Nutrient Omissions Studies in Maize-Wheat Cropping System of India

In South East Asia maize-wheat cropping system is important as it remains to be staple part of diet but production is limited by low fertilizer efficiency, inadequacy of current fertilizer recommendations, and the ignorance of nutrients. Currently recorded average maize and wheat yields compared with the yield potential for a given variety and climate indicate significant opportunities to further increase their productivity through site-specific, integrated nutrient and crop management based on crop requirements, soil test values and yield targets. This nutrient omissions study was conducted at research farm, IARI, New Delhi, India suggests that the recommended dose for the maize-wheat cropping system is sub-optimal and establishes STCR based nutrient application as more scientific management of nutrients in the cropping system. Omission of P, K and Zn in the cropping system highlighted the significance of P and K application to both the crops but the effect of K omission is more pronounced as compared to P omission in the system. While Zn may be conveniently omitted from the system due to high DTPA extractable Zn status in soil.