Effect of the Incorporation of Groundnut Plant Residue on Wheat Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Productivity

Direct and residual effect of incorporation of green groundnut haulm in soH one month prior to sowing of wheat on crop yield, nutrient uptake and soil productivity was evaluated in wheat-rice cropping sequence for two consecutive years. Incorporation of groundnut haulm @ 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹ significantly increased the grain and straw yields of wheat both at 50 and 100 kg levels of N application. The yields obtained with 50 kg N + 7.5 Mg ground nut haulm ha⁻¹ was at parto 100 kgN ha⁻¹. Uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Fe and Mn) also followed the trend almost similar to grain and straw yield of wheat. There was considerable improvement in physical properties, viz. water holding capacity and bulk density of the soil. Residual fertility in terms of available N, P and K increased under haulm treatments which was reflected in the yield of succeeding rice.