Effect of Biofertilizers on yield, nutrient uptake and nitrogen economy of rice-peanut cropping sequence

A field experiment was conducted on a Vertic Ustochrept of Bhubaneswar to study the effect of integration of biofertilizers on yield, nutrient uptake and N economy of rice-peanut cropping sequence. The study revealed that 40 kg inorganic N (50% N dose) integrated with biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Azolla) and 17.5 kg of P and 32 kg of K ha−1 resulted in the highest grain (3.57 t ha−1) and straw yield (4.32 t ha−1) of rice. On its residual fertility, peanut crop produced the highest pod yield (2.38 t ha−1) with seed inoculation of Rhizobium and treatment with molybdenum and addition of 17.5 kg of P and 32 kg K ha−1. With this a total of 60 kg inorganic N ha−1 was saved in the rice-peanut cropping sequence with apparent P and K recovery of 20 and 76%, respectively.