Integrated nutrient management practice for rainfed crops

Abstract

Intensive agricultural practices involving external usage of chemical fertilizers are degrading the soil health and crop productivity since post-green revolution period. Progressively affluent population and food demand is further worsening the agricultural soils for higher productivity. The total nutrient consumption at present is almost 27.29 million tonnnes (MT) of N + P2O5 + K2O and it is likely to increase to around 48.0 MT by 2050. Persistent decline in soil health and the quality of the environment are the major constraints coming in the way of achieving sustainability in Indian agriculture. It is therefore, pivotal to consider inclusion of organic manures, biofertilizers, crop residues, etc in cultivation to bridge the gap between nutrient added and the amount produced, thereby assuring the environmental security. Improving crop production without harming the environmental resources and mitigating climate change must be the priority in today’s agriculture. Integrated nutrient management (INM) approach is an effective way to deal with low productivity and poor soils.