Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India

Widespread multinutrient deficiencies in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) are among major factors for large gaps between farmers’ current crop yields and potential yields. In this study, we adopted a stratified soil sampling method to assess soil fertility-related constraints in farmers’ fields in eight...

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Main Authors: Chander, G., Wani, S.P., Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal, Dixit, S., Venkateswarlu, B., Rajesh, C., Rao, P.R., Pardhasaradhi, G.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68414
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author Chander, G.
Wani, S.P.
Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal
Dixit, S.
Venkateswarlu, B.
Rajesh, C.
Rao, P.R.
Pardhasaradhi, G.
author_browse Chander, G.
Dixit, S.
Pardhasaradhi, G.
Rajesh, C.
Rao, P.R.
Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal
Venkateswarlu, B.
Wani, S.P.
author_facet Chander, G.
Wani, S.P.
Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal
Dixit, S.
Venkateswarlu, B.
Rajesh, C.
Rao, P.R.
Pardhasaradhi, G.
author_sort Chander, G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Widespread multinutrient deficiencies in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) are among major factors for large gaps between farmers’ current crop yields and potential yields. In this study, we adopted a stratified soil sampling method to assess soil fertility-related constraints in farmers’ fields in eight districts of Andhra Pradesh in the semi-arid tropics of India. Most of the fields across all eight districts were critical in sulfur (61%–98% deficient fields); and up to six districts each in boron (83%–98% deficient fields), zinc (50–85% deficient fields), and soil organic carbon (55–97% deficient fields). Low soil organic carbon specifically indicates nitrogen deficiency. Phosphorus deficiency was critical in three districts (60–84%) while potassium in general was adequate. Soil test-based nutrient balancing through the application of sulfur, boron, and zinc in addition to farmers’ practice of adding only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased crop productivity by 8%–102%. Benefit–cost ratio (1.60–28.5) proved favourable to scale-up balanced nutrition. Better post-harvest soil health and residual benefits of sulfur, boron, and zinc up to four succeeding seasons indicated sustainability of the practice. Results showed that balanced nutrition is a way forward for sustainably improving farm productivity and livelihoods.
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spelling CGSpace684142024-06-26T11:43:30Z Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India Chander, G. Wani, S.P. Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal Dixit, S. Venkateswarlu, B. Rajesh, C. Rao, P.R. Pardhasaradhi, G. balanced plant nutrition crop productivity farm income nutrient uptake production system resilience soil fertility Widespread multinutrient deficiencies in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) are among major factors for large gaps between farmers’ current crop yields and potential yields. In this study, we adopted a stratified soil sampling method to assess soil fertility-related constraints in farmers’ fields in eight districts of Andhra Pradesh in the semi-arid tropics of India. Most of the fields across all eight districts were critical in sulfur (61%–98% deficient fields); and up to six districts each in boron (83%–98% deficient fields), zinc (50–85% deficient fields), and soil organic carbon (55–97% deficient fields). Low soil organic carbon specifically indicates nitrogen deficiency. Phosphorus deficiency was critical in three districts (60–84%) while potassium in general was adequate. Soil test-based nutrient balancing through the application of sulfur, boron, and zinc in addition to farmers’ practice of adding only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased crop productivity by 8%–102%. Benefit–cost ratio (1.60–28.5) proved favourable to scale-up balanced nutrition. Better post-harvest soil health and residual benefits of sulfur, boron, and zinc up to four succeeding seasons indicated sustainability of the practice. Results showed that balanced nutrition is a way forward for sustainably improving farm productivity and livelihoods. 2014-08-03 2015-10-02T07:40:29Z 2015-10-02T07:40:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68414 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Chander, G., Wani, S.P., Sahrawat, K.L., Dixit, S., Venkateswarlu, B., Rajesh, C., Rao, P.R. and Pardhasaradhi, G. 2014. Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 60(8):1051–1066.
spellingShingle balanced plant nutrition
crop productivity
farm income
nutrient uptake
production system resilience
soil fertility
Chander, G.
Wani, S.P.
Sahrawat, Kanwar Lal
Dixit, S.
Venkateswarlu, B.
Rajesh, C.
Rao, P.R.
Pardhasaradhi, G.
Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title_full Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title_fullStr Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title_full_unstemmed Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title_short Soil test-based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods: Case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in Andhra Pradesh, India
title_sort soil test based nutrient balancing improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods case study from rainfed semi arid tropics in andhra pradesh india
topic balanced plant nutrition
crop productivity
farm income
nutrient uptake
production system resilience
soil fertility
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68414
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