Spacio-temporal fertigation effects on yield, nutrient use efficiency and economics of greater yam+maize intercropping system

Authors

  • Kalidas Pati
  • M. Nedunchezhiyan
  • V.B.S. Chauhan
  • K.H. Gowda
  • R. Arutselvan
  • S.K. Jata
  • J. Dixit

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for three seasons (2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020) at the Regional Centre of Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India to find out the spacio-temporal fertigation effects on yield, nutrient use efficiency and economic of greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.) + maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with fertigation interval in main plots (I1-2 days, I2-3 days and I3-4 days) and in sub plots number of splits (S1-40 splits, S2-50 splits and S3-60 splits). Control (soil application at basal (40%), 45 (30%) and 90 (30%) days after planting) also included to compare the treatments. The treatments were replicated thrice. The results revealed that treatment I1 resulted in significantly higher maize seed yield compared to other treatments. However, maximum greater yam tuber and tuber equivalent yield was noticed in treatment I2. The treatment S3 resulted in lower maize seed yield and higher greater yam tuber, and tuber equivalent yield. The interaction effect was found significant. The treatment I1S1 resulted in greater maize seed yield (3.2 t ha-1) compared to other treatments. However, the treatment I2S3 resulted in higher greater yam tuber yield (37.0 t ha-1) and tuber equivalent yield (39.4 t ha-1). The treatment I3S1 was statistically on par with I2S3 regarding greater yam tuber (35.9 t ha-1) and tuber equivalent yield (37.9 t ha-1). The drip fertigation treatments I2S3 resulted in higher nutrient use efficiency of 106.5 kg of greater yam tuber equivalent yield per kg of nutrient (NPK) application. The treatment I2S3 resulted in higher gross (`5,91,000 ha-1) and net (`3,80,000 ha-1) returns compared to other treatments. Thus, fertigation of N-P2O5-K2O @ 140-90-140 kg ha-1 in 60 splits at 3 days interval was recommended for greater yam + maize intercropping system for higher system yield, nutrient use efficiency, gross and net returns. Keywords : Fertigation interval, Greater yam, Maize, Nutrient use efficiency, Split application, Tuber equivalent yield

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Published

2024-08-28

How to Cite

Kalidas Pati, M. Nedunchezhiyan, V.B.S. Chauhan, K.H. Gowda, R. Arutselvan, S.K. Jata, & J. Dixit. (2024). Spacio-temporal fertigation effects on yield, nutrient use efficiency and economics of greater yam+maize intercropping system. JOURNAL OF ROOT CROPS, 49(2), 28–32. Retrieved from http://journal.isrc.in/index.php/jrc/article/view/651

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Research Articles

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