Crop Growth and Productivity of Rainy Maize-garden Pea Copping Sequence as Influenced by Kappaphycus and Gracilaria Saps at Alluvial Soil of West Bengal, India

Aim: Cereal-legume cropping system has been proved to be one of the best alternatives for a productive as well as profitable farming in West Bengal. Maize is an important cereal crop which is widely grown during rainy (kharif) season throughout the State. While garden pea, a short duration winter (rabi) season vegetable, can easily fit in any existing cereal-legume cropping system. The present nutrient management strategies solely relay on NPK based chemical fertilizer application which results in the gradual deterioration in soil physical and chemical properties and stagnant crop yield. To maximize production level by spraying extracts of natural products that contain stimulants, is a strategic move to overcome the ill effects of the use of excessive doses of inorganic fertilizer.

Methodology: The present field experiment was conducted in Nadia district, West Bengal during rainy and winter season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to assess the impact of seaweed extracts on crop growth and productivity under maize-garden pea cropping sequence. There were four concentrations of Kappaphycus seaweed sap (K-sap) (5.0 and 10%); two concentrations of GA3 free K-sap (5.0 and 10%); two concentrations of Gracillaria seaweed sap (G-sap) (5.0 and 10%) and a control [Recommended dose (RD) of NPK only].

Results: Experimental results revealed that the foliar application of K-sap (10%) along with RD of NPK resulted in an impressive performance of both the crops in terms of growth (plant height, biomass, crop growth rate), yield attributes and yield, which was closely, followed G sap (10%). Throughout the growth period of garden pea, plants received recommended dose of fertilizer supplemented with K-sap at 10% concentration recorded significantly highest biomass production (56.94, 170.02 and 309.37 g m-2 respectively).

Conclusion: This may be concluded that the foliar application of 10% K-sap along with RD of NPK can be recommended for maize-garden pea cropping sequence.