Effect of different nutrient sources on yield and biochemical properties of soil under rice–wheat cropping sequence in middle Gangetic alluvial plain

Abstract

In the present agricultural scenario, balanced nutrients application is a key to improved crop production without deteriorating soil health. Therefore, from environmental concern, there is need to supplement a part of chemical fertilizers with locally available organics. To attain this objective, field experiments were conducted to study the effect of sewage sludge (SS), vermicompost (VC) and Sesbania (SB) using them by 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (RDF) and combination of customized fertilizers (CF) for rice and wheat separately and also sulfur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) with RDF. Among the nutrient sources, the maximum grain yield in rice (4.92 t ha−1) recorded with 100% RDF applied along with S, Zn and B whereas in wheat (4.64 t ha−1), it was with CF. Total removal of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), S and B were higher by rice crop than that of wheat. The treatment with 75% RDF along with VC had significantly higher water holding capacity and lower bulk density of post-harvest soil (PHS) during both years. Organic carbon, available N, P, K content in PHS increased significantly by application of 100% RDF along with S, Zn, B and CF for both years. Application of S, Zn and B resulted a significant increase in available S and B content in soil over 100% RDF. Application of VC significantly increased the bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes population in PHS.