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Ready Reckoner for Achieving Higher Jute Fibre Yield Based on Soil Test and Targeted Yield Approach

S. R. Singh1*, D. K. Kundu2 and M. Kumar3

1Senior Scientist, IISR, Raebareli Road, Lucknow-226002 (UP) 2Principal Scientist & HOD, CRIJAF, Barrackpore, Kolkata-700120 (WB)

3Scientist, CRIJAF, Barrackpore, Kolkata-700120 (WB) *Email of corresponding author: [email protected]

Introduction Fibre productivity is depends upon various factors viz., climatic conditions (rainfall, temperature and humidity), soil properties, seed quality and variety, weed management, irrigation facilities, insect-pest and disease management, retting etc. but most importantly uses of optimum doses of inorganic fertilizers especially macro and micronutrients. It is very essential to encourage application of mineral fertilizers at optimum dose for sustainable management of jute production and maintaining soil health. Application of cattle or other animal manure before sowing gives good results, but the application of balanced doses of chemical fertilizers is very crucial for getting maximum yield as well as maintaining sustainability of soil for longer duration. The current agronomic packages of practices are recommended uniformly in entire jute growing area irrespective of soil variability which occurs within a zone. Fertilizers recommendations worked out from experiments conducted in a particular soil type which may not hold good for another soil type due to their basic variations in texture, reactions and mineralogy. These variations affect the inherent supplying capacity of macronutrient viz., nitrogen, phosphorous and potash by soil. The response to fertilizers is greatly affected by soil type and spatial variability that has resulted from geological and pedalogical processes. To get maximum benefit and reduce nutrient losses from the fertilizers, it must be applied in right quantity, sources, and combination at the right time and in right manner. The rate of fertilizer dose depends on soil fertility, soil type, fertilizer recovery rate, and soil organic matter. Therefore, it is very difficult to recommend a general schedule of fertilizer

Popular Kheti Volume -2, Issue-4 (October-December), 2014

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ISSN: 2321-0001

Precise application of mineral fertilizers not only increased sustainable yield production of jute fibre, nutrient use efficiency and net return but also save million tonnes of mineral fertilizers and save environment. Precise application of mineral fertilizers carried out on the basis of soil test and targeted yield equations. Soil testing is the pre requisite for precise application of nutrient which provides chemistry, limitation and nutrient supplying power of particular soil. Nutrient requirement of N, P and K for producing 100 kg jute fibre yield was worked out by generating basic data. Considering percent nutrient contribution from soil, fertilizers and organic manures, developed targeted yield equations of different variety of jute. By using ready reckoner developed on the basis of soil test values and targeted yield equations, a farmer can used ready reckoner as a tool for achieving higher targeted yield of jute fibre with precise doses of mineral fertilizer.

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application for jute without soil test. A soil test is highly recommended to determine the available N, P, and K. Depending on the initial status of nutrients in soil and getting desired level of targets as per the potential of varieties, chemical fertilizers, which are costly and energy consuming input to be applied judiciously.

Targeted yield equations for different varieties of jute viz. JRO 8432, JRO 128 and JRO 204 (Table 1) developed under All India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test and Crop Response correlation study and verified at farmers field in different locations (Ramamoorthy and Velayuthum 1971). Under verification trials, the targeted yield of jute fibre up to 40 q/ha was achieved with the application of inorganic fertilizers based soil test and targeted yield equation. Inorganic fertilizers which are most expansive inputs among the inputs applied by farmers can use precisely as per need of targeted yield and soil test values. If available soil P is more than 10 kg/ha (the critical limit of P for jute cultivation is 10 kg/ha), then very little amount of phosphorus is required as starter dose for initial establishment and stimulation of root growth. The fixed targets of jute fibre up to 35 q/ha could be achieved with the application of little amount or even no application of phosphorus when it applied as per soil test basis (Table 2, 3, 4).

