GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RABI GROUNDNUT AFTER THIRTEEN DOUBLE CROP CYCLES UNDER ORGANIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to evaluate six different nutrient management practices in randomized block design with four replications. The experimental soil was non-saline, neutral in reaction with sandy loam texture. Prior to conduct of this experiment,
the field was under a long term study which was conducted to know the effect of organic, inorganic and integrated nutrient management practices on maize-onion cropping system since kharif, 2003-04 to 2014-15. Results revealed that significantly higher plant height, dry matter production at vegetative, flowering and harvest stages along with higher pod (3053 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (5228 kg ha-1) was recorded with application of 50% N through farm yard manure + 50% N through chemical fertilizers. Application of 100% nitrogen through organics like farm yard manure, neem cake and vermicompost along with biofertilizers like rhizobium and PSB and application of 100% recommended NPK through chemical fertilizers also recorded comparable yield and drymatter. Significantly lower plant height (18.80 cm), dry matter production (6243 kg ha-1) at harvest stage along with lower pod yield (2230 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (4228 kg ha-1) was recorded in the treatment which received 50% N through FYM + Biofertilizers for N, Rock phosphate for P and PSB at vegetative (1000 kg ha-1), flowering (2712 kg ha-1) and harvest (6243 kg ha-1) stages than the rest of the treatment. No significant differences in the harvest index of the crop were recorded among different nutrient management practices.