Effect of land configuration and fertilizer on soil moisture content, yield attributes, yield economics and quality of caster

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2017-18 at Experimental Farm, Agronomy Section, College of Agriculture, Latur. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with three replications. The tremens comprised are Main plot treatment (Land configurations): L1-Flat bed -90 cm × 60 cm, L2-Ridge and furrow -90 cm × 60 cm, L3-Flat bed with paired row spacing -(60 -120-60 cm) × 60 cm, L4-BBF with paired row spacing -(60 -120-60 cm) × 60 cm and Sub-plot treatments (Fertilizer levels) F1-75% RDF, F2 -100% RDF, F3-125% RDF. The result indicated that the land configuration treatment ridges and furrows (L2) recorded significantly higher soil moisture content at all growth periodical days. Yield attributes viz. number of spikes plant -1 , number of capsules plant -1 , seed yield plant -1 , test weight (g), seed yield, stalk yield, biological yield, GMR, NMR and B:C ratio, oil% and oil yield were significantly highest recorded inland configuration treatment ridges and furrows (L2) which was remained at par with treatment BBF with paired row planting (L4) and found significantly superior over treatment flat bed (L1) and treatment flat bed with paired row planting (L3) at all periodical days and at harvest except 30 DAS. Similarly Yield attributes viz. number of spikes plant -1 , number of capsules plant -1 , seed yield plant -1 , test weight (g), seed yield, stalk yield, biological yield, GMR, NMR and B:C ratio, oil % and Oil yield of castor was observed higher in application of 125% RDF treatment (F3) and which was found significantly superior over 75% RDF treatment (F1), and found at par with 100% RDF treatment (F2) at all periodical days and at harvest except 30 DAS.. In case of moisture content in soil was found non-significant all periodical stages.