Nutrient uptake and Economics of Sorghum as Influenced by Rice Crop Residue Management Techniques and Nitrogen Levels in Sorghum

Abstract

The current study was conducted to examine the impact of different rice crop residue management strategies and nitrogen levels in sorghum. Crop residue decomposition and nitrogen release are influenced by autochthonous soil bacteria, the duration of the decomposition process, environmental and soil factors. Depending on the depth and nutritional conditions of the soil, fungi make up a larger portion of the soil biomass than bacteria, making them an important part of the soil microbiota. The experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2021-22 on sandy clay loam soil at agricultural college farm, bapatla to study the effect of various rice crop residue management techniques and nitrogen levels on yield and nutrient uptake of sorghum. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four rice crop residue management techniques (M1: No residue, M2: Burning of residue, M3: Incorporation of residue with rotovator without application of ANGRAU decomposer and M4: Incorporation of residue with rotovator after application of ANGRAU decomposer) as main plots and four nitrogen levels (Control, 40 kg ha−1, 80 kg ha−1 and 120 kg ha−1) as sub plots. Under rice crop residue management techniques, incorporation of residue with rotovator after application of ANGRAU decomposer (M4) gave better results regarding nutrient uptake by crop and economics. Under nitrogen levels, application of 120 kg ha−1 (S4) gave good results regarding nutrient uptake and economics of sorghum. Thus, Incorporation of residue with rotovator after application of ANGRAU decomposer (M4) and application of 120 kg ha−1 (S4) is an optimum and sustainable approach for getting better results in sorghum. Exploring alternative decomposers can Enhance decomposition rates under diverse climatic and soil conditions, improve nutrient release dynamics for better soil fertility, reduce dependency on a single decomposer strain, promoting biodiversity. Potential alternative decomposers include pusa decomposers, Bioengineered or naturally selected microbial mixtures for enhanced efficiency in specific soil and climatic conditions