Combine effects of inorganic and organic nutrient sources on maize–sesame cropping sequence of middle Gujarat

Abstract

AbstractIncreasing uses of nutrients have played a major role in increasing the food supply to a continually growing world population. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers results in significant losses, inefficient utilization, and nutritional imbalance. However, poor soil management, inadequate nutrient application, and extreme weather conditions have all contributed to soil degradation. Prudent usage of integrated nutrient management (INM) is the greatest alternative to provide nutrients to crop needs and enhance soil conditions to repair the soil's nutrient depletion. To examine the impact of INM on the yield of rabi maize (Zea mays L.) and its lasting effects on succeeding summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under irrigated conditions during 2019–2020 to 2021–2022 at College Agronomy Farm, Bansilal Amrutlal (B. A.) College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India, a field trial was conducted on loamy sand soil of Agro‐Climatic Zone–XIII, Gujarat Plains, and Hills region, India. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications and 12 treatments. The improved growth, yield, and protein content of the maize crop were obtained by the application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 25% recommended dose of nutrient (RDN) through vermicompost + nitrogen–phosporus–potassium (NPK) consortium (soil application). In the subsequent sesame crop, residual effects of 75% RDF + 25% RDN through farm yard manure (FYM) + NPK consortium (soil application) together with 50% RDF (50:25:00 NPK kg/ha) were reported, which led to higher crop growth and yield. Under the conditions of middle Gujarat, the application of 75% RDF + 25% RDN through the FYM + NPK consortium (soil application) led to a greater system net realization in the maize–sesame sequence.