Improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods through balanced nutrition in the rainfed semi-arid tropics
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Citation
Suhas Wani, Girish Chander, Kanwar Lal Sahrawat, Prakash Dixit, B. Venkateswarlu. (6/6/2013). Improved crop productivity and rural livelihoods through balanced nutrition in the rainfed semi-arid tropics. Hyderabad, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Abstract
Diagnostic soil analysis in targeted clusters of eight districts in Andhra Pradesh revealed critical deficiencies of sulphur (61 to 98%),
boron (23 to 98%) and zinc (45 to 85%) in addition to that of soil carbon (25 to 97%), and phosphorus (14 to 84%) which are apparently
holding back the productivity potential. The soil test based application of sulphur, boron and zinc together increased productivity by 8 to
102% in cotton, groundnut, castor, sorghum, greengram, cowpea, chickpea and maize. Economic assessment reveal that per rupee
invested as additional cost (` 1,400/to
` 2,150/)
gave ` 1.6 to 28.5 in return. Residual benefits of balanced nutrition were observed
during 4 succeeding seasons. Soil health improved in balanced nutrition plots, inspite of higher yields and nutrient removal. The results
showed that balanced nutrition is the way forward to increase crop productivity through resilience building of production systems and
improve farm based livelihoods in the SAT regions.
