Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, economics and soil fertility of rice–mustard cropping system

The present investigation was carried out during 2018–19 to 2019–20 at farmer’s field under Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, soil fertility status and economics of rice–mustard cropping system. The experiment comprised for 5-treatments in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were T1-farmer practice (as control), T2,100% NPK; T3,100% NPK + Zn; T4,75% NPK+ 5 t/ha FYM and T5,75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers (BGA/Azotobactor & PSB). The results of present study revealed that the application of 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers (BGA/Azotobactor & PSB) produced significantly higher grain yield of rice and mustard (4620 kg/ha and 1248 kg/ha, respectively) over the farmer practice (3795 kg/ha and 970 kg/ha, respectively). The maximum nutrients (N, P & K) uptake by rice and mustard crops were recorded with 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers treatment. The integration of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure and biofertilizers exhibited the highest soil nutrients availability N, P, K, S and Zn at post-harvest of mustard crop as compared to other treatment combinations. Further, results revealed that the highest cost of cultivation (`57080/ha) and net returns (`111994/ha) were noted with 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers treatments. The benefit cost ratio computed for rice – mustard cropping system suggested that the higher B:C ratio is associated with higher production and better quality of the produce. Thus, the integrated application of fertilizer with farmyard manure and biofertilizers increased the crop yields of rice-mustard cropping system and sustaining the soil fertility status in Vertisol of Chhattisgarh Plain Agro-Climatic Zone.