INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT (INM)

Integrated nutrient management (INM)

refers to use of organic manures and fertilizers in combination to maintain soil health and obtain best yields.

Sufficient and balanced application of organic manures and fertilizers is the focus in INM.

Soil Source: Mobilizing unavailable nutrients and to use appropriate crop varieties, cultural practices and cropping system.

Mineral Fertilizer : Super granules, coated urea, direct use of locally available rock PO4 in acid soils, Single Super Phosphate (SSP), MOP and micronutrient fertilizers.

 

 

 

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Inorganic Fertilizers   Organic Manures

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Green manures   Biofertilizers

Organic Sources : By products of farming and allied industries. FYM, droppings, crop waste, residues, sewage, sludge, industrial waste.

Biological Sources : Microbial inoculants substitute 15 - 40 Kg N/ha

Step 1: Farmer expects an yield of 3 t (3000 kg) from one ha of sorghum.

Step 2: To get 1 t of yield, sorghum crop requires 20 kg N, 3.5 kg P, 30 kg of K, and small quantities of other nutrients.

So, to get 3 t sorghum yield, the crop requires20 kg N x 3 = 60 kg N,

3.5 kg P x 3 = 10. 5 kg P and 30 kg K x 3 = 90 kg of K

Step 3: The soil test has shown that the soil supplies 20 kg N, 3.5 kg P and adequate quantities of K and other nutrients.

Step 4: From Step 1, you know sorghum crop needs 60 kg N, 10.5 kg P and 90 kg K.So, nutrients required from external source will be: 60 kg N – 20 kg N from soil = 40 kg N 10.5 kg P – 3.5 kg from soil = 7 kg P

As soil contains adequate quantities of K, there is no need to apply any K.

Step 5: Farmer has 3 cart loads (1500 kg) of FYM and 1 cart load (500 kg) of Compost to apply to the crop.

Step 6: 1500 kg FYM supplies: N = 1500 kg x 1% N = 15 kg N P = 1500 kg x 0.2% P = 3 kg P

Step 7: 500 kg of Compost supplies N = 500 kg x 2% N = 10 kg N P = 500 kg x 0.4% P = 2 kg P

Step 8: Application of FYM and Compost together supplies N = 15 kg + 10 kg = 25 kg N P = 3 kg + 2 kg = 5 kg P

Step 9: A. Nutrients requirement from external source is 40 kg N and 7 kg P (see Step 4)

B. FYM and Compost application provides 25 kg N and 5 kg P (see Step 8)

C. So, the balance nutrient requirement is to be supplied through fertilizers. Balance N = 40 kg – 25 kg = 15 kg N Balance P = 7 kg – 5 kg = 2 kg P

Step 10: A. N fertilizer efficiency is 50%, so we need to apply, 15 kg N x 2 = 30 kg N through nitrogenous fertilizer.

B. P fertilizer efficiency is 20%, so we need to apply, 2 kg P x 5 = 10 kg P through phosphatic fertilizer.

Step 11: Farmer has Urea and Super phosphate to apply to the crop.

Step 12: A. Amount of Urea (46% N) required to supply 30 kg N is: 30 kg N x 46% N = 65. 21 kg or 65 kg

B. Amount of Super phosphate (16% P ) required to supply 10 kg P is: 10 kg P x 16% P = 62. 5 kg or 63 kg

Step 13: The farmer has to apply 3 cart loads of FYM, 1 cartload of Compost, 65 kg of Urea and 63 kg of Super phosphate to sorghum crop to harvest around 3000 kg of yield per ha.

the farmer is benefited by INM in sorghum

Better utilization of farm resources like FYM and compost;Application of FYM and Compost improves the soil organic matter;No excessive application of fertilizers;Soil nutrients are not exhausted by considering the efficiency of fertilizers;All the above factors help in maintaining the soil health and to achieve expected yields.