Community watersheds technically supported by the consortium of institutions adopt holistic system's approach as against the compartmental approach of soil and water conservation. ICRISAT-led consortium used characterization of soil resources in the benchmark watersheds (Semli and Shyampura Watersheds, Dewas district and Madhusudangadh watershed, Guna district in Madhya Pradesh and Bundi Watershed, Bundi district in Rajasthan, India) as an entry point activity. Stratified sampling of fields on a toposequence in the watersheds revealed widespread deficiency of multiple nutrients particularly Zn (67-100%), B (72-100%) with an exception of Guna and S (72-100%) along with N and P, which could be limiting the yield potential in the watersheds. Farmers' participatory research trials with different crops showed tremendous yield advantages upto 79% over the farmers practice. The FPR trials also showed economic viability of amendment options with a net increased profit of Rs. 8190 ha-1 in case of wheat and Rs. 10740 with chickpea in M.P. watersheds. These FPR trials highlighted the urgency to provide right information about soil health to the farmers in time and empowering them to adopt balanced nutrient management strategies for increasing productivity and minimizing cost of inputs that are unnecessar

Chourasia, A K

Pardhasaradhi, G

Rao, C S

Rao, R

Rego, T J

Roy, S

Wani, S P

ICRISAT Open Access Repository

Enhanced Productivity and Income through Balanced Nutrition inMadhya Pradesh and Rajasthan WatershedsCh. Srinivasarao, S.P. Wani, T.J. Rego, G. Pardhasaradhi, Rangu Rao, Somnath Roy and A.K. ChourasiaGlobal Theme-Agroeco:,ystems, feR/SAT, Patancheru, 502324, A.PABSTRACT: Community watersheds technically supported by the consortium of institutions adopt holistic system'sapproach as against the compattmental approach of soil and water conservation. ICRlSAT-led consortium usedcharacterization of soil resources in the benchmark watersheds (Semli and Shyampura Watersheds, Dewas districtand Madhusudangadh watershed, Guna district in Madhya Pradesh and Bundi Watershed, Bundi district in Rajasthan)as an entry point activity. Stratified sampling of fields on a toposequence in the watersheds revealed widespreaddeficiency of multiple nutrients particularly Zn (67-100 %), B (72-100 %) with an exception of Guna and S (72-100%) along with Nand P which could be limiting the yield potential in the watersheds. Fanners' participatory researchtrials with different crops showed tremendous yield advantages upto 79 % over the farmers practice. The FPR trialsalso showed economic viability of amendment options with a net increased profit of Rs. 8190 ha,J in case of wheat andRs. 10740 with chickpea in M.P. watersheds. These FPR trials highlighted the urgency to provide right informationabout soil health to the farmers in time and empowering them to adopt balanced nutrient management strategies forincreasing productivity and minimizing cost of inputs which are unnecessary.The soils of Semi Arid Tropics (SAT) are generallymarginal and highly degraded and combating landdegradation and increasing productivity of dry1ands isa major challenge. Most of the dry1and soils are low inorganic carbon and deficient in major and micro nutrients.This offers a scope for improving the productivity withbalanced nutrition. Increased use of chemical fertilizersas a source of major nutrients, combined with declininguse of organic manures over time has led to large scalesecondary and micro nutrient deficiencies (Srinivasaraoet. al., 2003). The deficiency of micronutrients is ofcritical importance for sustaining high productivityin many regions of India. Among these, Zn deficiencyis more prevalent. Boron deficiency has become morecritical for cropping systems on highly calcareous soils,sandy leached, limed acid and reclaimed soils (Takkar,1996) However, most farmers in India apply only majornutrients that too in irrational quantities. ICRISAT-ledconsortium project adopted watersheds as operationalunits for soil and water conservation as an entry pointfor agricultural research and development (Wani et. aI.,2002). Rego et. aI., (2005) reported the large scale benefitsin different dry land crops due to micronutrient applicationin Andhra Pradesh. In the present study, watersheds inVidisha, Guna and Dewas districts (Madhya Pradesh) andBundi (Rajasthan) were included to examine the impactof balanced nutrition on productivity of dryland crops.Materials and MethodsMost of the watersheds in India are about 500 ha (micro-watersheds) and