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Wheat productivity and N use-efficiency as influenced by inclusion of cowpea as a grain legume in a rice–wheat system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2004

R. L. YADAV
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Dilkusha, Lucknow-226 002, India
V. K. SINGH
Affiliation:
Project Directorate for Cropping Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut 250 110, India
B. S. DWIVEDI
Affiliation:
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
A. K. SHUKLA
Affiliation:
Project Directorate for Cropping Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut 250 110, India

Abstract

In high productivity zones of the Indo–Gangetic Plain Region (IGPR) of India, the rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) is exhibiting a decline in factor productivity, low N use-efficiency and deterioration in soil health. Inclusion of legumes in RWCS is advocated as one of the promising agro-techniques to sustain productivity. A field experiment was conducted during 1996/97 and 1997/98 on sandy loam (Typic Ustrochrept) soil of Modipuram, India (29°4′N, 77°46′E, 237 m above sea level) to explore the possibilities of inclusion of cowpea as a break crop in RWCS. The effect of rice or cowpea was measured on the yield, fertilizer N requirement and N use-efficiency in wheat, and also on the soil organic carbon and available N content. The yields of wheat following cowpea were significantly (P<0·05) greater by 19–20%, compared with those following rice. In a cowpea–wheat rotation economic optimum dose of fertilizer N for wheat was smaller than that in a rice–wheat rotation due to increased N availability, better growing environment and greater N use-efficiency (measured as agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery and partial factor productivity) in the former case. On termination of the experiment, soil organic carbon and available N content increased over initial content with increasing rates of fertilizer N under both rotations, but the magnitude of increase was greater in treatments where cowpea preceded wheat.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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