Soil Test Crop Response Based Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System for Cowpea (Vigna

ungiculata (L) Walp) in Mollisols of Uttarakhand.

Varun Tripathi 1* Sobaran Singh 2 Jyoti Pandey 3

1*
Department of Agriculture Invertis university Bareilly
2
Department of Soil Science College of Agriculture G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Pantnagar.
3
Department of Agriculture Invertis university Bareilly
*
Corresponding author
(Email address of corresponding author: [email protected])

A Field experiment was conducted during spring 2009-10 in an Aquic Hapludoll at Norman E
Borlaug Crop Research Center of the G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology., Pantnagar, as
per technical programme of All India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response
Correlation. The experiment was conducted in two phases. In the first phase soil fertility gradient was
developed by dividing field into three strips and applying graded doses of fertilizers in them, (Strip I: No
fertilizer, Strip II: 100, 100 and 100 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha and strip III: 200, 200 and 200 kg N, P2O5
and K2O/ha and growing of exhaust crop oat (var Kent). In the second phase i.e. test crop Cowpea (var
Pant lobia-1) was grown by dividing each strip in 24 plots having 23 fertilizer treatments and one control
plot. Response of selected combinations of three levels of farmyard manure, four levels of nitrogen, four
levels of phosphorus and four levels of potassium at different levels of cowpea was studied. The values of
the organic carbon, alkaline KMnO4 extractable nitrogen, Olsen’s phosphorus and neutral normal
ammonium acetate extractable potassium in the experiment field ranged between 0.72-1.16 per cent,
112.30-200.60 kg/ha, 13.00-24.24 kg/ha and 101.90-245.30 kg/ha, respectively. In the present
investigation the total straw yield ranged from 13.07-24.94 q/ha and total grain yield ranged from 9.00-
18.20 q/ha. The nutrient requirement for production of one quintal of cowpea grain was found to be 5.71
kg of nitrogen, 0.90 kg of phosphorus and 3.72 kg of potassium. Per cent contribution of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium was 62.00, 59.00 and 32.00, from soil, whereas from other sources as FYM
was 7.00, 29.00, 10.00; chemical fertilizer 30.00, 14.00 and 30.00 and conjoint use of chemical fertilizer
with FYM was 30.00, 17.00, 27.00 in terms of NPK respectively. With the help of these data fertilizer
recommendation at different yield targets and soil test value can be calculated. Coefficient of quadratic
multiple regression (R2) was found highly significant (0.898**) between grain yield, soil test values,
added fertilizers and FYM. Organic carbon, alkaline KMnO4-N, Olsen’s P and AB-DTPA P and
Ammonium acetate K and AB DTPA K methods of available N, P and K, respectively were at par for the
cow pea grown in Mollisol of Uttarakhand. Findings from present study can successfully be utilized for
the larger parts of Tarai region of Uttarakhand as effective guide for efficient and balanced fertilizer
recommendations.

Key words: Coefficient of Multiple regression, balanced fertilizer recommendations, coefficient of quadratic
multiple regression, Aquic hapludoll.
Introduction:

