Abstract:
Nutrient omission experiments were conducted at Instructional Farm in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, I.G.K.V., Raipur, Chhattisgarh in Completely Randomized Design with two factors (treatments and soils) to identify yield limiting nutrients using rice and maize as test crops. Composited initial soil samples were analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, CEC, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn, B and Mo. Grain and straw yields of rice were significantly reduced with the omission of N, P, Zn and S in all soils. Yield reductions were more pronounced with omission of N (68.8 % and 68.5 %, respectively) followed by P, Zn and S. During Rabi season, omission of N, P and S caused significant reductions in the fresh and dry weights of maize. Nitrogen was found to be the most yield limiting nutrient followed by phosphorus and sulphur in all the soils of three agro-climatic zones. Extents of limitations were more in Goda Chawar (Phunderdihari) soil as compared to Chawar (Rajpuri) soil in Northern hills zone. N, P and S were more limiting in Marhan (Madpal) soil in comparison to Tikra (Kachnar) and Mal (Chokar) soils in Bastar plateau. For crops cultivated under flooded condition such as rice, zinc becomes the limiting nutrient and affects crop growth and yield. |
