Evaluation of Fertilizer Doses for Kharif Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) through Soil Test Crop Response Approach in Mollisols of Uttarakhand

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted at N. E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Latitude 290N, Longitude 79030’ E and Altitude 243.84 m above MSL) during kharif season of 2018-19 in Mollisols of Uttarakhand, India for brinjal through Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) to recommend desired fertilizer nutrients. In the Initial phase of the investigation the artificially fertility gradient was setup to create heterogeneity in experimental soil for the test crop. Further, in second phase response of brinjal to selected combinations of three levels of FYM (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1), four levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1), four levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) and four levels of potassium (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg K2O ha-1) in different soil fertility strips was also worked out in a Fractional Factorial Design (Latin Square type). Using the data of soil analysis, nutrient uptake and yield the basic data for fertilizer prescription were computed. Fertilizer adjustment equations were generated with the help of basic data. Fertilizer prescription equation helps in evaluating fertilizer requirement for kharif brinjal at different soil test values and yield targets as per farmers’ economic conditions. Before their use by soil testing laboratories/farmers, the equations must be verified at farmer’s field.