Effect of tillage and nutrient levels on nutrient uptake and protein yield of Lathyrus in rice fallow cultivation

A field study on “Effect of tillage and nutrient levels on nutrient uptake and protein yield of lathyrus in rice fallow cultivation” was conducted during rabi season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Agriculture farm, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, in Red and Lateritic zone of West Bengal, India. The experiment comprised of 12 treatment combinations laid out in a split–plot design with three replications. The main–plot treatments included two different tillage practices Zero tillage and Conventional tillage. Sub–plot treatments included six nutrient levels viz. soil application of 100% RDF N: P: K @ 20-40- 20 kg ha-1, foliar spray of DAP @ 2% at 30 and 45 DAS, N: P: K (19:19:19) @ 2% at 30 and 45 DAS, N: P: K (19:19:19) @ 2% at 30 and 45 DAS + ZnSO4 @ 0.5% at 40 DAS, N: P: K (19:19:19) @ 2% at 30 and 45 DAS+ ZnSO4 @ 0.5% at 40 DAS+ Boron @ 0.1% at 50 DAS. Results revealed that conventional tillage outperformed zero tillage in enhancing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) content and uptake and protein yield in seed and straw. Among the nutrient treatments, the combined foliar application of N: P: K (19:19:19) @ 2% at 30 and 45 DAS+ ZnSO4 @0.5% at 40 DAS+ Boron @0.1% at 50 DAS consistently recorded the highest nutrient content and uptake, as well as the maximum protein yield in both seed and straw. Conventional tillage improved aeration and mineralization under tilled soil conditions, facilitating better nutrient retention and utilization, while combined foliar application of nutrients further enhanced nutrient assimilation and use efficiency in crops. The interaction between tillage and nutrient treatments was found to be non-significant, suggesting that nutrient application strategies were equally effective under both tillage systems.