Soil Testing Fertility of a soil can be assessed by analyzing various available nutrients present in the soil. Fertilizer recommendations for various crops and cropping sequences can be made on the basis of fertility status of a soil and targeted yield equations. Besides this, problematic soil can be ameliorated on the basis of soil test values. Among the various steps of soil testing programmers, soil sampling is the most vital step. For collecting a representative soil sample, the following points must be considered-

• The sample must represent the field it belongs to. • A field can be treated as a single sampling unit if it is appreciably uniform. Generally an

area not exceeding 0.5 ha is taken one sampling unit. • Variation in slope, colour, texture, crop growth should be taken into account for sampling. • Sampling from recent fertilized plots, bunds, channels, marshy lands and areas near trees,

wells, compost pits or other non representative locations must be carefully avoided. • Sampling should not be done from an area about 2-3 meters along sides of a large field. • Larger areas may be divided into appropriate number of smaller homogenous units for better

representation.

Soil sampling procedure: For making composite sample, collect small portions of soil up to the desired depth (0-15 cm) by means of suitable sampling tools from 15 to 20 well distributed spots, moving in a zig – zag manner from each individual sampling site after scrapping off the surface litter, if any, without removing soil. Mix the soil samples properly after collected from various spots covering the entire area thoroughly by hand on a clean piece of cloth or polythene sheet. Reduced bulk soil samples to about 500gm by quartering process in which the entire soil mass is spread, divided into four quarters, two opposite ones are discarded and the remaining two are remixed. Repeat this process until about 500 gm soil is left. Sampling tools: Samples can be drawn with the help of tube auger, screw auger, post hole auger, spade and Khurpi. For sampling of soft and moist soil, tube auger, spade or khurpi is satisfactory. A screw type auger is more convenient on hard or dry soil while the post hole auger is useful for sampling excessively wet areas. If a spade or khurpi is used a “V” shaped cut may be first made


Singh et al., 2014, Pop. Kheti, 2(4): 54-59

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upto the plough layer and a uniformly 2 cm thick slice is taken out from one clean side. Tube auger attached to a long extension rod is convenient for sampling from lower depths. The various steps involved in the proper collection of representative soil samples in the field. Labeling of samples: A label of thick paper with identification mark and other details should be put inside the sample bag and another label carrying same details tied/ pasted outside the bag. In case the sample is wet, the label should be written with pencil or a permanent marker. In addition to the location, field number, name of cultivator and identification mark, relevant information about slope, drainage, irrigation, previous cropping history, fertilizer, manure used etc. must be recorded and sent along with the soil samples. As soon as the samples arrive at the laboratory, these are to be serially registered, given the data, identification mark and other relevant particulars furnished in the information sheet. Processing of soil samples for analysis • Air dries the soil sample in shade. • Crush the soil clods lightly and grind with the help of wooden pestle and mortar. • Pass the entire quantity through 2 mm stainless steel sieve. • Discard the plant residues, gravels and other materials retained on the sieve. • For certain type of analysis (e.g. organic carbon) grind the soil further so as to pass it through 0.2 to

0.5 mm sieves. • Remix the entire quantity of sieved soil thoroughly before analysis.

