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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of foliar bio-nano P and K applications on nutrient optimization and soil productivity in maize-wheat cropping system in an acid Alfisol.
    (CSK HPKV, Palampur, 2023-01-01) Baghla, Devanshi; Sharma, V.K.
    In modern agriculture, nano fertilizer use is being popularized throughout the world because of its higher nutrient use efficiency in comparison to non nano/conventional fertilizers. To assess the possibility of using bio-nano P and K fertilizers alone or in combination with conventional fertilizers and their impacts on fertilizer nutrient economy/optimization and soil health attributes in maize-wheat sequence, a field experiment was conducted in acid Alfisol during 2019-20 and 2020-21 with fourteen treatments and three replications in Randomized Block Design. The treatments comprised of basal conventional P and K fertilizer applications, each at three levels (0, 50 and 100 per cent of their recommended levels), with and without two post-emergence bio-nano fertilizer sprays. In addition, there were two treatments to assess the compatibility of bio-nano P and K sprays at 50 and 100 % of recommended levels of both nutrients. Natural farming practice was also applied as a check treatment. Through statistical analysis of year-wise and pooled data, it was observed that yield attributing characters (plant height, cob/spike length, no. of grains per cob/ spike and test weight), grain yields and nutrient uptake of maize and wheat increased significantly with increasing levels of P and K application through conventional fertilizers alone or along with bio-nano foliar sprays. Lowest and highest values of each were found with natural farming and P100K100 + bio nano P&K sprays treatment, respectively. Further, treatment combinations viz. P50 and P0 +bio-nano P, P100 and P50 + bio-nano P, K50 and K0+bio-nano K, K100 and K50 + bio-nano P and P50K50 + bio-nano P& K and P100K100 were found at par with each other in above mentioned parameters, which highlighted the effectiveness of bio-nano sprays as an effective nutrient supplying source to maize and wheat and for optimizing fertilizer nutrient requirement to the extent of 50 % of the recommended dose of P and K. Assessment of leaf nutrient status of maize and wheat during their critical growth stages supported that finding also. Like non-nano P and K fertilizers, their bio-nano foliar sprays have a positive effect on soil attributes affecting soil health. There was a significant improvement in bulk density, water holding capacity, water stable aggregates (> 0.06 mm), organic carbon, CEC, available nutrient status, MBC, dehydrogenase activity and microbial population. These attributes increased significantly with increasing levels of P and K application through conventional fertilizers alone or along with bio nano foliar sprays. Similar results were also observed on saloid-P, Al-P and Fe-P build-up in soils but with non nano P fertilizer application and on water soluble, exchangeable and non-exchangeable K build-up but with non nano K fertilizer application. However, bio-nano K application showed no significant effect on any inorganic and K fractions. The cost of cultivation of maize and wheat with fertilizer treatments involving non-nano fertilizer application alone were considerably lower than those with bio-nano sprays at all levels of P and K. Since cost of spraying of bio-nano sprays is considerably higher, fertilizer treatments involving non-nano fertilizer application Fertilizer treatments involving non-nano fertilizer application resulted in more net profits and B:C ratio. Highest B:C ratio was observed with P and K applications through non-nano fertilizers at recommended rates. Keeping in view the above-mentioned figures and facts it may be concluded that bio-nano sprays alone or in conjunction with conventional fertilizers optimized fertilizer P and K requirements of maize and wheat equivalent to 50 per cent of their basal application. However, this nutrient management intervention is less economically viable as compared to conventional fertilizers at current prices of bio-nano P and K fertilizers
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of continuous application of target yield based fertilizers and organic manure in maize-wheat cropping system on soil properties, nutrients uptake and productivity of maize in an acid Alfisol
    (CSK HPKV, Palampur, 2023-02-13) Thakur, Anjali; Dixit, S. P.
    The present study on the effect of continuous application of target yield based fertilizers and organic manure in maize-wheat cropping system on soil properties, nutrients uptake and productivity of maize was carried out during kharif 2020 and 2021 in a long-term experiment on soil test crop response studies at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV Palampur. The experiment consisted of eight treatments viz., control, farmers’ practice, general recommended dose, soil test based fertilizer application, chemical fertilizers for 30 q ha-1 target yield with and without FYM, chemical fertilizers for 40 q ha-1 target yield with and without FYM, in a randomized block design. The soil was silty clay loam, acidic in reaction (pH 5.2), 7.2 g organic carbon ha-1 , 236, 41 and 272 kg available N, P and K ha-1 , respectively. Soil samples from 0-0.15 m depth were collected before and after the harvest of maize (kharif 2020 and 2021) and analyzed for the physical, chemical and biological properties. Grain and stover samples were also analyzed for nutrients concentration and nutrients uptake was determined. Grain quality parameters were also determined. Continuous application of 30 and 40 q ha-1 target yield based fertilizers with FYM improved the physical properties of the soil significantly over control and chemical fertilizers-alone treatments. Soil organic carbon content, CEC, available N, P, K, S, exchangeable Ca and Mg, DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, microbial biomass C, N, P, S and enzyme activity were highest in STCR-IPNS treatments, however, soil pH did not vary significantly within the treatments. Integration of FYM with 40 q ha-1 target yield based chemical fertilizers improved the maize grain quality resulting in highest crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, total carbohydrates, starch, reducing and non-reducing sugar content but it was at par with target yield 30 q ha-1 + FYM treatment. Target yield based chemical fertilizers application for 30 and 40 q ha-1 with FYM significantly increased the grain and stover yield as well the N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu uptake by maize over farmers’ practice, general recommended dose and soil test based fertilizer application. The highest B:C was recorded in 40 q ha-1 target yield treatment (3.02 and 3.04), followed by 40 q ha-1 target yield + FYM (2.87 and 2.80) and lowest in control (1.30 and 1.19) during kharif 2020 and 2021, respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SOURCES OF NUTRIENTS ON SORGHUM SUDAN GRASS HYBRID - OAT CROPPING SYSTEM
    (CSKHPKV. Palampur, 2019-09) CHAHAL, ARVIND; Sharma, G.D.
