Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted during 2003–04 and 2004–05 at Jodhpur to study the effect of preceding crops, viz. pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz.], greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.) and clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] and nutrient management practices on the production potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.)-based cropping systems in arid region of Rajasthan. Growing of clusterbean and greengram as the preceding crop resulted in significantly higher grain yield of wheat and the N and P uptake than the preceding pearlmillet. Among the rainy season (kharif) crops, greengram gave the maximum wheat grain-equivalent yield (WGEY) and net returns, but N uptake was significantly highest with clusterbean. However, highest WGEY (5.58 t/ha) was recorded with greengram-wheat, being 10 and 31.3% higher than that of the clusterbean-wheat and pearlmillet-wheat crop sequences respectively. Net returns and benefit: cost ratio were also maximum with greengram-wheat, but maximum gain in available N and P status was noted with clusterbean-wheat sequence. Integrated use of FYM @ 7.5 t/ha + 50% RDF (50 kg N + 13.25 kg P/ha) + biofertilizer (Azotobacter + PSB) recorded significantly highest grain yield of wheat, which was 33.2% higher than in the control. Yield and nutrient uptake by kharif crops also increased markedly due to residual effect of FYM applied either alone or in combination. The highest WGEY, net returns and benefit: cost ratio of crop sequences were recorded with combined application of FYM @ 7.5 t/ha + 50% RDF + biofertilizer. The maximum gain in available N and P status was observed with the application of FYM @ 15 t/ha, followed by FYM @ 7.5 t/ha + 50% RDF + biofertilizer. Thus wheat grown after legumes (greengram or clusterbean) with combined application of FYM @ 7.5 t/ha + 50% RDF + biofertilizer gave maximum WGEY and monetary benefit.