Author(s): M. RAY, P. HALDAR, S. SAHA, S. CHATTERJEE, S. ADHIKARY AND S.K. MUKHOPADHYAY

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) and summer season of 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 at farmers’ field of Mandirbazar and Kakdwip blocks of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal to study the response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) – greengram cropping sequence to balanced nutrition. The experiment consisted of 7 treatments combinations, viz. absolute control, recommended N alone, recommended N and P, recommended N and K, recommended N, P and K, recommended NPK with ZnSO4 in rice along with NPK in succeeding greengram, and farmers’ practice, were replicated in 24 farmers’ field. Application of 80 kg ha^-1 N, 40 kg ha^-1 P and 40 kg ha^-1 K along with 25 kg ha^-1 ZnSO4 to rice recorded significantly higher grain (4.51 t ha^-1) as well as straw (6.48 t ha^-1) yield and in the same plot in succeeding greengram application of 20 kg ha^-1 N, 40 kg ha^-1 P, 40 kg ha^-1 K also recorded significantly higher seed (0.92 t ha^-1) yield. Similarly the maximum system rice equivalent yield (8.81 t ha^-1) and productivity (24 kg ha^-1 day^-1) were also achieved under this nutrient combination. Significantly higher cost of cultivation (62,704 ha^-1), gross return (1, 90,699 ha^-1), net return (46,994 ha^-1), B: C ratio (1.76) and sustainable yield index (0.83) for rice-greengram cropping system were also recorded with the same treatment combination. This nutrient combination also responsible for higher fertility build up.

Download Full Article: Click Here