Cumulative Effect of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Yield, Nutrients Uptake and Economics by Rice–Wheat Cropping System in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India.

Field experiments were conducted for 2 years in sandy loam soil, to study the direct effect of organic manures i.e. sewage sludge (SS), vermicompost (VC) and sesbania (SB) and chemical fertilizers on rice (Oryza sativa) and their residual effect on wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in sequence in winter (Rabi) and summer (Kharif) season during 2015–2016 to 2016–2017 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Residual effect of organic sources of nutrients as SS, VC and SB were monitored up to fourth crop (II wheat) in sequence applied in conjunction with 75% recommended dose of fertilize (RDF). Among the nutrient sources, the maximum grain yield in I rice (4.89 t ha−1), II rice (4.95 t ha−1), was recorded in treatment T3 (100% RDF with S, Zn, B) whereas in I wheat (4.68 t ha−1) and II wheat (4.59 t ha−1), it was recorded in T4 (customized fertilizer). The maximum straw yield during all four crops was recorded in T3 (100% RDF with S, Zn, B) in rice and T4 (customized fertilizer) in wheat crop, which showed 25, 32, 23 and 28% increase over 100% RDF (T2). Application of 100% RDF along with S, Zn, B and customized fertilizer increased the total uptake of N, P, K, S and B and also in net returns and B:C ratio followed by organic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]