Evaluation of soil moisture, irrigation parameters and post nutrient status influenced in six fallow crops with limited number of irrigations

A field experiment entitled “Evaluation of Soil moisture, Irrigation parameters and Post Nutrient status influenced in six fallow crops with limited number of irrigations” was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Naira. The experimental site was uniform in topography and the soil was sandy loam in texture. The soil pH was slightly alkaline, low in organic carbon, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium. The experimentation was conducted during rabi, 2021-22 and was laid out in a split plot design, replicated thrice with three irrigation levels viz., two irrigations (I₁), three irrigations (I₂) and four irrigations (I₃) assigned to main plots and six fallow crops viz., Maize (C₁), Sorghum (C₂), Fingermillet (C₃), Mustard (C₄), Sunhemp (C₅) and Blackgram (C₆) assigned to sub plots. Regarding number of irrigations the relative production efficiency, soil moisture availability at 60, 90 and 105 DAS, water requirement, water productivity, apparent water use productivity were recorded progressively higher with four irrigations (I₃) and were decreased gradually and significantly with reduction in number of irrigations to two (I₁). Pertaining to six fallow crops, water requirement was recorded highest in Maize (C₁) and lowest in Blackgram (C₆). The water productivity was significantly maximum with Maize (C₁) and minimum with Mustard (C₄). Apparent water use productivity was highest in Sunhemp (C₅) and lowest in Maize (C₁). System productivity and Relative production efficiency were recorded highest in Sorghum (C₂) and lowest in Mustard (C₄). With regard to the interaction effect with number of irrigations and six fallow crops was significant and statistically measurable. The system productivity and relative production efficiency were progressively high with four irrigations in Maize (C₁) and minimum with two irrigations in Mustard (C₄). The highest water productivity was recorded in Maize (C₁) with two irrigations (I₁) and lowest was recorded with four irrigations (I₂) in Mustard (C₄). The Apparent water use productivity was recorded highest with four irrigations (I₃) in Sunhemp (C₅) and lowest was recorded in Maize (C₁) with two irrigations (I₂).