Evaluation of Compacted Phosphate Rocks for Maize-Mustard Cropping Sequence in a Typic Haplaquept of North Eastern Ghat Zone

A field experiment was conducted under maize-mustard cropping sequence grown on moderately acidic soil to evaluate the efficiency of Jhamarkota phosphate rock (JPR) compacted with mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), MAP + Sulphur (S) and single super phosphate (SSP) along with granular MAP and granular SSP. The highest grain and stover yields of maize were recorded in granular MAP treatment closely followed by compacted fertilizer treatments. However, in mustard crop, MAP + S and SSP compacted sources outyielded water soluble P sources. Considering both the crops in sequence, MAP + S and SSP compacted P sources were found to give higher crop yields and better agronomic efficiency compared to other P sources. Both compacted and water soluble P sources significantly influenced the P, Sand Ca uptake by crops over lone phosphate rock sources. The apparent phosphorus recovery (APR) from granular MAP was highest followed by granular SSP and compacted P sources with SSP, MAP+S and MAP.