Cropping Systems and Fertilizer Management in Relation to Crop Yields and Soil and Water Conservation in Eroded Soil Under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment consisting of seven types of cropping systems viz. maize, moong, urd, cowpea, maize + moong, maize + urd and maize + cowpea and three methods of fertilizer application viz, broadcast, seed-cum-fertilizer drilling and mixed with seed were tested in kharif seasons of two consecutive years 1985 and 1986 in eroded soil under ?whiled conditions. The results revealed that incorporation of legumes with maize proved superior in increasing yield attributes and yield of maize, gross return LER, Cover efficiency, moisture content, water use efficiency and reduced splash loss and water use to sole cropping of maize. Moong combination proved superior to urd and cowpea combination in respect of yield of maize and LER whereas cowpea combination proved better than urd and moong combination in respect of cover efficiency, soil loss and moisture conservation. Urd combination proved superior to moong and cowpea combination in case of gross return. As compared to sole cropping of legume, maize + legumes gave similar cover efficiency and splash loss but conserved less moisture. Seed-cum-fertilizer drilling method provided maximum yield of maize and legume gross return, LER, Cover efficiency, moisture content, water use efficiency and less soil loss followed by mixed with seed and broad cast method.