Effect of nutrition management and irrigation methods and schedule on productivity, economics and water-use efficiency in soybean (Glycine max)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cropping sequence in alluvial soil

A field experiment was conducted during 2011–12 and 2012–13 at Morena, Madhya Pradesh, to study the effect of nutrition management, and methods and scheduling of irrigation on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cropping sequence. An irrigation at 0.6 irrigation water: cumulative pan evaporation (IW: CPE) ratio resulted in significantly higher growth, yield attributes, seed yield, economic benefits and water productivity of soybean compared with 0.4 and 0.8 IW: CPE. Similarly, an irrigation at 0.4 IW: CPE ratio significantly influenced the yield-attributing characters, seed and straw yields, economic benefits and water productivity of chickpea compared with 0.6 and 0.8 IW: CPE ratios, whereas height and number of branches increased with increasing IW: CPE ratio. Sprinkler irrigation resulted in significantly higher growth and yield attributes, seed and straw yields, economic benefits and water productivity of both the crops. The irrigation at 0.6 IW: CPE ratio showed 51.3% and 39.0% higher seed of soybean over 0.4 and 0.8 IW: CPE ratio, whereas 0.4 IW: CPE of irrigation yielded 14.5% and 32.5% higher seed of chickpea compared with 0.6 and 0.8 IW: CPE. Mean response of sprinkler irrigation was recorded 8.3% in soybean and 11.7% in chickpea higher seed yield over check basin irrigation. Likewise, increases in growth and yield attributes, seed yield, water productivity and protein production of soybean and chickpea were noticed with application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 2.5 t FYM/ha compared with other nutrition treatments. Addition of 75% RDF + 2.5 t FYM/ha also achieved higher system productivity, net profit and production and economic efficacy. After harvesting of the second crop of chickpea, maximum availability of N, P, K and S was recorded under 0.4 IW: CPE ratio, sprinkler irrigation and application of 75% RDF + 2.5 t FYM/ha compared to other treatments.