Irrigation and nutrient management effect on yield, economics, water productivity and nutrient uptake of Green gram (Vigna radiata) – Brinjal (Solanum melongena) sequence

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at AICRP-IWM, Morena centre during two consecutive years of 2011- 2013 to determine the effect of nutrient management and irrigation scheduling on growth, yield, economics, water productivity, production efficiency, nutrient uptake and soil properties of rainy season green gram (Vigna radiata) and winter season vegetable brinjal (Solanum melongena) crop grown in sequence. The results of the experiment revealed that application of 75% recommended doses of nutrients (RDN) + 2.5 t FYM ha-1 achieved the maximum growth, yield components and yield increased by 21.2, 10.9 and 12.9% of green gram and 33.2, 22.4 and 7.9% of brinjal as compared with 100% RDN, 125% RDN and 50% RDN + 5.0 t FYM ha-1 application, respectively. Irrigation applied at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio of irrigation regime significantly influenced the higher growth, yield attributes and fruit yield of brinjal resulting in 44.7 and 18.6% increased as compared with 0.4 and 0.6 IW/CPE ratio. The maximum net returns, B:C ratio, water productivity and production efficiency of green gram and brinjal were also realized under application of 75% RDN + 2.5 t FYM ha-1, whereas irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio for brinjal compared with other treatments. Similarly maximum utilization of N, P and K by green gram and brinjal were recorded with application of 75% RDN + 2.5 t FYM ha-1 of and irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio as compared with other treatments. The application of 75% RDN + 2.5 t FYM ha-1 was significantly recorded higher availability of N, P, K and S in soil compared to control. All the measured parameters of two years of experimentation indicates that addition of nutrients with organic and inorganic form by 75% RDN + 2.5 t FYM ha-1 in each crop and irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio of winter season crop produced higher fruit yield, benefits and soil properties of green gram – brinjal crop grown in sequence.