Enhanced nutrient and rainwater use efficiency in maize and soybean with secondary and micro nutrient amendments in the rainfed semi-arid tropics

    Chander, G and Wani, S P and Sahrawat, K L and Rajesh, C (2014) Enhanced nutrient and rainwater use efficiency in maize and soybean with secondary and micro nutrient amendments in the rainfed semi-arid tropics. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. ISSN 0365-0340

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    Abstract

    In view of widespread deficiencies, a long-term experiment was started at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India in 2007 to identify economically efficient application strategy (full or 50% dose every or every second year) of sulphur (S) (30 kg ha-1), boron (B) (0.5 kg ha-1) and zinc (Zn) (10 kg ha-1). During the fourth year in 2010, balanced fertilization through adding S, B and Zn increased maize grain yield by 13 to 52%, and soybean yield by 16 to 28% compared to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization alone. Balanced nutrition increased N and P uptake, utilization and use efficiency for grain yield and harvest index indicating improved grain nutritional quality. The N, P plus 50% of S, B and Zn application every year recorded highest crop yields, N and P efficiency indices and increased rainwater use efficiency with a benefit:cost ratio of 11.9 for maize and 4.14 for soybean. This study showed the importance of deficient secondary (S) and micronutrients (B, Zn) in improving N and P use efficiency while enhancing economic food production.

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: RP-Resilient Dryland Systems
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Uncontrolled Keywords: Micronutrients deficiency, N use efficiency, Nutrient uptake, P use efficiency, Rainfed agriculture, Rainwater use efficiency
    Subjects: Others > Soil Science
    Others > Food and Nutrition
    Depositing User: Mr Siva Shankar
    Date Deposited: 09 Jun 2014 05:35
    Last Modified: 09 May 2016 08:04
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/8102
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2014.928928
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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