Eco-Friendly Plant Nutrients for Sustained Productivity Under Rice-Pulse Cropping System.

Eco-Friendly plant nutrients for sustained productivity under rice-pulse cropping system* ABSTRACT P.C.Rao* Associate Dean, Agricultural College, Jagityal – 505 327, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. rao_palli@yahoo.com Ch.S. Ramalakshmi, Scientist (Soil Science), RARS, Anakapalli – 531 001. Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. sitaramalakshmi20@yahoo.com, Elisha. P, elisha@prathista.com, KVSS Sairam, MD and President, Prathista Industries Limited, Secunderabad -500010 Andhra Pradesh, INDIA, ram@prathista.com Long term experiments in India indicated a decrease in rice productivity due to continuous use of chemical fertilizers. Integrated nutrient management using organic manures aims to improve soil health and sustain high crop productivity. This research was conducted with organic manures (i.e Suryamin, BioPhos and BioPotash from Prathista Industries., Andhra Pradesh, India), different vermicompost prepared from organic wastes along with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers under rice-pulse cropping system at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India. Paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.) were used as test crops. Results from two years of experimentation revealed that the treatment receiving 75kg/ha each of Suryamin, BioPhos and BioPotash as basal and foliar sprayings of Bio Zinc, Organic NPK, New Suryamin and BioPotash @ 625 ml/ha at 20, 40 and 60 days after planting recorded significantly higher grain (rice) and pod (green gram) yields in both growing seasons. However this was on par with the treatment that received 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% of N through vermicompost. The values of nutrient uptake by rice and succeeding pulse crop also showed significant differences among different organic manures and vermicompost. After four seasons of application of organic manures, there was improvement in soil health and available nutrient status compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Improvement in soil health was quantified in terms of biological and enzyme activity in soil. Activity of urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase was greater in plots treated with organic products. Overall, our study revealed that the sustainability of rice-pulse cropping system can be enhanced by applying organic manures and integrated fertilizer management.