On farm crop response to plant nutrients in rice-maize cropping system

An on farm research entitled “On Farm Crop Response to Plant Nutrients in Rice Maize Cropping System” was conducted during 2014-15 at farmers’ field of Purnea in Zone II of Bihar. The seven treatments, viz., T1-Control, T2-Recommended N alone, T3-Recommended N and P, T4-Recommended N and K, T5-Recommended N, P and K, T6Recommended NPK with ZnSO4 and T7-Farmers’ practice were taken for study. ZnSO4 was not applied in maize crop owing to observe its residual impact, applied in rice. Application of 100 kg ha N, 40 kg ha P2O5 and 20 kg ha K2O along with 25 kg ha ZnSO4 in rice recorded significantly higher grain (47.5q ha) yield, and in the same plot in succeeding maize, application of 120 kg ha N, 75 kg ha P2O5 and 20 kg ha K2O recorded significantly higher grain (86.11 q ha) yield. Similarly, the maximum system rice equivalent yield (173.22 q ha) and productivity (47.46 kg ha day) were also achieved under (T6) nutrient combination. Highest N, P and K uptake was observed in T6 87.75, 32.05 and 110.0 kg ha respectively, in both the crop in both season. Significantly highest gross return (1, 87,458 ha), net return (1, 25,788 ha) and B: C ratio (2.49) was also found in NPK+Zn.