Changes in soil fertility status of maize-wheat system due to long-term use of chemical fertilizers and amendments in an alfisol

• Published in: Plant, soil and environment Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 529 - 533
• Main Authors: Verma, G., Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur (India), Sharma, R.P., Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Univ., Palampur (India). Dept. of Soil Science, Sharma, S.P., Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Univ., Palampur (India). Directorate of Research, Subehia, S.K., Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Univ., Palampur (India). Dept. of Soil Science, Shambhavi, S., Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural Univ., Palampur (India). Dept. of Soil Science
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 01-12-2012
• Subjects: ABONOS COMPUESTOS; ABONOS NPK; APLICACION DE ABONOS; APPLICATION RATES; AZOTE; BLE; CALCIO; CALCIUM; CARBON; CARBONE; CARBONO; CINC; COBRE; COMPOSE ORGANIQUE; COMPOUND FERTILIZERS; COMPUESTOS ORGANICOS; COPPER; CROP YIELD; CUIVRE; DISPONIBILIDAD DE NUTRIENTES; DISPONIBILITE D'ELEMENT NUTRITIF; DOSAGE EFFECTS; DOSE D'APPLICATION; DOSIS DE APLICACION; EFECTOS DE DOSIFICACION; EFFET DOSE; ENGRAIS COMPOSE; ENGRAIS NPK; ESTIERCOL; FARMYARD MANURE; FER; FERTILIDAD DEL SUELO; FERTILISATION; FERTILITE DU SOL; FERTILIZER APPLICATION; FOSFORO; FUMIER; GRAIN; GRAINE; GRANOS; HIERRO; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_10176; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_10795; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1196; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_12332; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1301; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16113; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1797; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1868; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2810; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3346; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_34901; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_35657; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_36907; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3950; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4341; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4517; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4570; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5192; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5250; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5268; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5274; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5384; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5804; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6139; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6946; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7170; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7182; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7951; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8373; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8504; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8517; IRON; LIMA; LIME; LIMES; long-term fertilizer experiment; MAGNESIO; MAGNESIUM; MAIS; MAIZ; MAIZE; MANGANESE; MANGANESO; MATERIA ORGANICA DEL SUELO; MATIERE ORGANIQUE DU SOL; NITROGEN; NITROGENO; NPK FERTILIZERS; nutrient; NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY; NUTRIENTES; NUTRIENTS; organic carbon; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PH DEL SUELO; PH DU SOL; PHOSPHORE; PHOSPHORUS; POTASIO; POTASSIUM; productivity; PROPIEDADES FISICO - QUIMICAS SUELO; PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE DU SOL; RENDEMENT DES CULTURES; RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS; SEEDS; SEMILLA; SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SOIL FERTILITY; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; SOIL PH; SUBSTANCE NUTRITIVE; sustainability; TRIGO; TRITICUM AESTIVUM; WHEATS; ZEA MAYS; ZINC
• ISSN: 1214-1178; 1805-9368
• DOI: 10.17221/133/2012-PSE

The present study was undertaken to quantify changes in the status of soil nutrients, their depletion and build-up after continuous long intensive cropping for last 36 years in a permanent manorial trial which has been in progress since 1972 in an alfisol of western Himalayas. The rotation was maize-wheat which included various combinations of N, P, K, Zn and farmyard manure (FYM). Continuous cultivation influenced pH, organic carbon, available N, P and K. An increase in the status of organic C was observed in 100% NPK + FYM treatments for more than three decades from the initial value of 7.9 to 12.0 g/kg. The use of either FYM or lime along with 100% NPK sustained crop productivity or improved nutrient status. However, imbalanced use of nutrients, i.e. NP or N alone, is adversely affecting the fertility of soil by aggravating the problem of soil acidity. Application of S free P fertilizer DAP (diammonium phosphate) drastically reduced the yield of both the crops. Thus, continuous use of balanced fertilizers is necessary for sustaining soil fertility and productivity of crops.