Phosphorus management in pearl millet-mustard cropping system in coarse textured soils in southern Haryana

A field experiment was conducted from rabi 2009–10 to kharif 2013 to evaluate the direct and residual effect of phosphorus (P) on crops and also to find out optimum time of application of P in pearl milletmustard cropping system in a coarse-textured low P status soil. Four levels of P (0, 30, 45 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) were evaluated in two sets. In one set, fertilizer P was applied to mustard and its residual effect was studied in pearl millet crop and in other set, the P was applied to pearl millet and its residual effect was studied in mustard crop. Mustard crop responded significantly to direct application of 30 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and residual effect of P in pearl millet was significant at 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Pearl millet responded significantly to direct application up to 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and residual effect of P in mustard was significant at 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. The benefit:cost ratio of pearl millet-mustard cropping system was higher when P was applied to mustard compared with application of P to pearl millet.