Optimization and validation of targeted yield equations-based doses of fertilizers

for marigold in Mollisols of Uttarakhand.

Varun tripathi* and

Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of

Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145. India.

Abstract
Response of Marigold to twenty-four selected treatment combinations of four
levels of N, P and K and three levels of FYM with simultaneous variation in initially
available nutrients was studied under soil test crop response calibration in an Aquic
Hapludoll during 2013-14. To produce hundred kilograms of flower, chemical fertilizer
and farmyard manure were also computed. Yield and soil analysis data were utilized to
formulate prescription equations for varying yield targets. The R square value of 0.4739
was also observed between flower yield and soil test value and fertilizer nutrients.
Nitrogen correlated most with grain yield and quality parameters. Verification trial was
also conducted in next season, revealed the highest benefit: cost ratio to be with the
yield target T12 having treatment TYR1+Zn+B+FYM.

Key words: Prescription equations, Verification trial, Aquic Hapludoll, Farmyard

manure, calibration, yield targets, quality parameters, yield targets.

Introduction:

Marigold is the most commonly grown loose flowers and used extensively on religious
and social functions in different forms. Plant pharmological studies have confirmed that
marigold flower extracts have some larvicidal properties. (Paco et al., 2006).

To get more and more yield farmers tend to use excessive chemical fertilizers but the
decisions to use fertilizer requires the knowledge of the crop yield response to nutrient
application, which is a function of crop nutrient needs form the soil as an indigenous
source-its inherent capacity to supply nutrients and the short and long term future of
fertilizer applied (Dobermann et al., 2003).

Dumping of fertilizers in the fields without having a proper knowledge can cause
adverse effects on soil and crop either by excess or inadequate use (Ray et al., 2000).
(Ghosh et al., 2004)., reported that balanced fertilization was the function of soil type,
crop or cropping pattern, inputs, residue effects, available soil nutrients, yield targets,
economics of fertilizer use and time. Soil testing based application of plant nutrients
helps to realize higher benefit cost ratio as the nutrient are applied in proportion to the
magnitude of the deficiency of the particular nutrients and the correction of the nutrient
imbalance present in soil helps us to harness the synergistic effects of balanced
fertilization (Rao et al., 2000). (Ahmed et al., 2002). Reported that location specific
fertilizer recommendations are possible for soils of varying fertility, resource condition
of farmers and levels of targeted yields for similar soils classes and environment.
Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the relationship among the
nutrient supplied by the soil and added fertilizers, their uptake and yield of marigold
and to develop a guideline for proper application of fertilizer under integrated
management system.

Material and methods

Field experiment was conducted at Norman E Borlaug’s Crop Research Center

of the G.B. Pant University of Agricultrure and Technology, Pantnagar (290 N latitude,
79 0 29’ E longitudes, and altitudes of 243.84 m above m.s.l). The soil was sandy loam
and was classified as Aquic Hapludoll (Deshpande et al., 1971). Prior to this
experiment, fertility gradient was created through graded doses of N, P and K fertilizers
to obtain appreciable variation in soil fertility in the same field. Fertility gradient was
created by dividing the experimental area into three equal strips and application of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at the rate of 0-100-200 kg/ha in first, second and
third strip respectively. Sorghum was grown as a preparatory crop to minimize the
interference of other and soil management factors affecting crop yield. After the exhaust
crop, experiment on marigold var. Pusa Narangi was conducted in 2013-14. Each strip
was divided into twenty-four plots of equal size consisting of 21 treatments and three
control plots which resulted into total of 72 plots (24×3) plots. Three blocks i.e. (A, B
and C) comprising of eight treatments were made within a strip which was randomized
with farm-yard levels. These treatments comprised various selected combinations of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were randomized in each of the three strips. Before
fertilizer application soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth and analyzed for soil
organic carbon (Walkely and Black, 1934), Alkaline KMnO4-N (Subbiah and Asija,
1956), Olsen’s-P (Olsen’s et al., 1954) and ammonium acetate extractable potassium
(Hanway and Hiedal, 1952). At physiological maturity flower and straw samples were
collected and processed. Observations for plant growth parameters, and yield attributes
and flower quality parameters were also recorded. These samples were analyzed for
total N, P and K content (Jackson, 1973) and uptake was calculated. The data on flower
yield, N, P, K uptake by marigold, soil available N, P, K and fertilizer N, P, K were
applied were used for calculation of basic data namely Nutrient requirement (NR),
Percent contribution from soil (CS), Percent contribution from fertilizer (Cf) and
contribution from farm yard manure (Cfym) were transferred in to workable adjustment
equations.

Nutrient requirement (NR)= Total uptake of nutrient (kg)/ grain yield (100 kg).

