Preceding kharif crops and fertilizer influence on growth, yield and nutrient requirement of succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2 consecutive rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) season each of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to study the effect of preceding kharif crops and fertilizer on growth, yield, economics and nutrient requirement of succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising of 4 kharif crops, viz. greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek], sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and fodder sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] as main plots and 5 fertilizer treatments, viz. 100% RDF (120 kg N + 60 kg P2 O5 + 40 kg K2 O/ha); 75% RDF; 50% RDF; 75% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria); and 50% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB as sub plots with four replications. Wheat grown after kharif greengram had better growth parameters and yield attributes which was reflected in an increase in grain (4.78 t/ha) and straw (6.41 t/ha) yield of wheat. Among different fertilizer treatments, wheat fertilized with 100% RDF recorded significantly higher grain (4.60 t/ha) and straw yield (6.20 t/ha). Nutrient uptakes by grain and straw increased under wheat grown after greengram and fertilized with 100% RDF. Greengramwheat crop sequence and wheat fertilized with either 100% RDF or 75% RDF along with Azotobacter + PSB seed inoculation earned higher net realization and B:C ratio.