Cowpea (Vigna ungiculata (L.) Walp), is an yearly legume, It is one of the by gone crops known
to man. The history of cowpea dates to ancient West African cereal farming, 5 to 6 thousand years ago,
where it was closely associated with the cultivation of sorghum and pearl millet. It is also grown in Latin
America, and southern United States. The black- eyed cowpea type is grown up primarily in California
and marketed as California black-eyed pea. Worldwide production of cowpea has increased dramatically
in the last 25 years. It is a warm- season crop well adapted to many areas of the humid tropics and
temperate zones. It tolerates heat and dry conditions but is intolerant of frost. This crop has a considerable
promise as an alternative pulse crop in dry land farming. It performs best on well-drained sandy loam or
sandy soils where soil pH is in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. Being a leguminous crop, it requires soil
application of NPK as a starter dose for better initial establishment. In an estimate, 3.3 million tons of
cowpea dry grains were produced worldwide during the year 2000. The world average yield was 337
kg/ha (Bressani et al., 1985); IITA, (2000). Within India; cowpea is grown in an area of 3.9 million
hectares with a production of 2.21 million tones and productivity of 567 kg/ha. Pulses are the important
sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals for the predominantly vegetarian population and are popularly
known as “poor man’s meat” and “rich man’s vegetable” (Singh et al., 1992). Importance of fertilizer to
increase food grain production is well recognized. Agricultural production is moreover intensifying by
the sharp increase in the fertilizer consumption, but productivity gains of added nutrients are declining.
Nutrient’s supply from chemical fertilizer is the key to increase the agricultural production. Enhanced
land productivity results from the synergistic effects of chemical fertilizers, organic manures,
biofertilizers and other locally available nutrient sources, which improves the soil organic carbon, and
nutrient status and consequently chemical, physical and biological properties of soil. Since plants derive
nutrients from both soil and fertilizers, it is necessary to minimize the wastage of fertilizer status in the
soil to ensure their economic and judicial use. The exigency to use renewable forms of energy have
reinvigorated the use of organic fertilizers worldwide. Nutrients contained in organic manures are
released more slowly and are stored for a longer time in the soil, thereby fortify a long residual effect
(Sharma et al., 1991). Improvement of environmental conditions and public health as well as the need to
reduce the cost of fecundating the crops are also important reasons for advocating increased use of
organic materials (Seifritz, 1982). Application of organic manures also improves the soil microbial
properties (Belay et al., 2001). The benefits inferable from the uses of organic materials have however
not been fully utilized in the humid tropics due to huge quantities required to satisfy the nutritional needs
of crops as well as transportation and handling costs which constitute major restraints. They are rarely
available to the small-scale farmers in the required large quantities (Nyathi et al., 1995).

During the post green revolution period, the production of pulses recorded a negative growth rate. This
disturbing trend in the production of pulses had adversely affected the per capita availability of pulses.
Soil testing is one of the important tools to accesses the fertility status of soil and provide the basis of
nutrient requirement for a crops/cropping sequence. This helps to economize the cost of fertilizer use and
will increase the fertilizer use efficiency.

Soil testing also aids in monitoring of soil health and environment over time. In the current and future
scenario, soil testing must be renamed as soil quality assessment and it must assume a holistic role not
limited to guide fertilizer recommendation for a crop based on soil test Goswami (2006). Hence the soil
testing has become the foundation for fertilizing our soils in balanced proportion and to understand
nutrient losses from the soil. The soil test values should be correlated and calibrated for recommending
the fertilizer requirement of a crop on a specific soil climate zone. In the absence of such information, no
precise fertilizer recommendations would be possible. Keeping these factors in view, an All India
coordinated research Project on Soil Test Crop Response Correlations was started by the Indian Council
of Agricultural Research in the 1967-1968.Various aspects of the problem and approaches for solution
were calculated and debated at the national level. Finally detailed technical programme tried up to guide
laboratory and field experimentation. In the field experimentation under this programme, the yield
variations due to management practices and the soil factors other than the nutrient under study were
avoided by creating the desired fertility variations artificially on the same field at few selected sites
representing various soil and agro-climatic zones of the country. The concept of formulating optimum
fertilizer recommendation for targeted yield was first given by Troug (1960) which further modified by
Ramamoorthy et al., (1967).

The relationship between yield of economic part and uptake of a nutrient will usually be linear. This
implies that for obtaining a given yield, a definite quantity of the nutrient must be in use by the plant.
Once this requirement is recognized for a given yield, a definite quantity of the nutrient must be in use by
the plant. Once this requirement is recognized for a given yield, the fertilizer need can be estimated by
taking account of efficiency or contribution from the nutrient available in soil and from the fertilizer
applied. The data obtained from the Soil Test Crop Response field experiment provides a range in soil
test values, nutrient uptake and yield levels, which enables us in calculating the three basic parameters i.e.
nutrient requirements, percent contribution from the applied nutrient through inorganic or organic
sources. Today, we are overwhelmed to hear that Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) based prescription are
gaining popularity due to their superiority over blanket general fertilizer recommendations. Field trials
conducted in different agro-ecological zones with different cropping systems revealed that the STCR
produced higher yields and maintains better nutrient status as compared to blanket fertilizers
recommendation. This approach of efficient fertilizer management increases the production potential for
yield of pulses.

