Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Productivity and economics of lowland rice as influenced by incorporation of N-fixing tree biomass in mid-altitude subtropical Meghalaya, North East India

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstracts

The climatic conditions of North East India are favorable for trees to produce biomass in the form of foliage and twigs that are very rich in essential plant nutrients. Effective recycling of this biomass would help meet the nutritional requirement of crops. Field experiment was conducted in kharif (June–November) seasons for consecutive 3 years (2003, 2004, and 2005) at a lowland farm, subtropical Meghalaya (950 m asl), India, to study the effect of incorporating N-fixing tree biomass (leaves and twigs) on productivity and economics of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Fresh biomass from five tree species including erythrina (Erythrina indica), acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), alder (Alnus nepalensis), tree bean (Parkia roxburghii), and cassia (Cassia siamea) were applied at a rate of 10 t/ha. A plot with recommended NPK rate (80:60:40 kg/ha) and a control plot were also maintained for comparison. Among the tree species used, the biomass of E. indica was superior in terms of N (3.2%), P (0.47%), K (1.5%), and organic C (18.8%) contents. In the first and second year, productivity of rice was high with recommended NPK rate (4.82 t/ha in 2003 and 5.08 t/ha in 2004) followed by rice with incorporation of E. indica biomass. In the third year of the experiment, effects of tree biomass incorporation on growth, yield and yield attributes surpassed those of the recommended NPK rate, with the exception of A. nepalensis biomass. In that year, the maximum grain yield was recorded under E. indica treatments, exceeding yields under the recommended NPK rate and control by 10.5 and 69.3%, respectively. Incorporation of tree biomass significantly improved (14–19% N and 62–83% P over control) the stocks of soil available N and P. Treatment with A. auriculiformis and E. indica biomass resulted in significantly higher soil organic C content which exceeded that under the recommended NPK rate by 10.3 and 9.2% and that under the control by 15.2 and 14%, respectively higher by species. The highest net return was recorded with the recommended NPK rate ($ 381/ha) followed by E. indica ($ 303/ha). Since the local farmers are resource poor and rarely use chemical fertilizers, application of plant biomass, particularly that of E. indica, to lowland rice is a recommendable option to improve productivity and income, and to sustain soil health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Badanur VP, Poleshi CM, Naik BK (1990) Effect of organic matter on crop yield and physical and chemical properties of a vertisol. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 38:426–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellakki MA, Badanur UV (1993) Influence of organic residue recycling on crop yield and nutrient uptake by Rabi sorghum. Karnataka J Agric Sci 6(4):339–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt BP, Chauhan DS, Todaria NP (1997) Crop growth on soil under some social forestry plantation in Gharwal Himalaya. Indian J For 20:198–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhoite SV (2005) Integrated nutrient management in basmati rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system. Indian J Agron 50(2):98–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujarbaruah KM (2004) Organic farming: opportunities and challenges in North Eastern region of India. In: Souvenir, International conference on organic food. 14–17 February, 2004, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India, pp 7–13

  • Chaphale SD, Badole WP (1999) Effect of green manuring and NPK combination on soil health and yield of rice (Oryza sativa). Indian J Agron 44(3):448–451

    Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Hazarika UK, Munda GC, Patel DP, Kumar R, Tomar JMS, Chandra A, Sharma M, Bordoloi JS (2006) Non-conventional source of organic nutrient supply in crop production. National seminar on standards and technologies of non-conventional source of organic inputs 8–9 April, 2006. PDCSR, Modipuram, UP, India, pp 17–19

  • Das A, Patel DP, Munda GC, Hazarika UK, Bordoloi JS (2008) Nutrient recycling potential in rice-vegetable cropping sequences under in situ residue management at mid altitude subtropical Meghalaya. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 82:251–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durgude AG, Patil JD (1997) Recycling of L. leucocephala to pearl millet. J Dryland Agric Res Dev 12(1):15–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Escalada RG, Ratilla BC (1998) Effects of Leucaena biomass application in conjunction with fertilizers on cassava and taro yields in the Philippines. Agrofor Syst 41:251–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez KA, Gomez AA (1984) Statistical procedure for agricultural research, 2nd edn. International Rice Research Institute, Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gopinath KA, Supradip S, Mina BL, Pande H, Kundu S, Gupta HS (2008) Influence of organic amendments on growth, yield and quality of wheat and on soil properties during transition to organic production. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst. doi 10.1007/s10705-008-9168-0

