Soil organic carbon and physical properties as affected by long-term application of FYM and inorganic fertilizers in maize–wheat system

The physical quality of the soil, which creates suitable environment for the availability and uptake of the plant nutrients, is generally ignored. Though the effect of organic manures on soil physical quality has been widely appreciated but that of inorganic fertilizers is studied to a lesser extent. The present study carried out during 2004–2005 aims to characterize the soil physical quality in relation to the long-term (32 years) application of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers in maize (Zea mays L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. The treatments during both maize and wheat crops were (i) farm yard manure at 20 Mg ha−1 (FYM), (ii) nitrogen at 100 kg ha−1 (N100), (iii) nitrogen and phosphorus at 100 and 50 kg ha−1 (N100P50) and (iv) nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at 100, 50 and 50 kg ha−1 (N100P50K50) in addition to (v) control treatment, i.e. without any fertilizer and/or FYM addition. The treatments were replicated four times in randomized block design in a sandy loam (Typic Ustipsament, non-saline, slightly alkaline). Bulk density, organic carbon content, structural stability of soil aggregates and water holding capacity of 0–60 cm soil layer were measured.The application of FYM to maize increased the organic carbon by 16% whereas N100P50K50 increased it by 21%. The increased organic matter with both FYM and N100P50K50 increased the total soil porosity and decreased soil bulk density from that in control plots. The mean weight diameter (MWD) was highest in FYM plots of both maize (0.160 mm) and wheat (0.172 mm) closely followed by that in N100P50K50 plots. The effect of FYM in increasing the MWD decreased with soil depth. The average water holding capacity (WHC) was higher with FYM and N100P50K50 application than that in control plots. The MWD, total porosity, OC content and WHC improved with the application of balanced application of fertilizers. The grain yield and uptake of N, P and K by both maize and wheat were higher with the application of FYM and inorganic fertilizers than in control plots. The uptake of N, P and K increased with the application of FYM and N100P50K50.