Materials and Methods

Field experiment were conducted in B3 block of Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre (C.R.C), of
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Distt. U S. Nagar, Uttarakhand on Soil
Test Crop Response Studies as per the technical programme of A.I.C.R.P. During spring 2010-11.
Climate of Pantnagar is humid, subtropical with hot and dry summers and cool winters. The monsoon
season usually starts from third or fourth week of June and extends up to last week of September. Few
spells of downpours are generally received during winter season (November to march). The average
annual rainfall of the area is 1433.3 mm and approx. 80-90 percent of it is received during rainy season.
These are mainly silty and loamy in texture with weak fine to medium fine granular structure, having
good moisture storage capacity and these are considered as a highly productive soil. Composite soil
samples were processed and analysed for various physicochemical properties (Table 1). In the beginning
fertility gradient across the width of field was created by adding different doses of N, P and K fertilizers
and growing Oat var.-Kent as exhaust crop, during Rabi 2010. This is for successful soil test crop
response correlation study and to minimize the interference of other soil and management factors
affecting crop yield response. In the beginning first phase, 2010 land was prepared in the month of
September. For preparation of field one-disc ploughing followed by two cross harrowing was done. The
field was levelled with the help of tractor drawn leveler to give gentle slope for smooth drainage on the
same day. Experimental site was divided into three equal strips and applied three levels of nutrients, viz
0, 1 and 2 (i.e.) N0P0K0, N1P1K1 and N2P2K2. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potash were applied as urea, single
super phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. Half dose of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus
and potash were applied by placement method. The remaining half dose of nitrogen was applied 45 DAS.
Line sowing was done at 23 cm row to row distance and plant to plant to plant distance 5 cm. Seeds of
variety Kent were sown at the rate of 100 kg/ha. For raising the crop recommended agronomic practices
were adopted. During second phase a test crop, Cowpea var. Pant lobia-1 was sown on the site of fertility
gradient experiment. Land was prepared with one-disc ploughing followed by four cross harrowing. The
field was leveled without disturbing strip boundaries with the help of leveler to furnish gentle slope for
better drainage Each strip was divided into 24 plot (23 treated and one control plot) resulting in total
seventy two (24×3) plots (3m × 3m size) plots. These treatments comprised of various selected
combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and farmyard manure were randomized in each of the
three strips. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic manure were applied through urea, single super
phosphate muriate of potash and FYM, respectively. Half of nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potash and
total dose of FYM were broadcasted as basal and mix well in soil with spade before sowing. While
remaining half of nitrogen was applied 30 DAS. An attempt was made to keep the crop free of weeds,
insects, pests and diseases following the recommended agronomic practices. Soil samples were collected
plough layer (0-15 cm depth) from each plot of strips I, II and III before addition of any manure or
fertilizer. Plant samples were collected from each plot at the time of harvest (physiological maturity
stage) and were dried to constant weight at 70 0 C. After threshing of the harvested produce of each plot
the grain and straw yield was recorded and reported as q/ha. After recording the grain and straw yield,
chemical analysis of soil samples and plant samples was done. After that basic data for fertilizer
recommendation was calculated with the help of crop yield, nutrient uptake and soil test values. After that
statistical analysis was done by the method of simple correlation as well as multiple regression equation
(Panse and sukhatme, 1962; Snedecor and Cochran, 1967) and as per standard design of AICRP on Soil
Test Crop Response Project of ICAR.

