Effect of farming practices on phosphorous and potassium transformation in soil under mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh
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Date
2023-01-12
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CSK HPKV, Palampur
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “The effect of farming practices on phosphorous and
potassium transformation in soil under mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” was carried
out in an on-going long-term experiment on different farming practices viz., organic farming,
Subhash Palekar natural farming, inorganic farming and integrated nutrient management
system in okra-pea cropping sequence, initiated during the year 2018 at Holta Organic Farm,
Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSK HPKV Palampur. Soil of the
experimental area was silty clay loam in texture and acidic in reaction (pH- 5.12). Soil
samples were collected from two depths (0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m) after the harvest of rabi
pea, 2021-22 from each plot. A representative soil sample from the adjoining grassland was
also collected to be considered as reference. Collected samples were analyzed to determine
physical (bulk density, water holding capacity, and water stable aggregates), chemical (pH,
electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, available N, P, K and
micro-nutrient cations) and biological parameters (dehydrogenase activity and earthworm
count). Fractional study of phosphorous and potassium transformation in soil was also carried
out. The data so obtained were analyzed in randomized block design for further presentation
to meet out the objectives. The results revealed that different farming practices continuously
for four consecutive years significantly influenced the phosphorous and potassium fractions
along with soil health parameters at both the depths. Improved physical and chemical
properties were witnessed under organic farming system, whereas, biological properties
improved appreciably under natural farming system at both surface and sub-surface layers as
compared to other farming practices studied. System productivity of okra-pea sequence was
recorded maximum (15.7 t ha-1
) under integrated nutrient management followed by organic
(14.9 t ha-1
), whereas, lowest system productivity (10.3 t ha-1
) was observed under Subhash
Palekar natural farming system. All the phosphorous and potassium fractions were
significantly and positively correlated with system productivity.