Nutrient Requirement The amount of nutrient required for the production of 100 kg jute fibre was range between 2.51 –2.88 kg N, 0.83 – 1.04 kg P and 3.61 – 5.80 kg K, respectively (Table 2). On the basis of nutrient requirement, a farmer’s can calculate the total amount of nutrient required for achieving targeted yield of jute fibre fixed as per the resources available (N, P and K) after deduction of nutrient contributed from soil, fertilizers and organic sources. The contribution of N, P and K from soil ranged between 14.1 – 21.1, 14.2 –19.1 and 24.3 – 76.6 kg/ha, respectively whereas the corresponding contribution of N, P and from fertilizers to that crop was 31.3 – 42.0, 43.6 – 69.9 and 130.3 –174.9 kg/ha, respectively. These results indicate that nutrient contribution from fertilizer sources was greater than that from soil sources. The reason may be due to the higher fertilizer efficiency in both the crops due to application of fertilizers at proper time and by proper methods. The similar findings are also reported by Jaipaul et al. (2008). The contribution of N, P and K from organic source i.e. farmyard manure was raged 3.18 – 32.8, 8.81– 27.1 and 16.9–32.4%, respectively. The higher efficiency of fertilizer P than the soil P might be due to the proper utilization of applied fertilizers in increasing the growth and yield of crop (Sharma and Singh 2005). The available soil P is very high in these areas which give the support for increasing the efficiency of applied fertilizers. Comparatively lower efficiency of soil K may be attributed to high fixation and low availability of K on medium textured soils, particularly when such soil are rich in K-fixing clay minerals like illite and chlorite (Suri and Jaipaul 2001). Further, it is surprisingly noted that contribution was observed to be more than 100% in jute (130.3%) and rice (158.8%). This high value of K could be due to the interaction effect of higher doses of N, P and the primary effect of starter K doses in the treated plots, which might have caused the release of soil potassium from non-exchangeable and solution form, resulting in the higher uptake from the native soil



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sources by the crop. Higher efficiency of potassium fertilizers was also reported for jute in inceptisols by Ray et al. (2000). How to Use the Ready Reckoner? A ready reckoner for different yield targets of various high yielding varieties of jute has been developed for judicious use of fertilizers (Table 2). For Example, if a farmer wish to produce 35 q/ha of jute fibre of JRO 8432 and the soil test values for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are 300, 50 and 260 kg/ha. The requirement of Urea, SSP and MOP may derived from directly from the table 3 as 249, 205 and 58 kg/ha, respectively. Same pattern may also be used for obtaining dose of Urea, SSP and MOP at definite target of jute fibre for high yielding variety viz., JRO 8432 (Table 3), JRO 128 (Table 4) and JRO 204 (Table 5). Farmers can easily decide the yield target of jute and accordingly can apply the fertilizers on the basis of soil test values by using this ready reckoner table. Thus, it serves as a useful guide to the resource-poor jute farmers of the country by facilitating judicious application of chemical fertilizers. Table 1: Basic data and targeted yield equations of high yielding variety of jute

Basic Data (JRO 8432) Jute (JRO 128) Jute (JRO 204)

N P K N P K N P K Nutrient requirement (kg/q)

2.51 1.04 3.61 2.88 0.97 5.07 2.86 0.83 5.80

Soil efficiency (%) 14.1 19.1 24.3 18.8 21.1 45.6 21.1 20.3 76.6 Fertilizer efficiency (%) 31.3 69.8 130.3 34.9 43.7 171.6 42.0 43.8 174.9 Organic efficiency (%) 32.8 27.1 32.4 3.18 8.81 16.9 8.8 11.0 19.3 Targeted yield equations

FN = 8.03 T – 0.45 SN – 1.05 ON FP = 1.49 T – 0.27 SP – 0.39 OP FK = 2.77 T – 0.19 SK – 0.25 OK

Targeted yield equations FN = 8.62 T – 0.54 SN – 0.09 ON FP = 2.41 T – 0.48 SP – 0.20 OP FK = 2.95 T – 0.27 SK – 0.10 OK

Targeted yield equations FN = 6.82 T – 0.50 SN – 0.21 ON FP = 1.89 T – 0.46 SP – 0.25 OP FK = 3.32 T – 0.44 SK – 0.11 OK

Table 2. Ready reckoner for fertilizer requirement to achieve the targeted yield of jute fibre (JRO 8432) Soil test values

(kg/ha) Targeted jute fibre yield (q/ha) 30 35 40 --------------------------------kg/ha--------------------------------------

N P K Urea SSP MOP Urea SSP MOP Urea SSP MOP 200 10 200 259 226 61 346 273 84 433 319 107 225 20 220 235 209 54 322 256 77 409 302 101 250 30 240 210 192 48 297 239 71 385 285 94 275 40 260 186 175 42 273 222 65 360 268 88 300 50 280 161 158 35 249 205 58 336 252 82 325 60 300 137 142 29 224 188 52 311 235 75 350 70 320 113 125 23 200 171 46 287 218 69 375 80 340 88 108 16 175 154 39 262 201 63 400 90 360 64 91 10 151 138 33 238 184 56

