Author(s):

D Jayanthi, M Malarkodi, B Gokila and R Shanmugasundaram

Abstract: Cereal based cropping sequences are major cropping systems in India. Maize - finger millet cropping system is being followed by 44 years of continuous and long term fertilization and also it has a significant impact on yield and soil health. This investigation evaluated the effect of long term fertilizer application and intensive cropping on yield, biomass, soil organic carbon, soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial biomass nitrogen, and nutrient uptake of maize in sandy clay loam (Vertic Ustropept) soil. Application of inorganic NPK fertilizers at graded levels from 50 to 150% NPK increased the yield (Grain, Stover & Shell) root biomass, soil available major (N, P & K) and micro nutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn & Fe) SOC, SMBC and SMBN in maize. Under the integrated nutrient management practice (100% NPK+FYM), the percent increased grain yield was 15.66 in maize over 100 % NPK indicating that INM is the best way of maximize the yield continuously in intensive cropping systems. NPK + FYM (INM) treatment might have contributed directly in appreciable amounts of major and micronutrient to the soil and it would increase the growth and yield of maize. Continuous addition of N alone did not influence the soil available N and other nutrients instead reduced available N when compared to NPK treatments. Addition of fertilizer P in progressive levels such as 50, 100 and 150% NPK levels has increased the soil available P (21.02 % in maize) over 100 per cent NPK. Also, addition of different levels of K has improved the soil available K (14.13 % in maize) when compared to 100 % NPK. Addition of Zn along with NPK treatments alone showed the higher Zn and other treatments has deficient of Zn including Mn, Cu and Fe but slightly higher in INM plot in maize. SOC, SMBC and SMBN were higher in NPK + FYM treatments than other inorganic fertilized plots.

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