  • Joseph M, Veerabadran V, Hemalatha M (2002) Mineralization of nitrogen from green manure intercropped in wet seeded hybrid rice (Oryza sativa). Extended Summaries, vol 1. Second International Agronomy Congress, November 26–30, 2002. New Delhi, pp 175–177

  • Kayuki CK, Wartmann CS (2001) Plant materials for soil fertility management in subhumid tropical areas. Agron J 93:929–935

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolawole GO, Tijani-Eniola H, Tian G (2004) Phosphorus fractions in fallow systems of West Africa: effect of residue management. Plant Soil 263(1):113–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laxminarayana K, Bhatt BP, Rai T (2006) Soil fertility build up through hedgerow intercropping in integrated farming system: a case study. In: Bhatt BP, Bujarbaruah KM (eds) Agroforestry in North East India: opportunities, challenges. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India, pp 479–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Munda GC, Patel DP, Das A, Kumar R, Chandra A (2006) Production potential of rice (Oryza sativa) under in situ fertility management as influenced by variety and weeding. J Eco-friend Agric 1(1):12–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Murthy IYLN, Hajra CR, Kumar A (1990) Effect of incorporation of tree leaves on soil fertility. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 38:325–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad R (1998) A practical manual for soil fertility. Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, ICAR Agronomy National Professor Unit (Publishers), p 50

  • Rasal PH, Kalbhor HB, Patil PL (1988) Effect of cellulolytic and phosphate solubilizing fungi on chickpea growth. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 36:71–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha S, Mina BL, Gopinath KA, Kundu S, Gupta HS (2008) Relative changes in phosphatase activities as influenced by source and application rate of organic composts in field crops. Bioresour Technol 99:1750–1757

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharna PK, Ladha JK, Verma TS, Bhagal RM, Padre AT (2003) Rice-wheat productivity and nutrient status in a lantana (Lantana sp.) amended soil. Earth Environ Sci 37(2):108–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh K, Chouhan HS, Rajput DK, Singh DV (1989) Report of a 60 month study on litter production, changes in soil chemical properties and productivity under poplar (P. deltoids) and Eucalyptus (E. hybrid) interplanted with aromatic grasses. Agrofor Syst 9:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh G, Singh H, Bhojvaid PP (1998) Sodic soils amelioration by tree plantations for wheat and oats production. Land Degrad Dev 9:453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomar PS, Dadhwal KS, Narain P, Singh JP (2001) Recycling of organic wastes for substitution of nitrogen and maintenance of soil fertility. Indian J Agrofor 3(1):55–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathy AK, Das A, Patel DP, Hazarika UK, Munda GC (2007) Organic rice production-package of practices for North East India, Bulletin No. 2. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ribhoi, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India

  • Uyovbisere EO, Elemo KA (2002) Effect of tree foliage of locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) and neem (Azadirachta indica) on soil fertility and productivity of maize in a savanna alfisol. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 62:115–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walkley A, Black JA (1934) Estimation of soil organic carbon by chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 17:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaharah AR, Bah AR (1997) Effect of green manures on P solubilization and uptake from phosphate rocks. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 48(3):247–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors of the paper would like to place their deep sense of gratitude to the Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India for providing necessary facilities to carry out the present investigation. We are equally grateful to the anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript and bringing it to the present shape.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Agronomy, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    Anup Das, G. C. Munda & D. P. Patel

  2. Division of Agroforestry, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    J. M. S. Tomar

  3. Division of Soil Science, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    T. Ramesh

  4. Division of Water Management, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    P. K. Ghosh

  5. Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India

    Anup Das

Authors
  1. Anup Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. M. S. Tomar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Ramesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. C. Munda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. K. Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. P. Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anup Das.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Das, A., Tomar, J.M.S., Ramesh, T. et al. Productivity and economics of lowland rice as influenced by incorporation of N-fixing tree biomass in mid-altitude subtropical Meghalaya, North East India. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 87, 9–19 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-009-9308-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-009-9308-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation