Economic Feasibility of Incubated Sources of Udaipur Rock Phosphate and Farmyard Manure in Wheat-Maize Cropping System in South Rajasthan

Abstract

A field experiment was carried-out during two consecutive years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 on clay-loam soils to assess economic feasibility of Udaipur rock phosphate (URP) as compared to diammonium phosphate (DAP) and farmyard manure (FYM) in wheat-maize cropping system in south Rajasthan. Twenty six treatments were evaluated, viz., 3 sources of Udaipur rock phosphate (URP 18%, 31% and 34%), 4 incubation methods (no incubation, incubation with phosphate solubilizing bacteria, incubation with FYM and incubation with FYM + phosphate solubilizing bacteria) and 2 FYM levels (0 and 10 t ha-1) along with 2 checks (40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 through DAP). These 26 treatment combinations [(3x4x2)+2] were replicated 4 times in randomized block design. The increasing levels of phosphorus from 40 to 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 through DAP had no significant effect on net monetary return and B:C ratio of the system, but fetched more net return of Rs. 2106 over 40 kg P2O5 ha-1. Further, both sources of URP and DAP proved at par in respect of economics of the system. High grade URP (31 and 34%) proved superior to low grade URP (18%) in respect of net monetary return and benefit:cost ratio of wheat-maize cropping system. URP (31%) and URP (34%) gave marginal rate of return of Rs. 4685 and Rs. 5723 over URP (18%). Among incubation methods, incubation of URP with FYM and FYM + phosphate solubilizing bacteria proved superior to incubation with phosphate solubilizing bacteria and no incubation in fetching net monetary return and benefit:cost ratio. Application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 to wheat had significant effect on economics of wheat-maize cropping system and gave more net return of Rs. 7472 ha-1 over no FYM. Key words: Udaipur rock phosphate, farm yard manure, incubation methods, diammonium phosphate, wheat-maize cropping system, net return, benefit:cost ratio.