Nutrient balance under INMS in sorghum-chickpea cropping sequence

A field experiment was conducted during 2001-02 and 2002-03 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management system in sorghum {Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench} - chickpea {Cicer arietinunm (L)} cropping sequence under irrigated conditions. Application of 75 per cent RDF + FYM + biofertilizers produced significantiy higher grain and fodder yield of sorghum which was at par with that of application of 100 per cent RDF through inorganics alone. The residual effect of application of 5 t FYM ha-1 to preceding crop sorghum and 100 per cent RDF to chickpea resulted in significantly higher grain and bhusa yields of chickpea which was at par with that of 50 per cent RDF to chickpea. Maximum net balance of nitrogen was recorded due to treatment 75 per cent RDF + FYM + biofertilizers while phosphorus and potassium balance was maximum due to treatment 50 per cent RDF + biofertilizers. The fertilizer level of 100 per cent RDF applied to chickpea recorded maximum available nitrogen and potassium while phosphorus balance was maximum due to control treatment.