Production potential, nutrient uptake, soil fertility and economics of soybean (Glycine max) - based cropping systems under organic, chemical and integrated nutrient management practices Ramesh P.1, Panwar N.R., Singh A.B., Ramana S. Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 038. 1 Corresponding author: (E mail: pramesh@iiss.ernet.in)
Abstract A field experiment was conducted during 2004–05 to 2007–08 at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to study the effect of organic, chemical and integrated (50:50) nutrient management (INM) practices on the productivity, nutrient uptake, soil fertility and economics of 4 soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) based cropping systems involving durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf), mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) and isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk). The productivity of crops in these systems was higher in the integrated nutrient management compared to either chemical fertilizers or organic manures, in all the years. In the first year (2004–05), the organic manure treatment recorded 7.8, 5.6, 9.4, 3.0 and 2.5% reduction in the productivity of soybean, durum wheat, mustard, chickpea and isabgol crops, respectively, whereas in the fourth year (2007–08), the productivity of these crops was improved by 11.1, 1.1, 3.0, 4.2 and 11.2% than chemical fertilizers. Among the treatments, soybean-durum wheat cropping system recorded the highest soybean equivalent yield (4.54 t/ha) under integrated nutrient management. Maximum uptake of N, P and K was recorded in integrated nutrient management and soybean-durum wheat cropping system. At the end of the 4 cropping cycles, application of organic manures resulted in significantly higher soil organic carbon, available N, P and K than chemical fertilizers but was on par with the integrated nutrient management. Economic returns were the highest in the INM and soybean-durum wheat cropping system and they were similar between the treatments receiving organic manures and chemical fertilizers. Top Key words Cropping systems, Intercropping, Nutrient management, Nutrient uptake, Organic farming, Organic manure, Soil fertility, Soybean. Top |