Effect of Phosphorus in Sequential Cropping with Vegetables

The effect of direct, residual and cumulative effects of phosphorus fertilisation in Frenchbean—Cabbage—Okra cropping system was studied. The treatments included two levels of P (75 and 150 kg P/ha) and two sources of P (water and citrate soluble phosphorus). The results indicated that Frenchbean and Cabbage yields increased with the phosphorus level upto 75 kg P/ha. The subsequent crop Okra did not respond to phosphorus fertilisation. There was no difference in response due to sources of phosphorus applied. The results show a definite advantage of using less expensive citrate soluble phosphates to build up P status of the soils. Thus, fertilisation at the rate of 75 kg P/ha would build up the soil phosphorus to support three crops in sequence even in intensive vegetable farming systems.