Performance of soybean (Glycine max L.) with residual moisture and fertilizer resources under zero tillage conditions

Field experiment was conducted consecutively over a period of two years at the Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad (Karnataka) to study the residual effect of moisture and fertilizer resources in soybean from preceding maize. The field experiment of maize was laid out in split-split plot design with three replications involving three main plots (irrigation levels) and six subplots (factorial combinations of fertilizer levels and time of fertilizers application) with 18 treatment combinations and one control outside the design. Residual effect of deficit irrigation at critical stages with hydrogel in preceding maize recorded significantly higher grain (11.2 q ha-1) and haulm yield (1.7 t ha-1) of soybean. Similarly, residual effect due to fertilizer levels of 250:100:125 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 in preceding maize recorded significantly higher grain (12.5 q ha-1) and haulm yield (1.8 t ha-1) of soybean. Further, residual effect due to fertilizers application as 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O as basal, 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O at 30 DAS and 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O at 50 DAS in preceding maize recorded significantly higher grain (11.8 q ha-1) and haulm yield (1.7 t ha-1) of soybean. Similarly, residual interaction effect of deficit irrigation at critical stages with hydrogel and fertilizer levels of 250:100:125 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 when applied as 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O as basal, 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O at 30 DAS and 1/3rd of N, P2O5 and K2O at 50 DAS in preceding maize recorded significantly higher grain (14.5 q ha-1) and haulm yield (2.0 t ha-1) of soybean.