Shashi Prakash Vishwakarma

The book presents a research-based evaluation of sustainable nitrogen management strategies for wheat cultivation in sodic soils. Sodic soils are characterized by high pH, excess exchangeable sodium, poor soil structure, and low nitrogen-use efficiency, which severely limit crop productivity. This book examines the integrated use of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, with farmyard manure and pressmud combined with fertilizer nitrogen, to improve wheat yield, nutrient uptake, and soil health. Field experiments conducted under partially reclaimed sodic soil conditions demonstrate that integrated nitrogen management enhances growth parameters, yield attributes, nitrogen recovery, and micronutrient availability while reducing sodium stress in wheat plants. The study also highlights significant improvements in soil physico-chemical properties, including reduced soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage, increased hydraulic conductivity, and improved organic carbon content. Pressmud-based integrations show strong soil-ameliorative effects, emphasizing their role in sustainable sodic soil management.

Rapeseed and mustard is a major oil seed crop of India after groundnut. The chemical fertilizer is the mainstay of agricultural production due to insufficient availability of alternative nutrient source. The organic resources available presently, could meet nearly one-third of total nutrients required to achieve the targeted level of food production. The soils of Indo-Gangetic Plain, are showing signs of fatigue due to falling organic carbon levels and deficiencies of macro, secondary and micro nutrients. The integrated use of organic and inorganic source of nutrient ensures better and sustainable yields. In the light of present investigation it may be concluded that 100% NPK + 5t FYM + 40 kg S ha-1 can be recommended to the farmers for successful cultivation of mustard in addition to improving fertility status viz., N, P, K, S and Zn of soil.