Balanced plant nutrition enhances rainfed crop yields and water productivity in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh states of India

Two hundred and thirty six soil samples from farmers’ fields in the Gumla and Saraikela districts of Jharkhand, and Jhabua and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh were analyzed for soil chemical fertility. Results showed deficiencies of sulphur (43 to 100% of samples), boron (69 to 98%), and zinc (5 to 73%). Majority of the farmers’ fields, except for those in the Saraikela district, fell in the normal range of soil carbon, phosphorus, and potassium. Soil samples from Jharkhand were relatively poor in fertility. In on-farm trials conducted during 2009 and 2010 in Jharkhand, balanced nutrition (NPK+ S+B Zn) increased yields by 27 to 56% for paddy (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea). Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, productivity improved by 14 to 57% for soybean (Glycine max), paddy, groundnut, blackgram (Vigna mungo), and greengram (Vigna radiata). The benefits of balanced nutrition included effective utilization of scarce water and increased rainwater use efficiency (1.02 to 13.3 kg mm–1 ha–1), compared with farmers’ practice (0.92 to 9.67 kg mm–1 ha–1). Balanced nutrition provided net returns ranging from Rs. 7155 to 12375 ha–1 in Jharkhand and Rs. 1475 to 12735 ha–1 in Madhya Pradesh. A favourable benefit-to-cost ratio in Jharkhand (7.36 to 12.0) and Madhya Pradesh (1.97 to 9.35) demonstrated the economic viability of balanced nutrition.