Soil-test-crop-response based nutrient scheduling can improve soybean-wheat productivity and system sustainability

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Soil Science

Background:

• The soybean-wheat cropping system faces productivity stagnation, necessitating strategic nutrient management for optimal crop growth and yield.
• Conventional fertilization methods may not adequately address the complex nutrient requirements of this vital cropping system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of combining inorganic and organic nutrient sources using the soil-test-crop-response (STCR) approach.
• To assess the impact of various nutrient management strategies on crop yield, soil health, sustainability, and economics in a soybean-wheat system.

Main Methods:

• A four-year field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with ten treatments, including control and various combinations of fertilizers and farmyard manure.
• Soil-test-crop-response (STCR) equations were developed and applied to calculate fertilizer requirements for targeted yields.
• Plant growth, yield, system yield, soil parameters, sustainability, and economic returns were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The STCR organic with target yield-II (STCR_O TY-II) treatment resulted in significant yield increases of 122.4% for soybean and 73.3% for wheat over the control.
• STCR_O TY-II demonstrated comparable yields to the 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers + Farmyard Manure (RDF+FYM) treatment but with marginal decrease in benefit-cost ratio, indicating better resource utilization.
• This treatment also improved soil available nutrient status (N, P, K, organic carbon), nutrient use efficiency, and sustainable yield index.

Conclusions:

• Integrated nutrient management, particularly STCR_O TY-II, is crucial for enhancing soil health and optimizing crop yields in the soybean-wheat system.
• The STCR_O TY-II approach offers a sustainable and economically viable strategy for improving productivity and resource management in this cropping system.