A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat during the two consecutive kharif seasons of the years 2020-21 and 2021-22 on “Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on nutrient content of Castor (Ricinus Communis L.) and soil fertility”. There were twenty treatment combinations comprising four green manuring treatments. Growing of sunhemp as green manuring crop give significantly highest N and P content in seed and stalk of castor and N, P and K uptake by stalk of castor. Significantly improvement in organic carbon and available N by different green manuring treatments. Application of 100% RDF + Banana pseudostem sap @1.5% as foliar spray at 30, 60 and 90 DAS give Significantly higher N and P content in seed and stalk, N, P and K uptake by seed and stalk and available N. while combined application of green manuring and nutrient management treatments were found non-significant influence on, nutrient content in seed and stalk, nutrient uptake by seed and stalk and maintain soil fertility status in soil after harvest of castor. The result indicated that growing of sunhemp at 45 DAS as green manure crop followed by sowing of castor with application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (90:28:00 N: P2O5:K2O/ha) + 1.5% foliar spray of banana pseudostem sap at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing improve nutrient content and maintain soil fertility status. So, green manuring has become increasingly relevant in contemporary agriculture due to its multifaceted benefits, aligning with sustainable and environmentally conscious farming practices.

Green manure, nutrient content and soil fertility

Incorporation of sunhemp at 45 DAS as green manure crop followed by sowing of castor with application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (90:28:00 N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha) + 1.5% foliar spray of banana pseudostem sap at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing was improved Nutrient content in castor crop as well as improve fertility status of the soil.

H.N. Chaudhary, B. J. Prajapati, C.K. Patel, K.V. Chaudhary and V.B. Gohil (2023). Effect of Green Manure and Nutrient Management on Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Nutrient Content and Soil Fertility. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 602-608.