158
D. L. N. Rao et al.
Fig. 2 Effect of integrated,
organic and inorganic
fertilizer treatments on grain
yields of sunflower, green
gram and pigeon pea [79]
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
Sunflower
Greengram
Pigeonpea
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Integrated Organic Inorganic
In cereals, higher sustainability was obtained when the recommended dose of nutrients was applied through chemical sources. In case of oilseeds, however application
of half the dose as chemical fertilizers and half through organic source led to higher
sustainability values. Available nitrogen, organic carbon and phosphorus content in
soil were increased with organic fertilizer application including green leafy manures.
Application of crop residues in combination with chemical fertilizer resulted in higher
sustainable yield and maintained higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic
carbon.
Field experiments conducted during kharif 2017 showed that the seed yield of
rainfed sunflower was 14% and 7% higher with Integrated Nutrient Management
(INM) than that with inorganic and organic management, respectively (Fig. 2).
However, plots under organic management gave marginally higher seed yield of green
gram and pigeon pea under rainfed conditions. Soils under organic management had
significantly higher soil organic C (0.67%), K and micronutrients as compared to
inorganic production systems [79]. Similarly, in rainfed upland ecosystem of direct
seeded rice in Ultisols of north-east India, application of cattle manure (10 Mg ha
−1 )
was consistently better for rice, green gram and pea (residual effect) as compared to
INM options of 5 Mg ha
−1 combined with NPK (100, 50 or 25%) in term of yield,
soil organic carbon and nutrients [17].
4.3 Improvement of Soil Health
A number of long-term experiments have shown that integrated nutrient management systems are the best for maintaining soil health [87]. The broad conclusions are
that cultivation without adding fertilizers or by adding only nitrogen degraded soil
quality,organics are most superior followed by integrated nutrient management (NPK
+ FYM) and least in NPK only. There was greater microbial biomass, carbon sequestration and soil quality index in long term experiments with NPK + FYM fertilization
as compared to NPK alone [15]. In rice-wheat in an Inceptisol, the partial substitution
of fertilizer N by farmyard manure, sewage sludge and a combination (of FYM +
D. L. N. Rao et al.
Fig. 2 Effect of integrated,
organic and inorganic
fertilizer treatments on grain
yields of sunflower, green
gram and pigeon pea [79]
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
Sunflower
Greengram
Pigeonpea
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Integrated Organic Inorganic
In cereals, higher sustainability was obtained when the recommended dose of nutrients was applied through chemical sources. In case of oilseeds, however application
of half the dose as chemical fertilizers and half through organic source led to higher
sustainability values. Available nitrogen, organic carbon and phosphorus content in
soil were increased with organic fertilizer application including green leafy manures.
Application of crop residues in combination with chemical fertilizer resulted in higher
sustainable yield and maintained higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic
carbon.
Field experiments conducted during kharif 2017 showed that the seed yield of
rainfed sunflower was 14% and 7% higher with Integrated Nutrient Management
(INM) than that with inorganic and organic management, respectively (Fig. 2).
However, plots under organic management gave marginally higher seed yield of green
gram and pigeon pea under rainfed conditions. Soils under organic management had
significantly higher soil organic C (0.67%), K and micronutrients as compared to
inorganic production systems [79]. Similarly, in rainfed upland ecosystem of direct
seeded rice in Ultisols of north-east India, application of cattle manure (10 Mg ha
−1 )
was consistently better for rice, green gram and pea (residual effect) as compared to
INM options of 5 Mg ha
−1 combined with NPK (100, 50 or 25%) in term of yield,
soil organic carbon and nutrients [17].
4.3 Improvement of Soil Health
A number of long-term experiments have shown that integrated nutrient management systems are the best for maintaining soil health [87]. The broad conclusions are
that cultivation without adding fertilizers or by adding only nitrogen degraded soil
quality,organics are most superior followed by integrated nutrient management (NPK
+ FYM) and least in NPK only. There was greater microbial biomass, carbon sequestration and soil quality index in long term experiments with NPK + FYM fertilization
as compared to NPK alone [15]. In rice-wheat in an Inceptisol, the partial substitution
of fertilizer N by farmyard manure, sewage sludge and a combination (of FYM +