Impact of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity and soil fertility under rice (Oryza sativa)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cropping system in Chhattisgarh plain agro-climatic zone

A study was conducted during 2016-17 to 2018-19 at farmer’s field under Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), at College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Waraseoni, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity, soil-nutrient balance and economics of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cropping system. Application of 75% NPK + 5 t/ha farmyard manure (FYM) + biofertilizers [blue green algae (BGA)/Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB)] resulted in significantly higher grain yield of rice and chickpea (4,429 kg/ha and 1,538 kg/ha, respectively) over the Farmer Practice (3,644 kg/ha and 1,036 kg/ha respectively). The maximum nutrients uptake (N, P and K) by rice and chickpea crops were recorded in the treatment receiving 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers. The conjunctive use of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure and biofertilizers exhibited the highest availability of soil N, P, K and Zn at post-harvest of chickpea crop as compared to the other treatment combinations. Further, results showed that the highest cost of cultivation (58,200/ha) and net returns (96,832/ha) were obtained in 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers treatment. The benefit: cost (B: C) ratio computed for rice-chickpea cropping system indicated that, the higher B: C ratio was found to be associated with higher production and better quality of the produce.