Prescription-based fertilizer recommendations for rice, maize and wheat in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh

The fertilizer adjustment equations were worked out and given for rice, maize and wheat in wet temperate, subhumid-sub tropical and humid temperate zones of Himachal Pradesh. Using the fertilizer adjustment equations, 36 experiments with wheat, 10 with maize and 8 with rice were conducted in these three agroclimatic zones from rabi 1996–97 to rabi 1998–99 at different locations on farmers’ fields. The results of the present investigation indicate that on practical basis, the target yield concept not only achieved 50 q ha⁻¹ yield level in rice and 40 q ha⁻¹ yield level in maize and wheat but also maintained the soil fertility. However, if the prescription-based fertilizer recommendations for above yield targets of crops could further be integrated with additional 5 t FYM ha⁻¹, it not only increased rice, maize and wheat yields by about 4.2 to 5.7 q ha⁻¹ but also resulted in build-up of soil fertility in terms of available N, P and K and DTPA extractable micronutrients