Title: Integrated Nutrient Management in Rice-Gingelly-Maize Cropping System Yield and System Economics through Integrated Farming System
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted at Wetland farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management in rice-gingelly-maize cropping system. The field experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications and the same layout was maintained both the years. The experiment consisted of thirteen treatments comprising of three level of recommended dose of fertilizer (100, 75 and 50% RDF combination with various organic sources (turkey, quail and goat manure as pond silt and vermicompost) and 100% RDF along with FYM. In Rice-gingelly-cropping system during 2014-15 and 2015-2016, application of 100% RDF + vermicompost at 5 t/ha (T1) recorded higher system yield of 15102 kg/ha and 15551 kg/ha. This was followed by application of 100% RDF + goat manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T4), 100% RDF + FYM 12.5 t/ha (T13) and 100% RDF + turkey manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T2). The application of 50% RDF + quail manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T11) recorded lesser system yield of 8876 kg/ha. In 2015-16 followed by application of 100% RDF + goat manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T4), 100% RDF + turkey manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T2), 100% RDF + FYM 12.5 t/ha (T13), 75% RDF + vermicompost at 5 t/ha (T5) and100% RDF + quail manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T3). The application of 50% RDF + quail manure as pond silt at 5 t/ha (T11) recorded lesser system yield of 9310 kg/ha. It was comparable with application 100% RDF + goat manure at 5 t/ha recorded higher gross return and net return and 75% RDF + vermicompost at 5 t/ha recorded higher B:C ratio of 2.69 and 2.78 during 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Compare to conventional practices increased percentage of gross return (10.74 and 11.11) and net return (17.86 and 18.23) respectively during 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.