Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Performance of Oat-grasspea Cropping Systems, Competition Indices and Residual Soil Fertility

Abstract

A field experiment in 3 times replicated split plot design comprising 4 cropping systems (CS)  (CS1-Sole oat, CS2- Sole grasspea, CS3 and CS4-oat-grasspea intercropping in 3:2 and  3:3 row ratios, respectively) in main plot and 3 integrated nutrient managements i.e. N2, N3 and N4- 75% N through urea + rest N through FYM, vermi-compost and mustard oilcake, respectively along with N1 – 100% RDF in sub plot, was carried out at Central Research Farm, B.C.K.V., India during winter season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Pooled results expressed that highest yield of oat (15.40 q/ha) and grasspea (12.44 q/ha) were obtained from CS4 and CS2, respectively, under application of N3. CS4 exhibited greater competition indices (LER: 1.16, RCC: 3.19, Aggressivity index: 0.184, CR: 1.39) and MAI ( 10,685.02) over CS3 under application of N3, showing 16% yield advantage as compared to sole cropping. Soil fertility remained best under CS2 (OC: 0.53%, available N: 218.39 kg/ha, available P2O5: 49.59 kg/ha, available K2O: 215.28 kg/ha) and among oat based CS, in CS4 with N3 application (OC: 0.52%, available N: 196.32 kg/ha, available P2O5: 44.28 kg/ha, available K2O: 194.95 kg/ha).