number of farmers cultivating the arableland varied across the watershed. Prior to interventionsthrough on-farm trials, soils of these watersheds werecharacterized for physico-chemical properties. Detailsof limiting nutrients in the soils of farmers' fields arepresented in Table 1. Organic C was determined usingthe Walkley-Black method (Nelson and Sommers, 1996);available P was measured using the sodium bicarbonate(NaHC03) extraction (Olsen and Sommers, 1982).Exchangeable K was detennined using the ammoniumacetate method (Helmke and Sparks, 1996). AvailableS was measured using 0.15 % calcium chloride (CaCl)as an extractant (Tabatabai, 1996). Available Zn wasextracted by diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)reagent (Lindsay and Norvell, 1978) and available Bwas extracted by hot water (Keren, 1996). Based on thissoil test data, treatments of balanced nutrient applicationwere composed and selected farmer's evaluated theseEnhanced Productivity and Incomes through Balanced Nutrition inMadhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Watershedstreatments with ICRISAT facilitation in all thesedistricts. Different nutrient management options alongwith farmer's practice of using Nand P were studied indifferent watersheds during 2001-2005. Large number ofon-farm trials involving major crops: sorghum, soybean,chickpea, wheat, maize and blackgram were conducted.Variations in the different genotypes of soybean (Bagli),chickpea and wheat (Madhusudangadh) to differentnutrient management options were evaluated in thefanner's fields. Economics of balanced fertilization wereworked out for some of the crops.Results and DiscussionNutrient deficiencies in watershed soilsSoil texture was clay in Madhya Pradesh watersheds andsandy loam in Rajasthan watershed. All the soils werealkaline in reaction showing pH above 7.0 and there wasno salt related problem in the soils. Soils were low tohigh in organic carbon, P, K and S. Available Zn and Bwere also varied from deficient to sufficient levels. Percent P deficient farmers fields varied from 53 (Bundi) to96 (Dewas) (Table I). Higher K deficiency was foundin Bundi district up to 18%. Per cent S deficient fieldsranged from 72 (Bundi) to 100 (Dewas). Available Bdeficient fields varied from 0% (Guna) to 100% (Dewas).Similarly, Zn deficient fields varied from 67% (Bundi)to 100% (Vidisha and Dewas). Extent of secondary andmicro nutrient deficiencies are in accordance to earlierreports by Tandon (1991), Takkar (1996), Srinivasarao etal. (2003) and Rego et al. (2005).Responses to secondary and micronutrients Semliand Shyampura Watersheds, Bagli, DewasEffect of balanced nutrient application in Bagli watershedin Dewas (M.P.) showed (Table 2) that inclusion ofS+Zn+B (200 kg gypsum+25 kg ZnS04ha-'+5kg borax)along with farmer's practice of applying only Nand P.Sorghum yields improved by 60% at Bagli village, whilesoybean yields improved by 75%-79% at Semli.Madhusudangadh watershed, Guna (M.P.)In the Madhusudangadh watershed (Guna, M.P), effectsof balanced nutrition was tested with four chickpeavarieties during post rainy season of 2004, 2005 andsoybean during rainy season. The treatments tested wereTI=Farmer's practice (FP), T2=FP+Zn+S+B, T3=Zn+S+B+optimum NP and T4=Farmer's practice+optimumNP. The quantity of nutrients added were as follows: Znas ZnS04@50 kg ha-1, S as gypsum @ 200 kg ha-1, boronas borax@5 kg ha-1, Nand P were applied at 30 and 60 kgha-1 respectively. The four improved chickpea varietiesgrown were KAK 2, ICCY 2, ICCV 10 and ICCC 37.The highest grain (2.24 t ha-') and straw (1.83 t ha-1)yield was recorded in T2 treatement with KAK 2 variety,whereas other three varieties produced the highest grainand straw yields in T3 treatment (Table 3). Similarly, insoybean, Zn+S+B+optimum NP recorded highest grainand straw yield compared to other nutrient treatments.Wide variation in micronutrient nutrition (Zn, Fe, Mnand Cu) of twenty chickpea genotypes was reported inmulti-nutrient deficient Typic Ustochrepts (Srinivasaraoet aI., 2006).Vidisha watersheds (M.P.)Experiments were carried out to study the impact offertilizers on yield of chickpea with four levels offertilizers i.e., T1 = Control (farmer's practice); T2 = Znthrough ZnS04@ 50 kg.ha-'; T3 = S through gypsum @200 kg ha-1; T4 = Zn+S; and T5 = ZnS04@50 kg ha-1 +gypsum@100 kg ha-1 + SSP@100 kg ha-1 and the resultsobtained with the balanced application of fertilizers.The results showed that the improved varieties alone incontrol plots yielded 10 to 43% more than the