Influence of balanced nutrition on productivity, economics and nutrient uptake of hybrid maize (Zea mays)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cropping sequence under irrigated ecosystem

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15 at farmers’ fields of Nargund taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka, to study the response of maize (Zea mays L.)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cropping sequence to balanced nutrition. The experiment, consisting of 7 treatments, viz. absolute control, recommended N alone, recommended N and P, recommended N and K, recommended NPK, recommended NPK with ZnSO₄ and farmers practice, was replicated in 12 farmers’ field in randomized complete-block design. Application of 150 kg/ha N, 75 kg/ha P and 37.5 kg/ha K along with 25 kg/ha ZnSO₄ to maize recorded significantly higher grain (5.42 t/ha) and stover (7.61 t/ha) yields, gross returns (63.86 × 10³/ha), net returns (36.50× 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.33). Similarly, significantly higher NPK uptake was with this treatment combination. In the succeeding chickpea, application of 25 kg/ha N, 50 kg/ha P and 15 kg/ha ZnSO₄ resulted in significantly higher seed (1.38 t/ha) and haulm (1.93 t/ha) yields. This treatment also recorded significantly higher gross returns (47.16 × 10³/ha), net returns (31.49 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.40). System productivity of the cropping sequence indicated that significantly higher maize-equivalent yield (9.22 t/ha), system production efficiency (41.92 kg/ha/day) and system net returns (67.99 × 10³/ha) were observed with the application of 150 kg/ha N, 75 kg/ha P and 37.5 kg/ha K along with 25 kg/ha ZnSO₄ to maize and 25 kg/ha N, 50 kg/ha P and 15 kg/ha ZnSO₄ to succeeding chickpea.