Integrated Fertilizer Prescriptions for Beetroot through Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model on an Alfisol

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on a Typic Haplustalf soil of Tamil Nadu by adopting the inductive cum targeted yield model, and fertilizer requirements were quantified for beetroot based on soil test and yield target. The basic parameters [nutrient requirement (NR) and contributions of nutrients from soil (Cs), fertilizer (Cf), and vermicompost (Cvermi)] were computed from the field experimental data. Using these basic parameters, we developed fertilizer prescription equations under the integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), and nomograms were formulated for the desired yield target of beetroot for a range of soil test values. The quantity of fertilizers that could be contributed by vermicompost at 5 t ha−1 was evaluated as 40, 21, and 30 kg nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), and potassium oxide (K2O), respectively, when applied along with the NPK fertilizers as per soil test and desired yield target.