Green Manuring and Nitrogen Management for Sustainable Productivity of Niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.] in Odisha, India

Abstract

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass), a minor oil seed crop is generally cultivated in marginal and sub marginal lands under poor agronomic practices without application of manures and fertilizers which causes great losses in its yield. However, the crop has high yield potential if recommended agronomic package of practices are followed. Also, the farmers always grow niger without application of any organic or inorganic fertilizers. In view of this, a field experiment was carried outunder All India Coordinated Research Project on Niger at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (OUAT), Semiliguda of Koraput district under Eastern Ghat High Land zone of Odisha in acidic soil during two consecutive kharif seasons of 2019 to 2020 to study the response of green manuring and nitrogen management on growth and yield of niger. The experiment consisted of four crop sequences and four nitrogen levels with split plot design. The data revealed that growing of niger crop after incorporation of cowpea as green manure along with application of recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in significantly highest seed yield of 645.6 kg/ha and 684.1 kg/ha with a net monetary return of Rs.17939/ha and Rs.30853/ha and benefit cost ratio of 1.7 and 2.9 during the year 2019 and 2020 respectively.