farmer'svariety. Further application of micronutrient amendmentsin local as well as improved varieties increased grain andstraw yields significantly up to 70% over the untreatedcontrol. A quantitative analysis of response of differentpulse crops to applied S showed an yield increases of 100to 500 kg ha-1 in 80 per cent cases and 250 to 500 kg ha-1in remaining cases (Tandon, 1991).As reported earlier the soils in Madhya Pradesh aredeficient in number of micronutrients along with themacro elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Fannerscontinued their experimentation with the micronutrientamendments during the rabi season with chickpea andwheat crops (Table 4). In case of chickpea significantlyhigher grain (21.75 q ha'l) and straw yield (25.9 q ha-1)was recorded in plots that received Zn + S + SSP. Anincrease in grain yield to the tune of 63.6 per cent dueParameter Madhya Pradesh RajasthanYidisha(31 r Dewas (24) Guna(18) Bundi (36)Organic carbon (%) 0.46-0.92(10)" 0.30-1.00(17) 0.51-1.11(0) 0.18-1.17(39)Available P (mg kg·l) 0.50-14.1 (90) 0.20-10.8(96) 0.10-8.40(72) 0.90-20.1(53)Available K (mg kg·l) 97-285(0) 46-456(4) 86-179(0) 23-563(18)Available S (mg kg·l) 2.9-9.8(100) 3.9-9.5(100) 2.7-14.3(89) 3.3-50.9(72)Available Zn (mg kg·l) 0.10-0.42(1 00) 0.12-0.56(100) 0.24-1.74(78) 0.20-1.80( 67)Available B (mg kg·l) 0.12-0.34(100) 0.20-0.80(96) 0.60-2.20(0) 0.10-0.98(72)• No of farmer's fields; •• Percentage deficientParameter Bagli Semli ShyampuraFP+S+Zn+B FP FP+S+Zn+B FP FP+S+Zn+B FPCrop Sorghum Sorghum Soybean Soybean Soybean SoybeanVariety JJ1041 J11041 JS-9305 JS-9305 JS-335 JS-335Yield (kg ha·l) 3360 2100 700 400 2000 1120Yield increaseOver control(%) 60 75 79FP=Farmer's PracticeLocal ICCY-2 ICCY-lO ICCC-37 KAK-2TreatmentGrain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain StrawControl 8.78 11.46 12.00 13.43 11.96 13.93 9.70 12.10 12.60 15.86Zn 9.23 9.13 13.33 16.40 13.70 16.13 12.40 14.3 18.96 19.80,S 9.86 11.93 14.90 19.43 13.26 16.16 12.83 14.83 16.16 18.86Zn+S 11.16 14.03 16.23 17.60 15.16 16.26 12.16 15.26 18.10 19.90Zn+S+SSP 11.65 16.36 17.33 17.53 16.80 18.40 16.50 15.8 21.46 22.3to application of single Stlper phosphate along with zinc in case of Zn + S treatment was on par with the grainand sulphur was recorded over the untreated control. In yield from the SSP+Zn+S treatment plot. The economicother treatments with micronutrient amendments, the analysis showed that the highest B:C ratio of 2.63 wasincreased grain yields varied from 31 to 54 per cent over observed in case of Zn + S + SSP treatment and followedthe untreated control plot yields. Chickpea grain yield by 2.59 in case of Zn + S treatment (Table 4). BasedEnhanced Productivity and Incomes through Balanced Nutrition inMadhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Watershedson 12 on-farm trials, Singh (1999) reported that benefit:cost ratio was 19.7 in case of chickpea. Response to Bapplication was largely obtained on calcareous and sandyalkaline soils (Takkar, 1996).In case of wheat the response to best-bet treatment(Zn + S + SSP) (31.50 q ha") was spectacular i.e., 40per cent increase over control (22.4 q ha'I)(Table 5).Similar increased yield of straw was also observed dueto amendments with the micronutrients. The economicanalysis of these experiments showed that net profit ofRs. 21720/- per ha was obtained in case of the best-bettreatment with a cost benefit ratio of 1:2.32. Even theapplication of sulphur alone also benefited the farmers tothe tune of Rs. 20540/- per ha suggesting that these soilsare severely deficient in S than the P which is suppliedthrough SSP.Bundi watershed, Bundi (Rajasthan)At Bundi watershed, balanced nutrition trials wereconducted with maize and urdbean in rainy season andwheat and chickpea in post-rainy season (Fig. I). Thetreatments were: TI= Farmer's practice, T2= Farmer'spractice + borax 5 kg ha·1 + Gypsum 200 kg ha'l + ZnS0450 kg ha,l, T3= Farmer's practice+ borax 5 kg ha,l +gypsum 200kg ha·1 + ZnS0450 kg ha,l + urea 100 kg ha,l+ DAP 100 kg ha,l and T4= Farmer's practice+urea 100kg ha,I+DAP 100 kg ha·l. For all the crops, T3 treatmentshowed consistently superior yields compared to othertreatments. The percentage increase in crop yields inT3 over Tl(Farmer's practice) was highest in urdbean(47%) followed by maize (45%), chickpea (43%) andwheat (16%). The economic analysis showed that thehighest B:C ratio was obtained in case of balancednutrition treatment as compared to farmers practice.These results clearly show that balanced nutrition, basedon