% contribution of nutrient from soil (Cs) or soil efficiency = Total nutrient uptake in
control plots (kg/ha)×100/ Soil test value of nutrient in control plots (kg/ha).
% contribution of concerned nutrient from fertilizer (Cf) or fertilizer efficiency= Soil
test value of nutrient in treated plots× Cs/100/ Amount of nutrient added as fertilizer
(kg/ha) ×100.

% contribution o concerned nutrient from farm yard manure (Cfym) of farm yard
manure efficiency= (Total uptake of nutrients in FYM treated plots)-(Soil test value of
nutrients in Farm yard manure treated plots× CS/100)/Amount of nutrients added as
Farm yard manure (kg/ha) ×100

Fertilizer prescription equations for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for targeted
yield were worked out as follows:

Fertilizer prescription equations for nutrients through chemical fertilizers only,

FD= NR/Cf×100T-Cs/Cf× STV

Fertilizer prescription equations for nutrients through conjoint use of chemical fertilizer
and farmyard manure,

FD= NR/CF×100T-Cs/Cf× Soil Test value-Cfym /Cf× M

FD= Fertilizer dose in Kg/ha

T= Targeted yield (kg/ha)

M= Concerned nutrient content in farmyard manure (kg/ha)

Results and discussions

After the experiment it was proved that fertility gradient was established in respect to
N, P and K with respect to marigold it was further statistically verified also. Further
basic data was calculated from the marigold experiment to calculate the nutrient dose
for targeted yield of marigold which is given in table 1. As per the table it was found
that nutrient required to produce one quintal of marigold flower yield was 1.06, 0.34
and 1.32 kg of N, P and K. The utilization efficiency of soil for N, P and K was 26.23,
54.03 and 42.02 per cent, the utilization efficiency of fertilizer were 83.25, 38.96 and
168.51 per cent without FYM and with FYM it was 98.35, 40.15 and 168.66 and values
of per cent contribution from applied FYM were 46.81, 61.30 and 128.54 respectively.
It was observed that more than 100 percent contribution of potassium from fertilizer
was recorded as percent of its applied potassium (K2O). It might be due to combine
effect of several factors. The additive effects of higher doses of nitrogen and phosphorus
and ‘priming’ effect of starter doses of potassium might have caused the release of
potassium from non-labile pool to labile, which resulted in increased uptake from native
soil sources. Thus, here fertilizer potassium overestimated which had enhanced the
efficiency of fertilizer potassium Adinarayana, (1987), laha (Sachan et al., 1981), rice
(sachan et al., 1982) and mustard Bhatia, (1985) in Mollisols of Tarai of Uttarakhand.
Table 2: Basic data for calculating fertilizer doses with and without FYM for a
targeted yield of Marigold

Particular Without FYM With FYM

N P K N P K

NR (kg/q) 1.06 0.34 1.32 1.06 0.34 1.06

CS (%) 26.23 54.03 42.02 26.23 54.03 42.02

CF (%) 83.25 38.96 168.51 98.35 40.15 168.68

CFYM (%) - - - 46.81 61.30 128.54

*Soil test values (0-15 cm. depth): alkaline KMnO4-N (kg/ha), Olsen’s-P (kg/ha) and
NH4OAc-K (kg/ha)
One of the goals of any programme of soil testing is to make fertilizer
recommendations based on soil test value of the field. For this purpose, fertilizer
adjustment equations have been evolved using basic information of a crop and soil.
Fertilizer adjustment equations were developed for fertilizer recommendation of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for marigold with the help of basic data as given
in table 4.5. These equations are presented in table 4.6

To derive the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium doses for a yield target, yield
targets selected were 75, 100 and 125 q/ha. Soil test values of alkaline KMnO4 were 50,
75, 100 and 125 kg/ha, Olsen P 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 kg/ha and neutral normal ammonium
acetate K was 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg/ha. These values were used for calculation of
fertilizer doses with use of 5 and 10 tone FYM. Values of fertilizer doses obtained
clearly showed that for a yield target fertilizer doses decreased with increasing soil test
values. However, for a soil test value fertilizer doses increases with increasing target
yields. Fertilizer dose for a yield target decreased where fertilizer was used with FYM.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium requirement for different yield targets is given in
table 4.7 in the form of ready reckoner for fertilizer recommendations.

Bharadwaj et al. (1994) observed that when organic matter is used with
chemical fertilizer then it helps in improvement in potassium status of soil. More than
100 per cent efficiency of fertilizer K was also found by Bhatia (1985) and Reddy
(1999) in a Mollisol of Uttarakhand.
Table 4.6: Fertilizer adjustment equations for marigold

Fertilizer dose With FYM Without FYM

Nitrogen Dose FN = 1.08T-0.27 SN- FN = 1.27T- 0.32 SN

(Kg ha-1) 0.48FYM-N

Phosphorus
1.88T-3.09 SP-3.50FYM-P 1.99T-3.18SP
Dose (kg ha-1)

Potassium Dose
0.94T-0.30SK-0.92FYM-K 0.94T-0.30SK
(Kg ha-1)

