Soil organic phosphorus fractions in response to long-term fertilization with composted manures under rice–wheat cropping system

ABSTRACT

Present investigation evaluates the effect of organic fertilization (OF), integrated nutrient management (INM) practice, and recommended dose of chemical fertilization (CF) on changes in soil organic phosphorus (P) and its fractions under rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. The 4-year experiment (2009–2013), under split-plot design, showed that OF did not increase the total P or total organic P content of soil under either of the test crops. However, OF maintained the higher level of labile organic P and moderately labile organic P in soil under wheat the moderately stable organic P and highly stable organic P was highest in paddy soil under CF practices (11.34 and 7.77 μg g⁻¹, respectively) followed by wheat. The P concentration in organically grown rice or wheat grain was increased significantly compared with their CF counterparts. The productivity economics for rice and wheat crops showed INM fertilization to be more economical than OF.

KEYWORDS:

• Bio-fertilizers
• farmyard manure
• phosphatase
• vermicompost

Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere thanks to the Director, IARI and the Head, Microbiology Division for extending financial support and necessary facilities during the course of investigation.