Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during 2010-11 to study the effect of tillage and integrated plant nutrient supply strategies on roductivity of rainfed cotton and soil quality indicators in Vertisols at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice with two factors viz., tillage (conventional and conservation) and integrated nutrient management which included incorporation of FYM, crop residues, in situ green manuring of sunhemp, glyricidia leaf manuring in combination with 50 per cent inorganic fertilizers and 100 % RDF (804040 kg N,P2O5 and K2O ha-1). The results indicated that numerically higher seed cotton yield with slight improvement in physical and chemical properties were observed under conservation tillage, whereas a significant improvement in soil biological properties were observed in conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage. The application of 100% RDF recorded highest seed cotton yield followed by 50 % N either through FYM or in situ green manuring + 50% RDF which were at par with each other. The integrated use of 50% RDF + 50 % N through FYM recorded highest availability of NPK, improvement in physical as well as biological properties of soil. Hence, the conjunctive use of FYM, crop residue, in situ green manuring and glyricidia leaf manuring along with 50% RDF under conservation tillage was found beneficial in improving physical, chemical and biological indicators and productivity of cotton grown in Vertisols.

Keywords: Cotton, FYM, green manure, integrated nutrient management, soil indicators, tillage, Vertisol