Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, soil fertility and economics of blackgram (Vigna mungo) varieties under rainfed condition

Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons on 7^th and 10^th July of 2010 and 2011 respectively to find out suitable nutrient management practices for blackgram varieties at farmer's field at Humerhedi, Kota district. The treatments consisted of 5 blackgram varieties (viz. PU 31, PU 30, KU 96-3, T 9 and Krishna) and 9 nutrient management practices (viz. T₁: No application of NP, T₂: P (17.2 kg/ha as farmer's practice), T₃: NP (20: 17.2 kg/ha as RDF), T₄: RDF+16.6 kg K/ha, T₅: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S/ha, T₆: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha, T₇: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium, T₈: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha+Rhizobium (RZ) +Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and T₉: RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + RZ+PSB + 5t FYM/ha. Application of RDF + 16.6 kg K + 20 kg S + 3 kg Zn/ha along with seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB recorded significantly taller plants, higher number of branches/plant, pods/plant, higher seed yield, net return and benefit: cost ratio over control, farmer practice, RDF, RDF + 16.6 kg K/ha and RDF + 16.6 kg K/ha+20 kg S/ha but at par with rest of treatments viz. RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium, RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha+Rhizobium + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and RDF+16.6 kg K+20 kg S+3 kg Zn/ha + RZ+ PSB + 5t FYM/ha. Whereas application of RDF + 16.6 kg K + 20 kg S + 3 kg Zn/ha + Rhizobium + PSB + 5t FYM/ha significantly recorded higher available organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and zinc contents in the soil over rest of the treatments. Among the genotypes, ‘KU 96-3 ’recorded significantly higher branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, seed index, seed yield, net return and B: C ratio.