Effect of phosphorus management practices on wheat productivity and soil health in an acid Alfisol
Loading...
Date
2022-10-15
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
palampur
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of phosphorus
management practices on wheat productivity and soil health in an acid Alfisol at experimental
farm of Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi
Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during rabi 2021-22. The soil of the experimental site was silty
clay loam and classified taxonomically as “Typic Hapludalf”. The experiment was carried out
in a randomized block design with nine treatments. Agronomical parameters were recorded
periodically during the experiment. At a time of crop harvest, grain and straw yields were
recorded and nutrient content along with their uptake by the crop were examined after the
plant analysis. Soil samples were collected from surface layer (0 - 0.15 m depth) and were
analyzed for different soil physico- chemical and biological properties. Correlation and
economic analysis were also worked out during the research period. Results of the study
revealed that integrated application of phosphate rich organic manure (PROM) along with
chemical fertilizers i.e., 100 % NK + 50 % P + 1.5 t PROM ha-1
treatment recorded highest
growth and yield attributes, better root growth, maximum yield, highest crude protein content,
nutrients content (P, K and Mg) in grains and total uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe,
Mn, Zn, Cu) by the crop. Available N and P were also recorded highest in this treatment. Soil
properties like water holding capacity, SOC, CEC, DTPA extractable micronutrient cations
and microbial biomass carbon were significantly enhanced and recorded maximum under 100
% NPK + 10 t FYM ha-1
treatment, followed by treatments comprising combined application
of PROM and chemical fertilizers over individual application of chemical fertilizers and
control. Whereas, phosphatase activity was observed highest under 100 % NK + 3 t PROM
ha-1
treatment. Application of 100 % NPK + lime also significantly enhanced Ca content in
wheat grain, exchangeable Ca and Mg content in the soil and increased the soil pH. A
significant and positive correlation was recorded for crop yield, nutrient uptake and protein
content with different soil health parameters, while, bulk density was found to be negatively
correlated. Among different treatments, highest B:C ratio was recorded under 100 % NK + 75
% P + 0.75 t ha-1
PROM treatment and lowest under 100 % NPK + lime. Hence, there was a
notable effect of phosphorus management practices on the productivity, quality, uptake of
nutrients by wheat crop and soil properties in an acid Alfisol, with 100 % NK + 50 % P + 1.5
t PROM ha-1 as the best treatment in the study