Effects of Continuous Use of Chemical Fertilizers and Manure on Soil Fertility and Productivity of Maize–Wheat under Rainfed Conditions of the Western Himalayas

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 45; no. 20; pp. 2647 - 2659
• Main Authors: Sharma, Upinder, Paliyal, S. S, Sharma, S. P, Sharma, G. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis 13-11-2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; animal manures; Biological and medical sciences; bulk density; calcium; carbon; cation exchange capacity; crop yield; exchangeable calcium; fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods; Imbalanced chemical fertilizers; long term effects; long-term fertilizers experiment; magnesium; Manures; mineral fertilizers; nitrogen; nutrient uptake; on-farm research; organics; phosphorus; potassium; Productivity; Soil fertility; Soil sciences; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; India; Asia; Himalayas; Pakistan, Himalayas; India, Himachal Pradesh; Productivity; Organic waste; Monocotyledones; Zea mays; Soil fertility; Rainfed agriculture; long-term fertilizers experiment; Inorganic fertilizer; Long term; Imbalanced chemical fertilizers; Cereal crop; Triticum; Mountain; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; organics
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2014.941854

Long-term effects of continuous use of chemical fertilizers and manure on soil fertility and productivity of a maize–wheat system were investigated in the ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment, during rabi (2007–2008) and kharif (2008) seasons at the research farm of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University–Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Dhaulakuan. After 16 cropping cycles, bulk density decreased in plots where farmyard manure (FYM) was applied, whereas pH decreased in all the treatments. The organic carbon content of the soil increased in all the treatments except 100% nitrogen (N). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased in all the treatments over the initial status of the soil. Available N showed buildup over the initial status in most of the treatments. Available phosphorus (P) declined from initial status in treatments where only N was applied alone or with FYM. There was reduction in available potassium (K) status in all the treatments except 100% NPK. Continuous addition of FYM with balanced application of inorganic fertilizers improved content of exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) over initial status compared to imbalanced application of fertilizers. Continuous use of imbalanced inorganic fertilizers resulted in lesser crop yields and nutrient uptake compared to that with the application of balanced dose of inorganic fertilizers with FYM.