Nutrient management in fodder sorghum+cowpea-chickpea cropping system for higher system productivity and nutrient use.

A field experiment was conducted during 2010–12 at Central Research Farm, IGFRI, Jhansi to study the influence of FYM, phosphorus and sulphur application in fodder sorghum + cowpea-chickpea cropping system in clay loam soil of Bundelkhand of central India. Pooled data of two years study revealed that system productivity in terms of chickpea equivalent yield was 3.04, 3.12 and 2.98 t ha−1 with the application of 5 t FYM ha−1, 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 20 kg S ha−1, respectively and significantly higher over their respective controls but application of 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 recorded at par chickpea equivalent yield (2.99 t ha−1). Similarly, agronomic nutrient use efficiency was 8.8, 9.4 and 5.4 kg chickpea equivalent yield per kg N applied, physiological nutrient use efficiency was 11.76, 146.75 and 87.04 kg chickpea equivalent yield per kg nutrient uptake and apparent nutrient recovery was 70.24, 6.42 and 6.17 percent with the application of 5 t FYM ha1, 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 20 kg S ha−1, respectively. Application of FYM, P, S also increased N, P, K and S uptake of cropping system significantly. Two years application of FYM, phosphorus and sulphur also improved soil organic carbon, available N, P and S status under semi-arid condition.