Integrated nutrient management studies in grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.)

Grain amaranth is an important cash crop of the mid and high altitude areas of Himalayan region. To standardize the integrated nutrient management with combination of both organic and inorganic fertilizers, a field experiment was conducted on silty clay loam soil of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Hill Campus, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India during kharif 2002–03 and 2003–04, under rainfed mid hill condition. Recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. 40 Kg N and 20 Kg P ha 1 along with FYM @ 5 t ha−1 gave significantly higher grain yields of 1.08 and 0.92 t/ha during 2002–03 and 2003–04 respectively over all the treatments followed by FYM @ 10 t ha−1 + 75% RDF which was at par with FYM @ 5 t ha−1 + 75% RDF during both the years. Net monetary returns and benefit: cost ratio were higher with the application of FYM @ 5t ha−1 + 100% RDF (Rs 3237.5 and 792.5, 1.24 and 1.06 during 2002–03 and 2003–04, respectively) compared to other treatments. The study suggests that application of organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic ones is essential to get maximum production in grain amaranth.