Effect of Different Pulse and Oilseed based Cropping Systems on Yield and Nutrient Budgeting under Rainfed Conditions of Jammu.

Background: Maize-wheat is the predominant cropping system of dryland ecology of Jammu region, but due to their comparatively higher input requirements especially of nutrients and water under the fragile ecology of these dry lands an untenable threat has been posed to their factor productivities. Therefore, all cropping sequences that suit and sustain better on the natural resources of the dryland ecosystems for a longer period of time needs to be explored. Methods: The treatments consisted of two oilseeds i.e. mustard) and gobhi sarson and two pulse crops i.e. chickpea and field pea taken during rabi were followed by two oilseed i.e. soybean and sesame and two pulse crops i.e. green gram and black gram grown during kharif. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications. Result: Significantly higher chickpea equivalent yield of green gram was observed with field pea-green gram sequence (10.26 q/ha) which was at par with the chickpea - green gram and field pea - black gram system. The available nitrogen status was significantly influenced and recorded highest (166.82kg/ha) under field pea-green gram system. Further overall nutrient mining by this system was quite low as compared to other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]