    A field experiment entitled “Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on sorghum sudan grass hybrid-oat cropping system” was conducted at Research Farm of Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSK, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur from Kharif 2017 to Rabi 2018-19. Soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available phosphorus and available potassium and low in available nitrogen. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with two factors and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of four levels of FYM and biofertilizers viz. control, FYM @10 t ha-1 , Azotobacter+ PSB and FYM @10 t ha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB and four levels of fertilizers viz. no fertilizer, 50, 75 and 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer. Significantly highest plant height, shoots per square meter and dry matter accumulation of sorghum sudan grass hybrid and oat was observed with application of FYM @10 t ha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB than rest of the organic treatments, though this treatment was at par with FYM @10 t ha-1 for leaf stem ratio. Similarly, plant height, shoots per square meter and dry matter accumulation increased with increasing fertilizer levels with highest values recorded with application of 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer though the increase in leaf stem ratio was significant only up to 75 per cent of recommended fertilizer. Significantly highest total green fodder, dry fodder, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre yields and net returns were recorded with the application FYM @10 t ha1 + Azotobacter+ PSB as well as 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer. Application of FYM @10 t ha-1 + Azotobacter+ PSB resulted in higher benefit cost ratio, while, significantly highest benefit cost ratio was recorded with 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer. Crude protein content was significantly higher with application of FYM @10 t ha-1 + Azotobacter+ PSB as well as 100 per cent recommended fertilizer. However, the effect of FYM @10 t ha-1 + Azotobacter+ PSB and FYM @10 t ha-1 was same and resulted in significantly minimum content of acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre. The effect of 75 and 100 per cent of recommended fertilizer was also same and resulted in significantly minimum acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre content.An increase in soil organic carbon, biomass carbon and available NPK was observed with the application of FYM @10 t ha-1+Azotobacter + PSB as well as 100 per cent recommended fertilizer application over the initial status at the end of experiment
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Acid soils of Himachal Pradesh their characterization and lime requirements
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1979) Bishnoi, Surendra K; Tripathi, B.R.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Characterisation and genesis of soils of Himachal Pradesh
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1979) Verma, Shive Dayal; Tripathi, B.R.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    LONG TERM EFFECT OF PRESCRIPTION BASED FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON SOIL CARBON AND POTASSIUM DYNAMICS UNDER MAIZE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM IN AN ACID ALFISOL
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2017-04-20) IBAJANAI, KURBAH; DIX IT, S. P.
    The present investigation was carried out during rabi, 2014-15 and rabi, 2015-16 to study the effect of prescription based fertilizer application on soil organic carbon and potassium dynamics under maize-wheat cropping system in a long term experiment initiated during kharif, 2007 at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Soil Science CSK HPKV, Palampur. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments. The soil of experimental field was silty clay loam in texture, pH 5.2, organic carbon 7.2 g kg-1 and available N, P and K status was 236, 41 and 272 kg ha-1, respectively. The soil samples from 0- 0.15 m soil depth were collected before and after harvest of wheat and analysed for some physical, physico-chemical, biological properties, fractions of soil organic carbon and potassium in the soil. Grain and straw samples were collected from each plot and analyzed for total N, P, K and micronutrient contents and uptake. There was an overall improvement in the physical properties of soil under STCR (IPNS) treatments for target 25 and 35 q ha-1. Soil organic carbon, pH, CEC, available N, P, K, enzyme activities and DTPA extractable micronutrients were higher under treatments where inorganic fertilizers along with FYM were applied under targeted yield treatments. The study also revealed that the target yield of 35q ha-1 with FYM resulted in highest wheat grain and straw yield during both the years. However, the highest B:C ratio was recorded in treatment for target yield 35 q ha-1 without FYM followed by soil test based treatment. Higher uptake of N, P, K and micronutrients by wheat were recorded in treatments comprising of target yield 25 and 35 q ha-1 with and without FYM. Continuous application of inorganic fertilizers alone or in conjunction with FYM improved the different fractions of soil organic carbon and potassium significantly. All the passive and active pools of soil organic carbon significantly improved under STCR (IPNS) treatments for target yield 25 and 35 qha-1 in comparisons to unfertilized plots. Among K fractions, non- exchangeable K was found to be the most dominant followed by exchangeable K and water soluble K. Different fractions of soil organic carbon were found to be positively and significantly correlated with yield and soil properties except bulk density, where it was negative. All forms of potassium were positively and significantly correlated with grain and straw yield of wheat, available K and total K uptake by wheat.