Effect of integrated nutrient management on the productivity of oat-green gram cropping system in Inceptisols

Abstract

The present field experiment was conducted during two consecutive rabi-summer seasons at the Instructional Farm, Jaguli, under the new alluvial zone of West Bengal to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on the productivity of dual-purpose oats (Avena sativa L.) and its residual impact on succeeding green gram (Vigna radiata L.). Seven nutrient management treatments were tested in a randomized block design with three replications, combining different proportions of the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), vermicompost, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Azotobacter and zinc sulphate (ZnSO4·7H2O). Among the treatments, T6 (75% RDN + vermicompost 2 t ha-1 + PSB + Azotobacter + ZnSO4·7H2O @ 20 kg ha-1) produced the best performance. Pooled over two years, T6 increased oat grain yield to 17.2 q ha-1 compared with 7.0 q ha-1 under the control (≈146% higher), and stover yield to 66.2 q ha-1 versus 38.3 q ha-1 (≈73% higher). Plant height, leaf area index, and dry aerial biomass under T6 (152.6 cm, 3.93, and 25.5 q ha-1, respectively) were higher by ≈36%, ≈11.6%, and ≈82.9%, respectively, compared with the control. The residual seed yield of green gram under T6 was 11.0 q ha-1, ≈15.9% higher than the control. The results suggest that integrated application of inorganic, organic and biofertilizer inputs can enhance system productivity, improve soil fertility and support sustainable intensification of food-fodder cropping systems in the region.