YIELD ENHANCEMENT IN KHARIF CROPS THROUGH INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AT FARMERS' FIELDS IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN

Integrated nutrient management trials were organized during 2011 in five impor-tant kharif crops viz pearlmillet, clusterbean, mungbean, mothbean and sesame at farmer's fields in districts Jalore, Pali, Sirohi and Jodhpur of Transitional Plain of Luni Basin of Rajasthan by Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore. Results revealed that the application of recommended dose of fertilizers provided 12–17% yield enhancement in different crops; however, the use of integrated nutrient management practices which comprised of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers + seed treatment with bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium/Azotobactor and PSB culture) followed by foliar spray of 1% soluble NPK (19: 19: 19) at flowering stage provided 20–27% higher yield over farmers ’practice and found most effective and remunerative also. Economic analysis of inte-grated nutrient management over farmers ’practice revealed that maximum benefit-cost ratio of 11.25 was found in mungbean and least i.e. 2.10 was in pearlmillet; however in sesame, mothbean and clusterbean, it was 7.38, 5.40 and 4.16, respectively.