Influence of Organic Residue Recycling on Crop Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Microbial and Nutrient Status of rabi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) under Dryland Condition

The field experiment was conducted on black soil (Vertic Ustropept) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station farm, Solapur, for successive 30 years from 1987-1988 to 2016-2017 under dryland condition in a randomized block design with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The pooled results of seven years (2010-2011 to 2016-2017) revealed that the application of 25 kg N ha(-1) through crop residue (CR, byre waste) along with 25 kg N ha(-1) through Leucaena lopping (Leucaena leucocephala) to rabi sorghum gave significantly higher grain and stover yield and Sustainable Yield Index (14.61 and 36.11 q ha(-1) and 0.47, respectively) which was on par with T-7, where 25 kg N ha(-1) through farmyard manure (FYM) + 25 kg N ha(-1) through urea was applied for grain and stover yield (13.95 and 34.46 q ha(-1) and 0.44, respectively). The gross and net monetary returns and benefit-cost ratio were also influenced significantly due to integrated nitrogen management (Rs. 59,796, Rs. 47,353 ha(-1), and 3.13, respectively). This was also reflected in residual soil fertility status of soil after harvest of rabi sorghum. The organic carbon content and available nitrogen content of soil, as well as nitrogen uptake and moisture use efficiency for grain, were also increased. The total microbial count of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes was more where FYM or CR addition was done. The count of N fixers and P solubilizers was more under Leucaena application either alone or with CR or urea. Application of CR at 4.8 t ha(-1) (25 kg N ha(-1)) along with Leucaena lopping at 3.5 t ha(-1) (25 kg N ha(-1)) as green leaf manure is the best alternative organic source for fertilizer urea (50 kg N ha(-1)) to increase the production of dryland rabi sorghum.