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Crop Productivity at Farmers: Fields: Options for Soil Test Based Fertilizer Use and Cropping Patterns

J. C. Biswas
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701

M. R. Islam
Department of Agricultural Extension, Ishwarganj, Mymensingh

S. R Biswas
Department of Poultry Science, BAU, Mymensingh

M. J. lslam
Department of Agricultural Engineering, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Use of balanced fertilizer in a suitable cropping pattern improves unit land productivity and restores soil fertility. Experiments with six cropping patterns were conducted at farmers' fields to minimize yield gap between researcher's and farmers' management and to diffuse soil test based (STB) fertilizer packages for growing crops. Fertilizers used for high yield goals were 52-131:10-23:26-52:4-14:0-1.4 kg ha^-1 of N-P-K-S-Zn, respectively for different crops. Similarly fertilizers were 40-101:8-20: 20-40 :4-11: 0-l.1 kg ha^-1 of N-P-K-S-Zn, respectively for medium yield goal. Farmers used 34-112:0-25:0- 25:0-4:0 kg ha^-1of N-P-K-S-Zn, respectively for growing their crops. In Boro rice (January to May)-Green manure (May to July)-T.Aman rice (August to December) pattern, grain yield of Boro and T.Aman rice increased by 20-27% and 28-62%, respectively compared to farmers' practice (FP). Total rice yield could be increased by about 28-51 % in Boro rice- T.Aus rice (May to August)- T.Aman rice pattern with STB fertilizer management compared to FP. Increase in jute yield was 31-62% in wheat (November to April)-jute (April to July)-T.Aman rice pattern and that of wheat was 30- 118% compared to FP in the same pattern. The highest increase in grain yield of wheat was 14l.2% in wheat -T.Aus rice -T.Aman rice pattern compared to FP. In comparison to FP, there was about 48% increases in potato yield with high fertilizer management in potato (November to January)-jute (April to July)-T.Aman rice (July to November) pattern.The agronomic use-efficiency (AE) of P and K varied from 78-106 and 16-23 kg grains kg^-I, respectively. The highest AE was 196 kg grains kg^-I S. Considering high yield goal of crops, the highest added benefit because of additional fertilizer use compared to FP was recorded in potato-jute-TAman pattern (Tk. 63283.4 ha^-1) followed by wheat-jute-T.Aman (Tk 35154 ha^-1) and wheat-T.Aus-T.Aman (Tk 31787.4 ha^-1) patterns, respectively. About 42% farmers' adopted STB fertilizer technology in the study site as indicated by the sample survey.

Keywords: Cropping pattern, Balanced fertilizer, Yield, Technology adoption

Location: Ishwargonj, Mymensingh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To minimize yield gap between researcher's and farmers' management and to diffuse soil test based (STB) fertilizer packages for growing crops.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at farmers' field, Ishwargonj, Mymensingh. Six cropping patterns viz.,Boro-Sesbania-TAman,Potato-Jute-TAman,Wheat-Jute-TAman, Boro-Fallow-T.Aman, Boro-TAus-TAman and Wheat-TAus-T.Aman were evaluated under three fertilizer packages.The crop varieties used were BRI4, Kanchan, Cardinal, CVE3, BR2 and BRll for Boro, wheat, potato, jute, T.Aus and T.Aman, respectively. However,BRRI dhan32 was used as T.Aman crop in Wheat- TAus-TAman cropping pattern. A randomized complete block design was used. The treatments dispersed at farmers' fields were considered as replication. Mean was obtained from three or more farmer's fields for each treatment.Standard production packages as recommended by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute,Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and Bangladesh Jute Research Institute were followed for growing the crops. The fertilizer packages used were farmers practice, medium yield goal (MYG) and high yield goal (HYG) as per BARC (1997) manual.Green biomass of Sesbania sp in Boro-GM-T.Aman pattern was incorporated in situ at 55-60 days after seeding. Crop Yields were recorded from 100 m^-2 areas. Grain yields of rice and wheat were adjusted at 14 moisture content. Jute yield was recorded after sun drying for 3-4 days in a traditional way practiced by the farmers'. Potato yield was recorded immediately after harvest. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for determination of technology adoption rate by the farmers m the same experimental site.Analysis of variance of the measured parameters of each crop was performed and treatment mean were compared using Duncan's Multiple Range Test at 5% level of probability.Total income,agronomic efficiency(AE)and rice equivalent yield (REY) were calculated by following standard methods.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Aqron. J. 2004, 10(1 & 2): 31-41, ISSN 1013-1922

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Grain yield of rice, jute, wheat and potato could be increased by about 20-51%, 31-62%, 30- 118% and 19-48%, respectively following BARC recommended fertilizer management compared to farmers' fertilizer dose. However, inclusion of a legume crop in a pattern should be considered for sustained soil productivity. The highest agronomic efficiency (195.6 kg) was observed when S fertilizer was used in combination with N, P and K fertilizers indicating that proper care should be taken in regards to S fertilizer application. The highest additional profit was obtained from Potato-Jute-T.Aman pattern (Tk 63283.4 ha^-1) but price of potato at the farm gate is very low in many years because of over production.Although the benefit of STS fertilizer management was high, the technology was diffused to about 8% of neighboring farmers. This implied that that more demonstration in greater areas is needed to diffuse this technology.

Knowledge Management: Journal