Yield, system productivity and economics of foxtail millet-FCV tobacco cropping system as influenced by different nutrient management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted as a sequence at Black Soil Research Farm of ICAR - National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture during kharif (foxtail millet) and rabi (FCV tobacco) seasons of 2023-24 in clay soil to assess the effect of different nutrient management practices on yield of foxtail millet and FCV tobacco and to work-out the economics and system productivity in foxtail millet- FCV tobacco cropping system. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design and replicated thrice with seven treatments viz., T1: Absolute Control; T2: 100% N through organic source, Farmyard manure (FYM); T3 - 25% N through organic + 75% N through inorganic; T4 - 50% N through organic + 50% N through inorganic; T5 - 75% N through organic +25% N through inorganic; T6 - 100% N through inorganic source (NPK); T7 - Foxtail millet / tobacco crop residue incorporation using PUSA decomposer + RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer). Results revealed that combined application of crop residue incorporation through PUSA decomposer along with RDF resulted in significantly higher grain and stover yields of 2095 and 2601 kg ha-1, respectively and higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio (₹ 95,577 ha-1, ₹ 69,080 ha-1, 2.61, respectively) in foxtail millet. Similarly, in FCV tobacco T7 recorded significantly higher green, cured leaf yield 14210, 1953 kg ha-1 respectively and gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio of ₹ 563733 ha-1, ₹ 342376 ha-1 and 1.55 respectively. Significantly higher system productivity was also recorded under treatment T7. It was concluded that combined application of crop residue incorporation using PUSA decomposer + RDF along with utilizing the residue resources effectively in pre-tobacco (kharif) crop season by introducing foxtail millet increases yield, overall system productivity, profitability of the cropping system.