Effect of Zinc and Biofertilizer on Changes in Soil Fertility Status under Hybrid Rice – Chickpea Cropping Sequence in Alluvial Soils of Central Uttar Pradesh

Aims: The present study was conducted to investigate the changes in soil fertility status with the application of zinc and biofertilizers in hybrid rice and chickpea.

Study Design: The design taken for study was Randomized Block Design (RBD).

Place and Duration of Study: Students Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, between July 2018 – July – 2020.

Methodology: The experiment included twelve treatment groups replicated three times in Randomized Block Design.

Results: Soil parameters were also influenced with the application of zinc and biofertilizer. The available nitrogen varied between 192 to 223 kg ha-1 and 191 to 222 kg ha-1 at after harvest during first and second year in case of rice crop. The available phosphorus in case of rice was varied between 11.82 to 11.88 kg ha-1 at before harvest and 11.75 to 13.65 kg ha-1 at after harvest during first year. In case of available potassium it varied from 169 to 173 kg ha-1 at before harvest of the crop and 169 to 185 kg ha-1 at after harvest during first year. Similarly, significant increase in sulphur and zinc was also observed with application of zinc and biofertilizers. The available nitrogen, phosphorus potassium, sulphur and zinc were analysed numerically highest with the application T7 (100 per cent RDN + 25 per cent N FYM + S40 + ZnO + *Azotobacter or **Rhizobium) as compared to control at before and after harvest the crop during both the years that is 2018-19 and 2019-20. Similar trend was seen in case of chickpea crop.

Conclusion: Therefore, the combination of micronutrients and biofertilizers, proved beneficial, indicating to use balanced fertilizers to get maximum benefit and maintaining soil health in rice-chickpea cropping system for the farmers of Central Uttar Pradesh conditions.