Effect of integrated nutrient management on the performance of crops under brinjal (Solanum melongena) – pea (Pisum sativum) – okra (Hibuscus esculentus) cropping system

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2000–03 to observe the impact of integrated nutrient management on the performance of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and its residual effect on rotational crops of pea (Pisum sativum L. Poir) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.). Different organic sources of nutrition, like farmyard manure, neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juis. L.) cake, poultry manure, Azotobacter, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and pea straw residue were combined with NPK fertilizers and the performance was compared with the sole chemical fertilization. The integrated nutrition showed a positive impact on fruit size of brinjal (113.90 g) and the other 2 crops also. There was beneficial effect on yield of brinjal (11.75 tonnes/ha) and pea (6.54 tonnes/ha) in second and third year respectively but consistently better performance was observed in the third rotational crop of okra. The additional income over the control was maximum with the application of micronutrients NPK fertilizers, followed by pea straw incorporation + NPK fertilizers but the integration of 20 tonnes/ha farmyard manure + rest NPK through fertilizers proved to be most useful in terms of yield along with minimization of chemical fertilization.