Results and Discussion

Soil analysis

Experimental soil was loam classified as Aquic Hapludoll having pH 6.87, Organic carbon 0.76%,
Alkaline KMnO4-N 165.07, Olsen’s-P 17.69 and Ammonium Acetate-K 274.4 kg/ha. Strip wise range
and mean of soil test values obtained by different soil test methods for nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium are given in table 4. From these data it was found that the nitrogen extracted as alkaline
KMnO4-N was found in the order, strip III> strip II> strip I (Table 4). Similar trend was observed by
phosphorus extracted by Olsen’s method and potassium extracted by neutral normal ammonium acetate
potassium in different strips (Table 4). Therefore, it is concluded that the Alkaline KMnO 4-N, Olsen’s-P
and neutral normal ammonium acetate potassium content of soil increased in the order of strip I< strip II<
strip III of the experimental site. From these data availability indices of N, P and K were determined by
regression equations using uptake as dependent and soil test values, fertilizer doses as independent
variables.

Availability indices of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

Nitrogen was determined by alkaline KMnO4 and organic carbon as index of available nitrogen equations
showing the relationship by these methods are given below:

I) Organic carbon (%)

UN= 209.487-1.349 FN+0.0232 FN2-244.615SN+108.625SN2+0.916FNSN

R2= 0.579

II) Alkaline KMnO4-N

UN=164.229-1.596 FN+0.00373 FN2-1.007SN+0.00206SN2+0.0148FNSN

R2=0.612**

Evaluation of P fertility status of soil is necessary to make a sound P fertilizer recommendation for
optimizing crop yield. To determine the available P status various methods are employed by different
scientist in most of the soil testing laboratories. The rate and quantity of P that can be solubilized by a
extractants depends on the soil and chemical nature of the extractants used. Following multiple regression
equation developed for the evaluation of available phosphorus (Table 5 and 6).

I) Olsen’s P

UP= 4.270-0.332 FP-0.00681FP2+1.110SP-0.00507 SP2+0.00411 FPSP

R2= 0.607**

II) AB-DTPA

UP=60.410-0.0748 FP-0.000667 FP2-3.938 SP2+0.07604 SP2+0.00996 FPSP

R2=0.596**

III) Mehlich P

UP=-33.464-0.184 FP+0.00138 FP2+1.713 SP-0.0177 SP2+0.00603 FPSP

R2=0.619**

IV) Morgan-P

UP=-33.464-0.184 FP+0.00138 FP2+1.713

SP-0.0177 SP2+0.00603 FPSP R2=0.673**

Evaluation of K fertility of soil is necessary for optimizing fertilizer use and making K fertilizer
recommendation of the crop. Numerous methods have been advocated be several workers to measure the
available K status of the soils but none of these has been found to be universally applicable. The K
Availability depends upon their amount in the soil, soil characteristics, temperature and organic matter
content. Following multiple regression equation developed for the evaluation of available potassium. I)
Neutral ammonium acetate UK= 1.403-0.560 FK-0.00276 FK2+0.590 SK-0.00185 SK2+0.0498 FKSK

R2= 0.616**

Table.1 Physicochemical properties of the soil of experimental site (0-15 cm. soil depth)

S. No. Property Value obtained Method employed

1 Textural analysis 50.81 Bouycos Hydrometer
Sand (%) method (Black, 1965).
Silt (%) 32.33
Clay (%) 16.87
Textural class Loam
2 pH (1:2.5 soil 6.87 Glass electrode pH
water meter (Jackson, 1958)
suspension)
3 Organic carbon 0.76 Walkley and Black
(%) Method
4 Available nitrogen 165.07 Alkaline KMnO4
(kg/ha) method (Subbiah and Asija,
1956).
5 Available 17.69 Olsen’s extraction
phosphorus method (Olsen et al.,
(kg/ha) 1954)
6 Available 274.4 Neutral one normal
Potassium (kg/ha) ammonium acetate
method (Hanway and
Hiedal, 1952).
Table.2 Treatments in fertility gradient experiment of oat variety (kent)
Strip (Symbol) Nutrient level
N P2O5 K2O
I (N0P0K0) 0 0 0
II (N1P1K1) 100 100 100
III (N2P2K2) 200 200 200

Table.3 Levels of nutrients applied in test crop experiment of cowpea (Pant Lobia-1)

Levels FYM N P2O5 K2O

0 0 0 0 0
1 5 15 30 30
2 10 30 60 60
3 - 45 90 90
Table.4 Range and mean of the soil test values under different strips
S No. Soil test Strip I Strip II Strip III Whole
values field

