Yield Targeting and Integrated Plant Nutrition System to Fix Critical Levels of Soil Available N, P and K for Hybrid Brinjal in Inceptisols of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

In order to maintain sustainable soil fertility for long run, the recommendations are made to apply sufficient fertilisers to meet both the nutrient requirements of the crop and to built-up the nutrient level in the soil to a critical soil test level over a scheduled time frame. Soil test level is sustained at, or above, the critical level by using fertiliser rates that should replace the nutrients removed by the crop. The critical level is the soil test level at which maximum yield is achieved. Critical soil test values for available N, P and K were low under IPNS treatments (NPK + FYM @ 25 t ha^-1) as compared to NPK alone which in turn resulted in saving of NPK fertilisers. Irrespective of treatments, higher yield targeting resulted in higher critical levels of nutrients in soil.