Irrigation methods and integrated nutrient management leading to improved symbiotic, physiological and soil health parameters in vegetable pea ( sativum L.) cultivation

Abstract

One of the significant winter vegetable crops in India's north-western Himalayan region is pea. The secret to raising output is identifying an irrigation system that complements organic management. Crop productivity, nitrogen utilisation effectiveness, and soil health are improved by using organic manures. Drip irrigation is a controlled method of irrigation with little water loss. At Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, conducted a field experiment during the rabi season of 2020-2021 to test the hypothesis that the balanced fertilization combined with organic manures applied under drip irrigation would increase vegetable pea productivity and improve soil health. Six nutrient management combinations were tested in the experiment by using a split-plot design with two irrigation techniques (drip and flood). In comparison to flood irrigation, drip irrigation supported noticeably greater values of nodules, chlorophyll content, pod yield, and nutrient status in soil. Over flood irrigation, drip irrigation resulted in a pod yield that was 17% higher. Drip irrigation and integrated nutrient management status (RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1) significantly improved symbiosis, physiological parameters, pod yield, and soil nutrient status.