Effect of Six Year Continuous Targeted Yield Based Chemical Fertilizer and FYM Application on Soil Quality and Productivity of Maize in an Acid Alfisol of North-Western Himalayas

ABSTRACT

This investigation took place on a continuing soil test crop response (STCR) based fertilizer experiment, initiated during June, 2007, in a maize-wheat cropping sequence, which was laid in a randomized block design with eight treatments replicated thrice. Surface soil samples from a depth of 0–0.15 m were collected after the harvest of maize (June 2013 to October 2013) and were analyzed for soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Statistically significant physical, chemical and biological parameters were reduced to Minimum Data set (MDS) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and further integrated to compute Soil Quality Index (SQI). Highest SQI (2.84) was observed under treatment comprising prescription based fertilizers application for 40 q ha⁻¹ along with farmyard manure (FYM). Whereas, control with no external application of fertilizers and FYM has observed lowest SQI (1.85). Conjunctive application of prescription-based fertilizers and FYM application improved soil quality over conventional general recommended dose and soil test-based application.

KEYWORDS:

• Acid Alfisol
• soil quality
• soil test
• targeted yield

Acknowledgements

Authors duly acknowledge the financial aid from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for sponsoring the ‘All India Coordinated Research Project on STCR’ at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.