Effect of long-term application of inorganic fertilizers, farm yard manure and lime on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity, quality and nutrient content in an acid alfisol

Abstract

The effect of long-term addition of fertilizers and amendments on productivity, quality and nutrient content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in an acid Alfisol was evaluated in field experiment at the research farm of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV) Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (India). The Long-Term Fertilizer Experiment was initiated during 1972 in randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatments which were replicated three times. The soil of the experimental area was silt loam and classified taxonomically as “Typic Hapludalf”. The highest productivity of wheat (2822 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded in the treatment comprising the recommended dose of fertilizer along with farmyard manure (FYM) ^@ 10t ha⁻¹ and was statistically comparable with 100% NPK + lime (2589 kg ha⁻¹). Continuous application of nitrogen (N) alone through urea (100%) in an acid alfisol has resulted in zero yield of wheat. Application of FYM and lime along with recommended doses of fertilizers improved all the crop quality parameters viz. crude protein, gluten, ash, fat, fiber and carbohydrate as compared to control and imbalanced fertilization for the last 45 years led to decline in crop quality parameters. Nutrient content in wheat grain i.e., phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) content was also the highest in FYM amended treatment and lowest in control. Whereas, calcium (Ca) content was the highest in lime amended plot and the lowest in control.

Keywords:

• FYM
• lime
• nutrient content
• quality
• wheat
• yield

Acknowledgments

The authors feel privilege to thank Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for providing the financial support and technical guidance to undertake this experiment through sponsoring the All India Coordinated Project on long-term fertilizer experiments at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, HP, India.

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Table 1. Effect of long-term use of fertilizers and amendments on productivity of wheat (kg ha⁻¹).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.