88.8 23.6 2.06 2.10 0.39
T7 5.13 1.40 112.9 53.8 438.0 1.7 0.9 81.9 22.06 3.58 1.27 1.65
T8 5.20 1.20 372.1 123.0 428.7 1.9 0.9 91.3 20.08 2.32 0.51 0.59
T9 5.45 1.88 117.0 65.5 420.2 2.8 1.5 99.5 25.55 2.48 1.07 0.46
T10 5.13 1.19 142.1 63.5 432.3 2.7 1.1 104.7 19.32 2.68 2.35 0.72
T11 5.20 1.20 234.1 125.1 520.7 3.0 1.3 109.5 21.72 2.85 2.60 0.69
T12 5.35 1.89 309.4 70.2 210.0 1.6 0.7 108.2 22.57 2.75 0.44 0.59
T13 5.29 1.87 238.3 128.8 528.6 2.2 1.3 112.5 19.99 2.2 1.66 0.63
of dolomite and was significantly higher than the alone 10% LR dolomite application.(fig. 7)
Development of on farm diagnostic kit for rapid assay of soil health
Soil test kit is developed and to make a soil health card based on the tested parameters for rapid soil health test kit specially suited for the acid soils of North eastern hill region. The kit contains a kit box made up of wood with several plastic bottles having reagents of specific determination which are marked by numerical numbers. It also contains scoop, syringe, beaker, graduated test tubes, filter papers, funnel, droppers, spoon, etc. The kit has been designed for on-form testing by a semi-skilled person who can test his own soil as often and in as many places as he feels necessary to apply the lime and fertilizers. The present soil test kit can easily be transported to the field. Rapid test methods can assess following parameters.
A. Physical
1. Percent moisture content in soil 2. Weight of water present in soil 3. Dry weight of the soil
4. Volume of the soil 5. Bulk density of soil 6. Soil water content 7. Volumetric water content
8. Percent pore space in soil (% porosity) 9. Volume of total pore space
10.Soil dispersibility and slaking 11.Consistence of soil
12.Soil texture analysis (feel method)
B. Chemical
1. Soil pH assessment
2. Exchange acidity determination in soil.
3. Exchangeable Aluminium determination in soil
C. Soil fertility
1. Organic carbon/matter determination 2. Available ammonium status assessment 3. Available phosphorus status assessment 4. Available potassium status assessment 5. Available calcium and Magnesium status
determination
6. Available sulphur status assessment.
D.Biological
1.Soil respiration health determination.
E.Miscellaneous parameter which will be estimated based on the tests carried outs
1. Percent organic matter status
2. Percent total Nitrogen content of soil 3. Potential amount of Nitrogen mineralized
from organic matter decomposition.
4. Lime potential of soil (Approximately) 5. Lime requirement of soil (Approximately) 6. Approximate Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
Potassium requirement and fertilizer recommendation.
7. Approximate cation exchange capacity of soil.
8. Approximate percent base saturation of soil 9. Approximate Nutrient/Fertility index of soil 10.Sulphur availability index of soil