Response of Integrated Nutrient Management on Crop Productivity and Soil Fertility under Rice–Wheat Cropping System in Chhattisgarh Plain Agro-Climatic Zone

The study was conducted during 2016-2019 at farmer’s field under the Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), JNKVV-College of Agriculture, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity, soil nutrient balance, and the economics of the rice-wheat cropping systems. Application of 75% NPK + 2.5 t vermicompost/ha + biofertilizers (BGA & PSB) produced significantly higher grain yields of rice and wheat (4495 kg/ha and 3455 kg/ha, respectively) over the farmer practice (3855 kg/ha and 2655 kg/ha, respectively). Maximum nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) by rice and wheat crops was recorded in the treatment receiving 75% NPK + 5 t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizers. The conjunctive use of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure and biofertilizers gave the highest availability of soil N, P, K and Zn at the post-harvest of the wheat crop as compared to other treatment combinations. Further, results showed that the highest cost of cultivation (₹ 72400/ha) and net returns (₹ 84380/ha) were obtained in 75% NPK + 2.5 t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizer treatments. The benefit-cost ratio computed for the rice-wheat cropping system suggested that a higher B:C ratio is associated with higher production and better quality of the produce.