Studies on maize based cropping system as influenced by rate and frequency of FYM

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar during 2008-09 and 2009-10 on silty clay loam soil low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium with neutral pH. The experiment comprising of three factors viz., cropping sequences (S1 = maize-lentil, S2 = maize-oats, S3 = maize-brown sarson and S4 = maize- fallow), three FYM rates (R1 = 10 t ha-1, R2 = 20 t ha-1 and R3 = 30 t ha-1) and three frequencies of FYM (F1 = FYM application in kharif and rabi, F2 = FYM application in kharif and F3 = FYM application in rabi) and was laid out in a split plot design (cropping sequences in main plot and FYM rates and frequencies in sub plot) replicated thrice. Both maize and rabi crops were given nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as per recommended package. The results of the study showed that during 2008-09, the cropping sequences did not affect growth characters, yield attributes and yield of maize however, during 2009-10 S1 and S4 recorded significantly higher growth characters, yield attributes and yield of maize than S2 and S3. The FYM rates increased the growth characters upto 30 t ha-1 and yield attributes upto 20 t ha-1. The grain yield of maize showed significant improvement with FYM application upto 20 t ha-1 while stover yield increased significantly upto 30 t ha-1. FYM frequencies F1 and F2 recorded significantly higher growth characters, yield attributes and grain and stover yield of maize over F3. Nutrient content and uptake in grain and stover was significantly improved by cropping sequences S1 and S4 over both S2 and S3 during 2009-10. FYM rates improved nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake in grain and stover. FYM frequency F1 and F2 recorded higher NPK content and uptake over F3. The seed and straw yield of following lentil, brown sarson and dry matter yield of oats was significantly affected by FYM rates and frequencies. The equivalent maize yield of the system was significantly higher with maize-oats system supplied with 20 t FYM ha-1 during kharif and rabi, while highest net returns and benefit:cost ratio were realized with maize-oats system supplied with 10 t FYM ha-1 during kharif and rabi