Effect of Combined Use of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Sunflower Yield, Soil Fertility, and Overall Soil Quality in Rainfed Alfisol

Abstract

To study the response of inorganic and organic nitrogen (N) sources both alone and in conjunction and their influence on soil quality, a field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons using sunflower (MSFH-8) as test crop. The experimental site soil was Typic Haplustalf situated at Hayatnagar Research Farm of Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India, at 178 18 0 N latitude, 788 36 0 E longitude. The experiment design was a simple randomized block design with 11 treatments replicated four times. Among all the treatments, vermicompost (VC) þ Fert at 25 þ 25 kg N ha 21 recorded the highest grain yields of 1878 and 2160 kg ha 21 during both kharif and rabi seasons, respectively, which were 43.9 and 85.1% higher than their respective control plots. Apparent N recovery varied from as little as 38.30% (FYM at 50 kg N ha 21 ) to 62.16 (25 kg N ha 21 ) during kharif and 49.65 (75 kg ha 21 ) to 83.28% (VC þ Fert at 25 þ 25 kg N ha 21 ) during rabi season. Conjunctive nutrient treatments proved quite superior to other set of treatments in improving the uptake of N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and micronutrients in sunflower and their buildup in the soil. Highest relative soil quality indexes (RSQI) were observed under VC þ Fert at 25 þ 25 kg N ha 21 (1.00) followed by VC þ Gly at 25 þ 25 kg N ha 21 (0.87). Considering the yield and relative soil quality indices (RSQI), conjunctive applications of VC with either inorganic fertilizer, FYM, or Gly at 25 þ 25 kg N ha 21 could be a successful and sustainable soil nutrient management practice in semi-arid tropical Alfisols. Besides this, the fertilizer N demand could be reduced up to 50%.

Nutritional yield and economic responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus l.) to integrated levels of nitrogen, sulphur and farmyard manure

“…For higher productivity and sustainability, integrated use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients is considered to be very important. It is a well established fact that regular integrated use of fertilizer, organic manures and residues in rotation is essential for sustaining moderate to high crop yields, at the same time improving soil organic matter and fertility (Sharma et al, 2008). The chemical fertilizer is supplied along with organic materials, the yield decrement, if any in the initial years can overcome by enhanced mineralization of nutrients from fresh organic materials with wide C:N ratios by supplementing with slightly higher fertilizer doses.…”

Effect of Phosphorus on Root Signaling of Wheat under Different Water Regimes

“…A field experiment was conducted over 2 years to study the ameliorating effects of P on wheat yield, root cation exchange capacity (CEC) and on different doses of P. Phosphorus was applied as single superphosphate. The application of P increased the root CEC of wheat up to bloom stage only whereas nutrient concentration, uptake and grain and straw yield were found to increase up to maturity [23]. The capacity of plant roots to increase their carboxylate exudation at low plant phosphorus (P) status is an adaptation to acquire sufficient P at low soil P availability.…”

Root Growth and Productivity of Wheat, Chickpea and Potato as Influenced by Nutrient Management Practices

“…The application of 50% RDF+50% RDN through FYM registered highest values of root parameters in wheat and chickpea. This might be because the conjunctive use of nutrients comprised of both readily (fertilizers) and slowrelease (FYM) sources of nutrients which play an important role in improving the root biomass (Sharma et al, 2008). The higher values of root parameters under inorganic+organic treatments might also attributed to better nutrient supply and creation of better physical environment by way of lowering of bulk density and penetration resistance in the presence of organic manure.…”