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Transition from conventional to alternative agriculture in Pakistan: The role of green manures in substituting for inorganic N fertilizers in a rice-wheat farming system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Tahir Hussain ,
Ghulam Jilani ,
James F. Parr  and
Riaz Ahmad
Tahir Hussain
Affiliation:
Director, Nature Farming Research Centre, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan;
Ghulam Jilani
Affiliation:
Deputy Director, Nature Farming Research Centre, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan;
James F. Parr
Affiliation:
A former National Program Leader, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Riaz Ahmad
Affiliation:
Scientific Officer, Nature Farming Research Centre, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan;
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Abstract

Nitrogen, a vitally important plant nutrient, is subject to various losses that affect its efficiency. We tested prilled urea (PU), urea supergranules (USG), green manures (GM) and farmyard manure (FYM) in a rice-wheat cropping system to determine which were the most efficient and economical N sources. The maximum rice growth, yield and N-uptake occurred with USG and with GM (Sesbania rostrata) plus PU. Incorporation of GM saved 60 kg N/ha. On the following wheat crop, GM (S. aculeata) plus PU and FYM plus PU had the highest residual effect on the number of tillers per m2, and straw and grain yield. An increase in N recovery efficiency occurred with combined use of PUand organic Igreen manures compared with PU alone. In areas where USG is costly or unavailable and FYM is scarce, green manures can be a cheap N source that allows small-scale farmers to get sustainable yields in a rice-wheat rotation.

Keywords

ricewheatfarmyard manuregreen manureSesbanianitrogen fertilizer
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , September 1995 , pp. 133 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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