An experiment was carried out during kharif 2011 to study the responseof kharif sorghum to soil and foliar application of micronutrient zinc and iron at Sorghum Research Station, V.N. Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and three replications. Results revealed that zinc sulphate and ferrous sulphate micronutrient through soil and foliar application along with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers resulted in improvement of kharif sorghum grain and fodder yield. Quality parameters like crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, moisture content, starch, soluble sugar, ash content, approximate calorific value of grain and crude protein, dietary fiber, ash, organic matter, ether extract, nitrogen free extract of fodder were also improved due to soil and foliar application of micronutrients along with RDF. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration in sorghum fodder was markedly increased by application of RDF along with micronutrients. The treatment T 7 i.e. RDF + soil application of 15 kg ZnSO 4 + 15 kg FeSO 4 /ha recorded highest % N(0.65), % P (0.49)and % K (0.82)in fodder, whereas highest N, P and K in harvested grainswas noted as1.55, 0.88 and 0.41kg/ha, respectively. Total uptake of major nutrients was also recorded as nitrogen (50.79 kg/ha), phosphorus (31.85 kg/ha) and potassium (32.29 kg/ha).
Sulphur (S) deficiency is widespread in agricultural fields across the globe. Its flow in the soil–plant system under different management practices is too poorly understood to strategize S fertilisation with increased efficiency. Accordingly, an attempt was made to elucidate the pathways of S flow in soils and to plants under organic, inorganic, and integrated nitrogen (N) management practices using a 30‐year‐old long‐term field experiment planted with sorghum in the semi‐arid tropics. Partitioning soil S into pools, we observed that exchangeable (4.2%) and adsorbed (4.6%) pools constituted a small part of total soil S but contributed mainly to S nutrition (46% and 33%) of sorghum; it also contributed to the variability of S extractable by six commonly used extractants. Using multiple criteria, the superiority of monocalcium phosphate as an extractant for assessment of S in Vertisols was established. Among the N management practices, integrated N management performed better in supplying S in soils and to sorghum, and excelled, both in retention (35.9% of applied) and utilisation (13%) of S, curbing its losses (51.1%) from the system, over the organics (26%, 8.4%, and 65.6%, respectively) and inorganic (11.6%, 7.1%, and 81.3%, respectively) management practices. The integrated management practices with farmyard manure (FYM) excelled in improving S in soils, including economics. Out of the organics, FYM was more effective in improving S availability in soils and its nutrition of the crop over the crop residue, and green manure. Changes in organic C, and oxides and hydroxides of Fe and Al in soils are the keys governing the flows of S in the soil–plant system. A detailed pathway of the increased efficacy of S fertilisation upon conjoint application of N sources over the others was highlighted for adoption in Vertisols of semi‐arid tropics.
Highlights
Inter‐relationship between pools and extractants of S were elucidated.
Organic C and sesquioxides played a key role in S transformation in soils.
Monocalcium phosphate was the most sensitive extractant for S in soils.
Sixty two percent of the applied S was lost, 28% retained and 10% utilised.
A field experiment was conducted during 2008-09 to 2012-13 on deep soil (Inceptisol) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station farm to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management in non-spiny safflower (cv. NH-1) under dryland conditions of scarcity zone of Maharashtra. Application of 50 kg N + 25 kg P 2 O 5 /ha through integrated nutrient management (50% through organics + 50% through chemical fertilizers) and pest and disease control by IPM recorded significantly higher grain, straw and petal yield (1250, 3025 and 119 kg/ha, respectively), total N uptake (45.84 kg/ha) and oil content (31.9%) with highest gross (H 104977/ ha), net returns (H 83664/ha) and 4.93 benefit:cost ratio. The improvement of soil fertility observed with respect to available N, P and K was prominent with the application of 50 kg N + 25 kg P 2 O 5 /ha through integrated nutrient management (50% through organics + 50% through chemical fertilizers) and pest and disease control by IPM. The soil organic carbon and soil biological properties in terms of total bacteria, fungi, actinomycestes, N fixer and P solubilizer were increased with the application of 50 kg N + 25 kg P 2 O 5 / ha adjusted through FYM, neem cake and leucaena loppings, PSB + Azotobacter seed treatment for pest and disease control by Tricoderma seed treatment + neem oil sprays thrice at 15, 30 and 45 DAS followed by INM.
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