Effect of 22-Year-Long Conjunctive Use of Organic and Chemical Sources of Nutrients on Crop Yield, Soil Properties, and Nutrient Balance in Post-Monsoon Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Peninsular Vertisols of India

Abstract

A long-term field experiment was conducted in Vertisols of Solapur (Maharashtra, India) to assess the effect of the integrated use of nutrients on yield, soil properties, and nutrient balance in post-monsoon sorghum. The highest crop yield (1.19 Mg ha(-1)) and available nutrients (308, 14.9, and 814 kg ha(-1) nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), respectively) were recorded in the treatment of 25 kg N sorghum crop residue (CR) + 25 kg N Leucaena clippings (LCs), 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (urea), 25 kg N farmyard manure + 25 kg N (urea), and 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (LC), respectively. Most of the nutrients were depleted except K and Ca. The response ratio for N (16 kg kg(-1)) and partial factor productivity (33 kg kg(-1)) were considerably higher in the 25 kg N (CR) + 25 kg N (LC) treatment. Conjunctive use of organic and chemical fertilizers helped in reducing the nutrient losses and improved their use efficiency and yield sustainability.