The verification trials are important for the calibration of results obtained on
research farm are required to be tested for their validity. Verification trials have a
great demonstration value of showing the importance of soil testing for fertilizer
recommendations to farmers and result in wider acceptability of soil testing to the
farming community. The objective of these trials is (i) to test the validity of results
obtained from the main experiment before recommendation to the extension
agencies and (ii) to show the farmers the greater profitability of the soil test-based
fertilizer recommendation than general recommended dose. The validity of the
targeted yield equations developed for Marigold during Rabi season in 2013-14 was
tested in Rabi season of 2013-14 by conducting verification trials on the same
location. The results obtained in verification trial are presented in table 4.12 and
photographic view of Marigold growth under different treatments is presented with
plate 4.4. Among the treatments, all treatments gave significantly higher yield over
control (Fig. 4.5). Among the treatments yield target (T 8) TYR2+10 t/ha FYM
(IPNS) and T11 TYR1 +Zn+B gave a significantly higher yield as compared to
general recommendation (T 2). Net benefit was found to be highest with treatment
yield target 250 q ha -1 (T4). Fertilizer application based on target yield approach was
found to be superior over general recommended dose (GRD). The highest benefit
cost ratio was found by (T 13).An increase in profits over farmers’ practice and
general recommended dose of fertilizers was observed with increasing yield targets
in marigold and other flower crops with or without FYM which might be due to the
efficiency factor tended to increase in crop yield Kadam et al. (2006), Hariprakash
et al. (1994), Anonymus, (2000).
Verification trial for marigold

Table 3: Yield of Marigold flower under various treatments

Treatment details (N: P2O5: Yield (q/ha)

K2O: FYM)

T1= Control 136.630

T2= GRD 138.000

T3= TYR1 148.333

T4=TYR1+5t/ha FYM (IPNS) 151.333

T5=TYR1+10t/ha FYM
145.000
(IPNS)

T6= TYR2 145.000

T7= TYR2+5t/ha FYM

143.000
(IPNS)

T8= TYR2+10 t/ha FYM

153.333
(IPNS)

T9= TYR1+Zn 157.333

T10= TYR1+B 144.667

T11= TYR1+Zn+B 184.333

T12=TYR1+Zn+B+FYM 183.000

T13=FYM 5 t ha 1 142.333

T14= FYM 10 t ha 1 170.000

C.D. AT 5% 12.743

S.E. m± 4.359

Table 4.14: Economics of verification trial of marigold

Treatments Fertili Actu Additio Value Cost Net B/C

zer al nal of of benefit rati
dose yield additio o
 N-P-K (kg/h yield nal fertili (Rs.
FYM a) (kg/ha) yield zer ha-1)
(kg/ha (Rs.) (Rs.)
)
T1= Control 0-0-0 1366 - - -
3.0
T2= GRD 120- 1380 137 6850 6000.4 849.6 0.14
60-60 0.0
T3=TYR1 28- 1483 1170.3 58515 6306.4 52208. 8.27
102-40 3.3 0 6
T4=TYR1+5t/ha 66-94- 1513 1470.3 73515 6319.6 65195. 10.3
FYM (IPNS) 37 3.3 4 1
T5=TYR1+10t/ha 65-88- 1450 837 41850 2069.5 39780. 19.2
FYM (IPNS) 43 0.0 5 2
T6=TYR2 111- 1450 837 41850 2069.5 39780. 19.2
151-64 0.0 5 2
T7=TYR2+5t/ha 133- 1430 637 31850 10018. 21831. 2.17
FYM (IPNS) 138-61 0.0 9 1
T8=TYR2+10t/ha 80- 1670.3 83515 9046.3 74468. 8.23
1533
FYM (IPNS) 134.65 86 614
3.3
-58
T9= TYR1+Zn 28- 1573 2070 103500 6306.4 97193. 15.4
102-40 3.3 6 1
T10=TYR1+B 28- 1446 803.7 40185 6306.4 33878. 5.37
102-40 6.7 6
T11=TYR1+Zn+B 28- 1843 4770.3 238515 6306.4 232208 36.8
102-40 3.3 .6 2
T12=TYR1+Zn+B 28- 4637 231850 6306.4 225543 35.7
1830
+FYM 102- .6 6
0.0
40-0
T13=FYM 5 t/ha 0-0-0- 1423 570.3 28515 2500 26015 10.4
5 3.3 06
T14=FYM 10 t/ha 0-0-0- 1700 3663.3 183165 5000 178165 35.6
10 0.0 3
(Cost of marigold=Rs 50/kg FYM cost=50/Q N, P2O5 and K2O cost (Rs./kg)=13.94,
48.84 and 23.36 Rs/kg)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Support from All India Coordinated Research Project on STCR (ICAR), Pantnagar center during
the period of research work is thankfully acknowledged.

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