Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Anupam Dube, Ranjan Laik, Shankar Jha, Shiv Shanker Prashad Jha and Santosh Kumar Singh

Abstract:
It is well known that chemical fertilizers have negative long-term impacts on soils and the environment. Unbalanced nutrients in soils may lead to unproductive soils over time. Using only chemical fertilizers cannot ensure sustainable crop production, just as using only organic manure cannot increase crop productivity. To ensure high yields over an extended period of time, crop production must be boosted through the use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted under the rice-wheat cropping system in Bihar region in order to study the long-term effects of both organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil chemical properties at in an on-going (since 1988–1989) under the programme AICRP-STCR at Dr. RPCAU Pusa, Samastipur Bihar, India. A pH of 7.83 to 8.35, an organic carbon concentration between 0.21 and 0.30 dSm^-1, and a percent of 0.44 to 0.78 were found in the surface layer, while 8.63 to 8.15, 0.18 to 0.25 dSm^-1, and 0.34 to 0.65 percent were found in the subsurface layer. A combination of NPK and organic residues increased pH, EC, and organic carbon. As compared to the control, available N, P2O5, and K2O were significantly higher. N and P2O5, K2O were found in concentrations of 134 to 416 kg ha^-1 and 13.9 to 27.8 kg ha-1, 115 to 225 kg ha^-1, respectively, at the surface layer, but were found in concentrations of 149 to 357 kg ha^-1 and 10.9 to 22 kg ha^-1, 97 to 150 kg ha^-1, respectively, at the subsurface layer.