Balanced Nutrient Management for Crop Intensification and Livelihood Improvement: A Case Study from Watershed in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Soil health assessment of farmers’ fields in watershed villages in Medak district, Andhra Pradesh, India showed widespread deficiencies of sulfur (S), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) in addition to organic carbon and phosphorus (P). Participatory on-farm trials on soil test-based application of deficient Zn, B, and S along with nitrogen (N) and P during 2009 to 2012 significantly increased crop yields over farmers’ practice (FP)—by 31% to 45% in chickpea, 15% to 16% in cotton, 12% to 15% in paddy, and 8% to 9% in sugarcane. Total soluble sugars in sugarcane under balanced nutrition (BN) increased by 13%. Residual benefits of S, B, and Zn were observed in succeeding chilly crop (12% higher yield). Benefit to cost (B:C) ratios of BN ranged between 2.8 to 8.5 in chickpea, 2.6 to 4.4 in cotton, 2.3 to 2.9 in paddy, and 7.1 to 11.4 in sugarcane, indicating economic feasibility for scaling-up.

Keywords:

• Balanced nutrition
• boron
• crop productivity
• soil health
• sulfur
• zinc

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr. D. S. Prasada Rao and Mr. M. Babu Rao for technical support in implementation of the project activities in the villages. Sincere thanks are also to Mr. G. Pardhasaradhi for soil chemical analysis, and Mr. K. Srinivasu for plant quality analysis. We also thank Rural Education and Agriculture Development (READ), an NGO, partner for social mobilization. Heartful thanks are also to watershed committees and participating farmers.

Notes

2. * 1 US$ = `54.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support from SABMiller India for undertaking Community Water Resources Management initiative.