Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Geethu Jacob, KC Manorama Thampatti and Naveen Leno

Abstract:
Sustainable agricultural practices can improve soil properties, growth and yield of crops. A field experiment of split plot design was conducted to study the effect of tillage and nutrient management on growth, yield and quality attributes of grain cowpea. The main plot treatments were tillage levels such as conventional tillage (m₁), deep tillage (m₂) and no till (m₃). The sub plot treatments were different nutrient management practices like KAU POP recommendation (s₁), soil test based POP (s₂), organic nutrient management using TOF-F (s₃), POP + AMF (s₄), soil test based POP + AMF (s₅), TOF-F+ AMF (s₆) and absolute control (s₇). The highest plant height (1.83 m), shoot weight (171.23 g), no of pods plant^-1 (55.44), grain yield plant^-1 (107.70 g), total dry matter plant^-1 (180.71 g) and crude protein (13.63%) were recorded by the nutrient management s₅. The highest root weight (25.21 g), active nodule number (50.78) and root volume (12.22 cm³) were observed by s₆. Among the tillage levels, m₃ performed best in connection with growth, yield and quality characteristics. Among nutrient management s₅ remained superior for plant height, shoot biomass and grain yield plant^-1 and s₆ exhibited higher values for root characteristics and quality parameters.