Economics of fertilizer use in the Maize-Mungbean/Dhaincha-T.aman rice cropping pattern

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted over three years during 2001-2004 and 2002-2005 at BAU farm, Mymensingh and OFRD farm, Rangpur, respectively, using farm yard manure (FYM), dhaincha (Sesbania) and mungbean residue along with inorganic fertilizers. For the first crop (maize), there were five treatments i.e. T1: Control, T2: Moderate Yield Goal (MYG), T3: High Yield Goal (HYG), T4: FYM 5t/ha + Inorganic fertilizer for MYG as IPNS basis, T5: FYM 5t/ha + Inorganic fertilizer for HYG as IPNS basis. Each year, FYM was applied to maize crop and GM/MBR was applied before transplanting of aman rice. Integrated use of manure and inorganic fertilizers (IPNS basis) produced comparable seed yield of maize with the chemical fertilizers alone irrespective of moderate or high, yield goal basis (MYG or HYG) in both locations. After harvest of maize, mungbean and dhaincha (Sesbania) seeds were sown as per treatments. For T. aman rice (third crop), each of the plots of T2 and T3 treatments were subdivided into six, so there were altogether 15 treatments. At both locations, the incorporation of Sesbania biomass and mungbean residue along with inorganic fertilizers for MYG gave identical grain yields of T. aman rice with the fertilizers alone applied for HYG. There was an inverse relationship between the higher dose of fertilizer application and marginal benefit cost ratio (MBCR) at both the locations. Considering gross margin and marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR), legume residue incorporation along with inorganic fertilizers (IPNS basis) was found to be the best treatment (T3.3.3).

Keywords: Economics; Fertilizer use; Cropping pattern; Organic manure; IPNS

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v9i1.8741

JBAU 2011; 9(1): 37-42