Effect of long-term integrated nutrient management on soil properties, soil fertility, nutrient uptake and crop yields under pearl millet-wheat cropping system

Abstract

Impact of 26 years of integrated nutrient management through application of chemical fertilizers and organic materials (farm yard manure, wheat straw and green manuring) on soil properties, soil fertility, nutrient uptake and crop yields under pearl millet-wheat cropping system was studied at Research Farm of CCSHAU, Hisar. The experiment consisted of five treatments viz., control, chemical fertilizers alone (100% NP), and fertilizers in combination with organic materials to substitute 50% N through farm yard manure (50% NP+FYM), wheat straw (50% NP+WS) and green manuring (50% NP+GM). Continuous use of FYM, WS and GM in conjunction with fertilizers increased the fertility status, NPK uptake, and yield of pearl millet and wheat crops. The soil reaction and soluble salts were found invariant under different treatments after the harvest of wheat. Among the organic materials, FYM resulted in highest available N (220.5 kg/ha), P (21.0 kg/ha) and K (333.8 kg/ha) in soil, and yielded highest grain yield of pearl millet (3142 kg/ha) and wheat (5452 kg/ha). These yields were not different with the yields obtained with the application of chemical fertilizer alone. Continuous application of FYM to meet 50% N requirement of pearl miller resulted in highest increase in plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of grains per earhead/spike and test weight of both the crops as compared to other treatments. Study suggests that long term integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic materials has great potential for improving soil productivity and achieving higher crop productivity under pearl millet-wheat cropping system in arid and semi-arid climatic conditions.