Residual effects of summer green manure crops and zinc applied to rice (Oryza sativa) on succeeding durum wheat (Triticum durum) under basmati rice–wheat cropping sequence Singh Amarpreet1, Shivay Yashbir Singh2,* Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 1Scientist, Division of Crop Production, Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata, West Bengal-700 120 2Princiapl Scientist, Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 *Corresponding author Email: ysshivay@hotmail.com
Online published on 25 September, 2013. Abstract Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive years (2009–11) at the research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to determine the direct and residual effects of summer green manuring crops [Sesbania aculeata (Dhaincha), Crotalaria juncea (Sunhemp) and Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea)] and zinc fertilizer sources [EDTA-chelated Zn (12% Zn), ZnSO4.7H2O (21% Zn), ZnSO4.H2O (33% Zn), ZnO (82% Zn) and ZnSO4.7H2O + ZnO (50% + 50%)] on productivity, Zn uptake and economics of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)–durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cropping sequence. In this paper information pertaining to residual effect of treatments on durum wheat is given. Significant residual effects of Zn fertilizer sources and summer green manuring crops were observed on durum wheat in comparison with control (no Zn application or summer fallow in preceding Basmati rice). With residual effect of Sesbania incorporation, grain and straw yields of durum wheat were 4.5 and 5.16 t/ha, which were 15.9 and 10.0% higher compared to fallow. Among the different Zn fertilizer sources, residual effect of EDTA-chelated Zn was found to be the best with respect to growth, yield attributes, grain, straw, Zn content and uptake and economics. The residual effect of application of EDTA-chelated Zn resulted in the highest durum wheat grain (4.78 t/ha) and straw yields (5.38 t/ha) compared to control. Highest Zn concentration in grain (43.0 mg/kg) and straw (126.6 mg/kg) and its uptake was recorded with residual effect of Sesbania incorporation compared with sunhemp, cowpea and summer fallow. Highest total Zn uptake (936.6 g/ha) in durum wheat was recorded with residual effect of EDTA-chelated Zn application, followed by ZnSO4.7H2O, ZnSO4.H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O + ZnO (50% + 50%), ZnO and control. The best economical returns were obtained with residual effect of Sesbania incorporation and EDTA-chelated Zn combination. Top Keywords Durum wheat, Economics, Residual effects, Summer green manure crops, Yields, Zinc concentration and uptake, Zinc sources. Top |