Effect of kharif season crops on the nutrients economy and productivity of succeeding wheat crop under middle Gujarat condition 

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-08 and 2008-09 at Anand to study the effect of kharif season crops, viz., maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.) and nutrients management on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Flori & Paol.) - based cropping system in middle Gujarat. Growing soybean and greengram as the preceding crops resulted significantly higher grain and straw yields of wheat than preceding maize crop. Among the different wheat based cropping system the maximum wheat grain equivalent yield (WGEY) was recorded with soybean-wheat being 20.3 and 43.9 % higher than that of greengram -wheat and maize - wheat cropping system, respectively. Nutrient management in wheat crop produced the highest grain and straw yields of wheat under bio-organic application (vermicompost) @ 2 t ha^-1, which was 4.9 % more over control. Application of 100 % recommended N(120 kg ha^-1) recorded significantly higher yield of wheat and net realization than 50 % recommended N treatment. In case of phosphorus levels, application of 40 kg P₂O₅, ha^-1 gave remarkably the highest yields and net return. Wheat grown after soybean secured maximum net return under wheat crop fertilized with 120 kg N and 40 kg P2O5, ha^-1 without bio-organic application.