Response of greengram-safflower cropping sequence to phosphorus management in relation to yield, nutrient uptake and phosphorus use efficiency in Vertisols

Field experiment was conducted during 2006–2007 to study the effect of phosphorus management in greengram-safflower sequence in a Vertisol. The twelve treatments and three replications designed in RBD consisted of 100% RDF (20: 40: 20 NPK kg/ha to greengram and 25: 25: 25 NPK kg/ha to safflower), 50% recommended P, No P, 50% recommended P + PSB (25 g/kg seed), 5tFYM/ha, 5tFYM/ha + PSB applied in various combinations to greengram in kharif and safflower in rabi season. The results indicated that application of 100% recommended P along with recommended N and K significantly enhanced the yield of greengram and safflower. However, these results were comparable with application of 50% P (20 kg/ha to greengram and 12.5 kg/ha to safflower) + PSB along with recommended dose of N (20 kg/ha to greengram and 25 kg/ha to safflower) and K (20 kg/ha to greengram and 25 kg/ha to safflower) to greengram and safflower in crop productivity with higher nutrient uptake and apparent nutrient balance. The higher P use efficiency was observed with the application of 50% recommended P to both the crops alongwith PSB.