Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity and residual soil-fertility status under different rice (Oryza sativa)-pulse cropping systems in rainfed lateritic belt of West Bengal

A field trial was conducted on red and laterite soil of Sekhampur, West Bengal, during June 1996-April 1998, to evaluate the prospect of growing rice (Oryza sativa L.)-pulse sequence under rainfed condition and study the effect of residual soil-fertility status on pulses inoculated with or without Rhizobium sp. Higher yield and yield attributes of rainy-season rice, lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), gram (Cicer arietinum L.) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) crops were achieved where 25% of chemical fertilizer in rainy-season rice, was replaced either by FYM or rice straw @ 3.0 or 3.65 tonnes/ha. Addition of FYM or decomposed straw of rice improved the N, P, K status of the soil. Seed inoculation of pulses with Rhizobium sp. also played a positive role towards the total crop productivity and residual soil-fertility status.