Impact of different farming practices on soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh
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Date
2023-01-01
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CSK HPKV, Palampur
Abstract
The present study entitled “Impact of different farming practices on soil organic carbon and
nitrogen fractions under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in an on going long-term field experiment on different farming practices (organic farming, zero budget
natural farming, inorganic farming and integrated nutrient management) in okra- pea cropping
system at Holta Organic Farm, Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming,
College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur. Soil of the experimental site was silty clay
loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available phosphorus and
potassium and low in available nitrogen. Surface (0-0.15m) and subsurface (0.15-0.30 m) soil
samples were collected from each plot after harvest of the pea crop. An additionalsoil sample
was drawn from the adjoining undisturbed grassland to be taken as reference. Soil samples
were analyzed for various physical, chemical and biological parameters, organic carbon and
nitrogen fractions using standard analytical procedures. Data recorded was analyzed in
randomized block design to meet out the research objective. Highest system productivity
(15.7 t ha-1
) was recorded in INM practices followed by organic farming (14.9 t ha-1
). The
continuous application of organic manure especially in organic and INM farming systems
significantly improved the soil physical, chemical, biological properties and different
fractions of soil organic carbon and nitrogen. The significantly higher available N, P, K, S
exchangeable Ca & Mg and water holding capacity were noted under organic farming
practices with values of 216 and 251, 22.5 and 20.8, 195 and 165, 26.8 and 22.1 kg ha-1
; 3.19
and 2.20, 1.31 and 0.63 c mol (p+) kg-1
and 58.9 and 55.4 % in both surface as well as
subsurface depths, respectively, whereas, soil bulk and particle density was found to be lowest
in organic farming practices with values of 1.19 & 1.21 and 2.21 & 2.24 g cm-3
in surface and
subsurface soil depths, respectively. The dominance of soil organic carbon fractions followed
the order as Fraction1 (very labile) > Fraction4 (non- labile) > Fraction3 (less labile) >
Fraction2 (labile), with the highest value of all fractions corresponding to organic farming
practices. Inorganic nitrogen fractions (NH4 & NO3-N) were highest in INM, whereas,
organic nitrogen fractions were recorded highest in organic farming practices in both surface
and subsurface depths. All carbon and nitrogen fractions except non-hydrolysable-N were
found positively and significantly correlated with system productivity and soil health
parameters like bulk density, particle density, water holding capacity, organic carbon,
available N, P, K S exchangeable Ca & Mg, microbial count and microbial biomass carbon &
microbial biomass nitrogen.