Effect of Nutrient Management Practices and Rainwater Conservation on Nutrient Balance under Rainfed Shivaliks, Himachal Pradesh

The impact of different nutrient management practices viz., recommended practices (TA integrated nutrient management with 25% N substitution by FYM with (T₄) and without ZnS0₄ in (T₃) in comparison to farmer's practices (T) in maize-wheat cropping sequence in Johranpur watershed under Shivaliks region of Himachal Pradesh was studied during 2000–2004. Nutrient balance was calculated after three cropping seasons to identify an appropriate practice for sustainable crop production on degraded land. N, P and K uptake was J. 8, 1.9 and 2.2; 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2; and 1.7, 1.8, and 2.1 times of farmer's practice (T₁) under T₂ T₃ and T₄ treatments, respectively. Partial substitution of nutrients by FYM under T₃ and T₄ helped to obtain higher yield and nutrient uptake by enhancing nutrient availability to crops. Availability of soil N which decreased under farmer's practice, increased with integrated nutrient management treatments (T, and T₄). Nutrient balances were positive for N and P for the tested package of practices. However, net balance for K remained negative under all the treatments suggesting the need for K fertilization for sustainable crop production.