1 Organic 0.72- 0.74- 0.72- 0.72-

carbon (%) 1.02 1.16 1.15 1.16
 (0.90) (0.99) (0.94) (0.94)

2 Alkaline 112.60 112.30 112.60- 112.30-

KMnO4- - - 200.60 200.60
N 178.60 191.29 (146.83) (137.57)
(kg/ha) (135.13) (142.84)

3 Olsen’s-P 13.00- 14.60- 15.60- 13.00-

23.00 23.50 24.24 24.24
(17.00) (18.61) (20.37) (18.67)

4 Ammonium 101.90 120.50 128.30- 101.90-

acetate K - - 245.30 245.30
215.60 221.50 (178.48) (173.28)
(164.28) (176.84)

Table.5 Range and average yield of cowpea (Pant Lobia-1) under different strips
Particulars Whole plots
Strip I Strip II Strip III
Grain 9.00- 11.00- 11.50- 9.00-18.20
yield 17.80 18.00 18.20 (15.11)
(q/ha) (14.57) (15.13) (15.62)
Straw 14.10- 13.07- 14.42- 13.07-24.94
yield 22.96 24.94 23.82 (18.95)
(q/ha) (18.72) (18.66) (19.46)
Control plots
Grain 9.00- 11.00- 11.50- 9.00-13.50
yield 12.00 12.50 13.50 (11.61)
(q/ha) (10.50) (11.67) (12.67)
Straw 14.10- 13.07- 14.42- 13.07-16.17
yield 15.90 15.95 16.17 (14.93)
(q/ha) (15.00) (14.53) (15.25)
Treated plots
Grain 13.10- 13.50-18.00 14.10- 13.10-
yield 17.80 (15.62) 18.20 18.20
(q/ha) (15.19) (16.04 (15.60)
)
Straw 16.17- 15.09-24.94 16.50- 15.09-
Yield 22.96 (19.25) 23.82 24.94
(q/ha) (19.25) (20.06) (19.52)

I) AB-DTPA K

UK=57.776+1.738 FK-0.003 FK2-0.342 SK+0.00159 SK2-0.00807 FKSK

2
R =0.781**

II) Mehlich-K

UK=89.50+0.983 FK-0.00019 FK2-0.251 SK- 0.003516 SK2-0.00185 FKSK

R2=0.613**

III) Morgan-K

UK=51.381+1.415 FK-0.00316 FK2-0.351 SK-0.00264 SK2-0.00954 FKSK.

 R2=0.703**

In the above methods highest R2 was obtained with Alkaline KMnO4 N, Morgan’s P and AB-DTPA K.

Average grain and straw yields followed the following trend among the strips:

Strip III> Strip II> Strip I

Strip wise average grain yield of cowpea at varying levels of FYM (F 0=0, F1=5 and F2=10 t/ha) of
N0P0K0 plots showed the following trend:

Strip III> Strip II> Strip I

Grain yield of cowpea under same strip with varying levels of FYM of control plots showed the following
trend:

Strip I: F2>F1>F0 Strip II: F0>F2>F1 Strip III: F0>F2>F1

Fertilizer adjustment equations Without FYM

FN=19.03T-2.06 SN FP= 6.42 T-4.21 SP FK= 12.40 T-1.06 SK

With FYM

FN=19.03 T-2.06 SN-0.21 FYM-N FP=6.42 T_4.21 SP-1.64 FYM-P FK=12.4 T-1.06 SK-
0.370 FYM-K
Table.6 Basic data for calculating fertilizer dose with and without FYM for targeted yield of
Cowpea (Pant Lobia-1).
S. No Particulars Without FYM With FYM
N P K N P K
1. Nutrient 5.71 0.90 3.72 5.71 0.90 3.72
requirement (kg/q)
2. Percent 62.00 59.00 32.00 62.00 59.00 32.00
contribution from
applied soil (%)
3. Percent 30.00 14.00 30.00 30.00 17.00 27.00
contribution from
applied fertilizer
(%)
4. Contribution -- --- -- 7.00 29.00 10.00
from applied
FYM
nutrients (%)
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