Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield of Castor (Ricinus comunis L.) in Typic Ustochrept Soil of Hisar, Haryana

The present study was conducted for five rainy seasons (kharif) of 2005 to 2009 at a fixed site at the farm of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India to study the effect of organic, inorganic and biofertilizer on seed yield of castor in Aridisols. The experiment consisted of nine treatments, each replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The treatments tried had significant effect on seed yield of castor over control except the treatment of application of 20 kg N/ha during all the five seasons. Conjunctive use of organic and biofertilizer with inorganic fertilizer application (20 kg N/ha) gave promising results when compared with 40 kg N/ha alone. This indicates the additive response to biofertilizers and organics (4 t FYM/ha). Increase in application of N40 from N60 to Ndid not affect the seed yield of castor significantly when compared with 40 kg N/ha at the same level of phosphorus application. The microbial count of Azotobacter and PSB was the highest at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), respectively irrespective of treatments. Application of N60 P20 had recorded the highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.58 closely followed by N40 P20 (1.54).