Organic manure supplementation effects on rice–pulse cropping system productivity

The effects of organic manure supplementation on rice–pulse cropping system productivity were studied. Three pulses, viz., blackgram, greengram and pea were grown after rice on the same plots to explore the feasibility of growing second crops with carry-over residual soil moisture and residual soil fertility. The study revealed that during the rainy season, 30%–35% higher rice grain yield was obtained when both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients were applied compared with the full dose of inorganic fertilizer, and the rice grain yield was 65%–78% higher than obtained following farmers’ practices. In the post-rainy season, pea crop recorded the highest grain yield of 490 kg ha-1 under the treatment combination of Sesbania and inorganic fertilizer. Organic carbon, and available N, P, K also enhanced yield by 20%–29%, 5.0%–29.4% to 7.9%–39.9% and 22.4%–60.3%, respectively when 25% N was applied through different organic sources of nutrients (green manure/press mud/farmyard manure).