| Abstract: | Abstract Maximum yield research (MYR) and maximum economic yield systems (MEY) are important under the present situation of increased demographic changes, which have reduced the per capita availability of both land and food. Among root and tuber crops, cassava is found in a variety of production systems and performs well under various levels of management from low‐input to high‐input systems. A systematic approach in fertilizer use involves the determination and elimination of soil nutrient constraints for balanced supply of all potentially deficient essential nutrients for sustainable high yield. In the systematic approach of determining optimal fertilizer for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in a Typic Kandiustult soil of Kerala, India, studies on critical levels of nutrients, original nutritional status of the soil, its sorption capacity, and greenhouse/screenhouse nutrient survey were carried out. The critical levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were determined as 8.23 and 43.5 µg g?1, respectively. The preliminary analysis of the soil of the experimental site revealed the overall fertility status as very poor. The sorption studies conducted for P, K, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), sulfur (S), and boron (B) indicated P, K, S, and B were limiting in this particular soil. The quantities of these nutrients needed to optimize the soil nutrient status were determined from the preliminary soil analysis, critical levels of nutrients, and sorption curves and found to be 136 µg mL?1 P, 0.338 meq 100 mL?1 K, 20 µg mL?1 S, and 6.025 µg mL?1 B, respectively. From the greenhouse nutrient survey, N, P, K, and calcium (Ca) were seen as limiting nutrients for this soil; therefore the optimum treatment for cassava was fixed as N‐P‐K at 100:300:300 kg ha?1, respectively. Field experiments were conducted for two seasons with different levels of the optimum treatment using a short duration (6–7 months) cassava variety, Sree Vijaya. The optimum treatment gave a yield of 43.41 t ha?1, whereas the yield under the existing practice recommendations was 20–25 t ha?1. Economic analysis showed this optimum treatment as the best in terms of highest gross return (Rs 1,31,125/‐), net return (Rs 83,150/‐), added return (Rs 70, 178/‐), added profit (Rs 56,142/‐), and benefit cost ratio (BCR) (2.73). |
