43 Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 80 (9): 801–804, September 2010 Effect of integrated nutrient management on fibre yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility in jute (Corchorus olitorius) S MITRA 1 , A ROY 2 , A R SAHA 3 , D N MAITRA 4 , M K SINHA 5 , B S MAHAPATRA 6 and S SAHA 7 Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 120 Received: 26 June 2009; Revised accepted: 4 June 2010 ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted during 2004–06 to study the effect of combined application of inorganic fertilizer and organic manures on yield, nutrient utilization of jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) along with soil fertility. Substitution of 25% N through water hyacinth compost or farmyard manure in recommended dose of NPK recorded significantly higher fibre yield (2.63, 2.62 tonnes/ha) over the 100% NPK treatment. Maximum N and K uptake (68.22 and 174.41 kg/ha) were observed when 25% N was replaced by water hyacinth compost while maximum P uptake (31.33 kg/ha) was recorded with 50% substitution of N through farmyard manure. Post-harvest soil analysis revealed that integrated nutrient management with water hyacinth compost enriched the fertility status of the experimental soil. Thus, substitution of chemical N-fertilizer to the tune of 25% through water hyacinth compost or farmyard manure increased the fibre productivity in jute and also maintained the fertility status of the soil under Aquic Ustifluvent. Key words: Farmyard manure, Jute, Nutrient uptake, Soil fertility, Water hyacinth compost, Yield Despite tremendous increase in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) fibre productivity, considerable regional disparity still exists in the yield level. Poor nutrient management practice is one of the major contributing factors to that. The marginal jute-growing farmers are unable to bear the escalating prices of synthetic fertilizers. Due to inadequate and imbalanced fertilizer application, farmers are not able to harness the full yield potential of jute crop. The organic matters being the storehouses of nutrients, combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer can increase the fibre yield of jute, improve the fertility status of soil, improve the input-use efficiency by the system and can certainly cut down the expenditure on costly fertilizers (Laxminarayana and Patiram 2006). Hence, a field experiment was undertaken to study the effect of combined application of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures on fibre yield of jute and its effect on soil properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS The trial was conducted under All India Network Project on Jute and Allied Fibres at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Coochbehar for consecutive 3 years during 2004–06 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on soil fertility as well as fibre yield and mineral nutrition of jute. The soil was Aquic Ustifluvent, sandy loam in texture, having pH 5.8, organic carbon 0.78%, available N 170 kg/ha, available P 16.6 kg/ha and available K 91 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 10 treatments comprising different combinations of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures or green manures were replicated thrice. The details of the treatments were T 1 , 100% NPK; T 2 , 75% N through urea + 25% N through water hyacinth compost; T 3 , 75% N through urea + 25% N through farmyard manure; T 4 , 75% N through urea + 25% N through dhaincha green manuring; T 5 , 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost; T 6 , 50% N through urea + 50% N through water hyacinth compost; T 7 , 50% N through urea + 50% N through farm yard manure; T 8 , 50% N through urea + 50% N through dhaincha green manuring; T 9 , 50% N through urea + 50% N through vermicompost and T 10, control. The recommended N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O for jute were 40, 20 and 20 kg/ha respectively. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied in the form of urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. Organic manures were added on the basis of nitrogen percentage (oven dry weight). The nitrogen content in water hyacinth compost, 1 Senior Scientist, AINPJAF (e mail: mitrasaby@gmail.com), 2 Reader, UBKV, Coochbehar (e mail: roy_ayon@rediffmail.com), 3 Senior Scientist (e mail: amitsaha60@yahoo.co.in), 4 Scientist (Selection Grade), (e mail: dnmaitra@yahoo.co.in), 5 Principal Scientist and In-Charge, AINPJAF (e mail: mohitsinha48 @hotmail.com), 6 Director, CRIJAF (e mail: bsmahapatra @gmail.com), 7 Principal Scientist (e mail: sahacrijaf @rediffmail.com)