Integrated Nutrient Management in Potato-baby Corn Cropping Sequence and Its Impact on Soil Quality and Yield

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the integrated nutrient management in potato-baby corn cropping sequence and its impact on soil quality and yield. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi and summer seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 at the Instructional-cum-Research Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. The experiment included sixteen treatments incorporating various nutrient combinations, such as 100% of the recommended dose (RD) of nitrogen (N) and different proportions of RD N supplemented with organic sources like farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure, vermicompost, and enriched compost. Implemented in a randomized block design with three replications, the soil at the experimental site had a sandy loam texture, an acidic pH of 5.57, medium organic carbon content (0.75%), and moderate availability of N (292 kg/ha), P₂O₅ (25.80 kg/ha), and K₂O (272.18 kg/ha). The total rainfall recorded during the cropping sequence was 2336.40 mm in 2016–17 and 2107.10 mm in 2017–18, with temperatures ranging from 8.0°C to 35.1°C during both years. The results revealed that the treatment T₆ (50% RD N + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through vermicompost) achieved the highest growth and yield attributes for both potato and baby corn. In the case of potato, this treatment recorded the highest tuber yield over two years (27.77 t/ha). Similarly, for baby corn, T₆ resulted in the highest cob yield with husk (23.09 t/ha in 2016–17 and 24.83 t/ha in 2017–18). The integrated nutrient management (INM) practices implemented in the study significantly enhanced the soil quality of the experimental site. Among the treatments, T₆ (50% RD N + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through vermicompost) proved most effective in improving both the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil. Post-cropping, this treatment recorded higher organic carbon content (0.98% in 2016–17 and 1.02% in 2017–18), indicating improved soil organic matter and enhanced microbial activity. Moreover, the availability of essential nutrients—nitrogen (391.33 and 423.33 kg/ha), phosphorus (28.88 and 29.50 kg/ha), and potassium (336.55 and 347.90 kg/ha)—increased noticeably under T₆, suggesting better nutrient retention and soil fertility. The improvement in soil microbial biomass carbon further highlights the positive impact of INM on biological soil health, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and productivity of the potato-baby corn cropping sequence. Economically, T6 emerged as the most profitable practice, generating a net return of Rs 6,38,200.00 per hectare and a benefit-cost ratio (B:C) of 4.82 in the potato-baby corn cropping sequence. These findings establish the superiority of the 50% RD N + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through vermicompost (T6) treatment in enhancing crop growth, soil health, economic yield, and overall system productivity in this cropping sequence.