the application of limiting nutrients is essential forimproving productivity of various dlyland crops.OT1OT2OT3OT4...,4..c:..,:;3iii>= 2Figure 1. Effect of different nutrient managementoptions on average crop yields at Bundi WatershedTable 4. Effect of micronutrient amendments and best-bet option treatments on grain and straw yield andeconomics of chickpea, 2002-2003, Guna.Grain Straw Cost of Gross Benefit costcultivationNet returnsTreatments yield yield returns ratio(q ha·l) (q ha'l) (Rs ha'l) (Rs ha'l)(Rs ha'l)Zinc (Zn) 18.70 21.20 12499 32053 19554 2.56Sulphur (S) 17.50 21.30 12227 30131 17904 2.46Zn+ S 20.50 23.90 13569 35206 21637 2.59Zn + S + SSP 21.75 25.90 14206 37386 23179 2.63Control 13.30 16.50 10480 22918 12437 2.18SE(m)± 0.69 0.51 94.59 71.66 0.052CD at 5% 1.87 1.43 280 215 0.13General mean 18.35 21.75 12596 31538 18942 2.48Table 5. Effect of micronutrient amendments and best-bet option treatments on grain and straw yield andeconomics of wheat, 2002-2003, Guna.Grain Straw Cost of Gross Net Benefit:Treatments yield yield cultivation returns returns cost ratio(q ha") (q ha-') (Rs ha-I) (Rs ha-') (Rs ha-J)Zinc(Zn)+FP(N+P) 26.90 32.20 14460 31470 17010 2.17Sulphur (S) 3070 36.40 15220 35760 20540 2.34Zn+S 28.90 36.70 15410 33900 18490 2.20Zn + S + SSP 31.50 41.30 16380 38100 21720 2.32Control(FP: N+P) 22.40 28.30 13170 26700 13530 2.02SE(m)± 0.71 0.66 107.61 96.65 0.04CD at 5% 1.97 1.84 311 289 0.11General mean 28.07 34.98 14926 33185 18259 2.21ReferencesHelmke, P.A. and Sparks, D.L. 1996. Lithium, sodium,potassium, rubidium, and cesium. In Methods of SoilAnalysis. Part 3. Chemical Methods-Soil ScienceSociety of America Book Series No.5, ed. D.L. Sparks,551-574. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA and ASA.Keren, R. 1996. Boron. In Methods of Soil Analysis.Part 3. Chemical methods- Soil Science Society ofAmerica Book Series No.5, ed. D.L. Sparks, 603-626. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA and ASA.Lindsay, WL. and Norvell, W A. 1978. Developmentof a DTPA test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper.Soil Science Society of America Journal 42:421-428.Nelson, D.W and Sommers, L.E. 1996. Total carbon,organic carbon, and organic matter. In Methodsof Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Methods- SoilScience Society of America Book Series No.5, ed.D.L. Sparks, 961-1010. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSAandASA.Olsen, S.R. and Sommers, L.E. 1982. Phosphorus.In Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. 2 nd edition.Agronomy Monograph 9, ed. A.L. Page, 403-430.Madison, Wisconsin: ASA and SSSA.Rego, TJ., Wani, S.P., Sahrawat, K.L. and Pardhasaradhi,G. 2005. Macro-benefits from boron, zinc andsulfur application in Indian SAT. InternationalCrops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics,Global Theme on Agroecosystems, Report No: 16,Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.Singh, M.v. 1999. Sulphur management for oilseed andpulse crops. Bulletin No.3, Indian Institute of SoilScience, Bhopal.Srinivasarao, Ch., Ganeshamurthy, AN., Ali, M andVenkateswarlu, B. 2006. Phosphorus and micro-nutrient nutrition of twenty chickpea genotypes in amulti-nutrient deficient Typic Ustochrept. Journal ofPlant Nutrition. 29(4):747-764.Srinivasarao, Ch., Ganeshamurthy,A.N.andAli, M. 2003.Nutritional constraints in pulse production. Bulletin,Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, 1-34.Tabatabai, M.A. 1996. Sulfur. In Methods of Soil Analysis.Part 3. Chemical Methods- Soil Science Society ofAmerica Book Series no. 5, ed. D.L. Sparks, 921-960.Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA and ASA.Takkar, P.N. 1996. Micronutrient research and sustainableagricultural productivity in India. Journal of IndianSociety of Soil Science 44:563-581.Tandon, H.L.S. 1991. Sulphur Research and AgriculturalProduction in India. The Sulphur Institute. Washington,D.C. USA.Wani, S.P., Pathak, P. and Rego, TJ. 2002. A trainingmanual on integrated management of watersheds.International Crops Research Institute for SemiArid Tropics, Global Theme on Agroecosystems,Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Enhanced productivity and income through balanced nutrition in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Watersheds

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Enhanced productivity and income through balanced nutrition in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Watersheds

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