Optimization Of Integrated Nutrient Supply For Alternate Intensive Cropping Systems Under Irrigated Upland Ecosystems Of North Western Zone Of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at farmer s field of Chinnankuppam, Dharmapuri newlineduring 2017-2018 and 2018-19 to optimize integrated nutrient supply for alternate newlineintensive cropping system for higher nutrient use efficiency, productivity and identifying newlinethe alternate cropping system for efficient resource utilization and sustainable newlineproductivity under irrigated upland ecosystems of North Western Zone of Tamil Nadu newlineThe experiment was laid out in strip plot design with four replications. Five newlinecropping system viz., groundnut chillies greengram (M1), groundnut + redgram newlinesorghum blackgram (M2), maize + fodder cowpea sunflower greengram (M3), newlinebhendi + coriander tomato blackgram (M4), brinjal + onion cowpea sunnhemp newline(M5) were allotted in horizontal strip and five integrated nutrient management practices newlinewere imposed in vertical strip viz., farm yard manure at 12.5 t/ha with 100 % RDF (S1), newlinevermicompost at 2.5 t/ha with 100 % RDF (S2), vermicompost at 5 t/ha with 100 % RDF newline(S3), vermicompost at 5t/ha with 75 % RDF (S4) and vermicompost at 7.5 t/ha with 50 % newlineRDF (S5). newlineWith respect to individual crop in the cropping systems during kharif season, growth, newlineyield attributes and yield were higher in vermicompost at 5 t/ha along with 100 per cent NPK newlinefertilizer for the first crop in the sequence. During rabi and summer season, growth and yield newlineattributes and yield were higher in 100 per cent NPK fertilizer in entire cropping. newlineAmong the various cropping systems, during kharif season, higher groundnut newlineequivalent yield was recorded in brinjal intercropped with onion cropping system. Whereas, newlinefor nutrient management practices, it was higher in vermicompost at 5 t/ha along with 100 newlineper cent NPK fertilizer, because of higher productivity and higher price fetched by brinjal newlinealong with onion led to uphold higher equivalent yield. newlineDuring rabi season, among the different cropping systems, higher groundnut newlineequivalent yield was recorded in tomato cropping system. Whereas, for nutrient management newlinepractices, it was higher i