*Urea divides in to three equal splits and applied as per schedule mentioned in the text



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Table 3. Ready reckoner for fertilizer requirement to achieve the targeted yield of jute fibre (JRO 128) Soil test values

(kg/ha) Targeted jute fibre yield (q/ha) 30 35 40 ---------------------------------kg/ha----------------------------------------


Table 4. Ready reckoner for fertilizer requirement to achieve the targeted yield of jute fibre (JRO 204)

Soil test values (kg/ha)

Targeted jute fibre yield (q/ha) 30 35 40 ---------------------------------kg/ha----------------------------------------


Photo 1: Response of soil test and targeted yield based fertilizers application on growth of jute



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Applicability of targeted yield equation • The equations should be used within the soil-agro-climatic region from where these were

developed. • In case the yield targeting equations are to be extended to similar soils of other zone or

dissimilar soils of the same zone, it is better to lay demonstration with three to four yield targets in the farmer’s field and select the best one for recommendation.

• Yield targets chosen should be neither too low nor too high. It should be within yields range of the main experiment obtained. The maximum target should not exceed 75-80% of the highest yield achievable for that crop in the area.

• Targeted yield equations must be used within the experimental range of soil test values and cannot be extrapolated.

• In low or very low fertile soils, the fertilizer requirement based on targeted yield equations may be too high, which results in abnormal raise in input cost and lowers the benefit cost ratio. In such cases, the upper limit of fertilizers recommendation may be limited to 150% of general recommendation.

• In case of high fertile soils, fertilizer requirement based on soil test value may reach zero level. In such cases the lower limit of fertilizer recommendations may be fixed at 50% of general recommendation as a maintenance dose so as to preserve soil fertility for the coming years.

• It is better to get soil analyzed for every two years in case of intensively cultivated soils and three years for dry land soils.

• Appropriate recommended agronomic practices need to be followed while raising the crop. Other micro and secondary nutrients should not be yield limiting.

Conclusion Ready reckoner developed for achieving higher targeted yield of jute fibre for sustainable production based on soil test and targeted yield equations can successfully be used in the alluvial soils as effective guide for efficient fertilizer management, reducing cost of cultivation, increasing fertilizer-use efficiency and keeping environment pollution free, maintain soil quality with judicious use of chemical fertilizers with organic manure. Therefore, soil test and targeted yield based fertilizer recommendation may be useful tool for balanced fertilization of nutrients.

References Jaipaul, Sandal SK, Suri VK and Dhiman AK. 2008. Validation of Fertilizers adjustment equations

based on yield target concept and complementary use of organic and biofertilizers along with inorganic fertilizers in rainfed maize (Zea mays)- wheat (Triticum aestivum) system in wet temperate zone of Himanchal Pradedh. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87(6): 490-94.

Ray PK, Jana AK, Maitra DN, Saha MN, Chaudhary J, Saha S and Saha AR. 2000. Fertilizer prescriptions on soil test basis for jute, rice and wheat in Typic Ustochrept. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 48, 79-84.

Ramamoorthy B and Velayuthum M. 1971. Soil test crop response correlation work in India World Soil Resources Report No.41 pp 96-100. Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome.

Sharma BM and Singh RV. 2005. Soil-test-based fertilizers use in wheat for economic yield. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 53, 356-359.

Suri VK and Jaipaul. 2001. Soil test based long term fertilization for specific yield, efficient and economic fertilizers use and buildup of native fertility in maize-wheat system in a mountain Alfisol. (in) Proceedings of 12th world Fertilizer Congress of CIEC on fertilization in Third Millennium-Fertilizers, Food Security and Environmental Protection, held during 3-9 August 2001 at Beijing, China.



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