Impact of Intercropping System, Nutrient Management and Tree
Leaf Extract Sprays on Post Harvest Soil Nutrient Status of
Irrigated Cotton
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Author:C. Harisudan, S. Senthivel and K. Arulmozhiselvan
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:97, Issue:apr-jun
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100364
Abstract
Response of intercropping system, inorganic fertilizers, biofertilizers, intercrop residues
and leaf extract spray on post harvest soil nutrient status of irrigated cotton were evaluated
by conducting field experiments at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during
summer 2006 and winter 2006-2007. The experiments were laid out in a split plot design with
three replications. Intercropping system viz., C1 – Cotton sole, C2 – Cotton + Blackgram, C3 –
Cotton + Greengram and C4 – Cotton + Cluster bean were allotted to mainplot. The intercrops
residues were incorporated at 65 DAS. The subplot consisted of six nutrient management
and botanicals spray treatments viz., N1 – 100 % RDF (Recommended Dose of fertilizer –
80:40:40 kg NPK/ha), N2 – 75 % RDF, N3 - 75 % RDF + biofertilizers, N4 -75 % RDF + 5 % Morinda leaf
extract spray at 60 and 80 DAS, N5 - 75 % RDF + 5 % Vilvam leaf extract spray at 60 and 80 DAS, N6
- 75 % RDF + 5 % Annona leaf extract spray at 60 and 80 DAS. The biofertilizers include
azospirillum + Phosphobacteria + Silicate solubilizing bacteria each at 2.6 kg/ha. The results
reveal that cotton + blackgram intercropping with application of 75 % RDF + combined application
of azospirillum, phosphobacteria and silica solubilizing bacteria recorded higher soil available
nitrogen and phosphorus content.
Key words : Intercropping, nutrient management, biofertilizers, leaf extract spray