Effects of farmyard manure on soil organic carbon stock, the pattern of fertility build-up, and plant growth in ‘Mallika’ mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Abstract

SummaryA field experiment was conducted on mango (Mangifera indica L.) to study the effects of farmyard manure (FYM) on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and on the build-up of fertility over three growing seasons (2006–2007, 2007–2008, and 2008–2009) at Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. Five treatments, including the application of FYM at 5.0 kg plant–1, 7.5 kg plant–1, or 10.0 kg plant–1, the recommended dose of a chemical fertiliser (RDF; N:P:K=75:20:60), and a non-fertilised control, were evaluated in a randomised block design. The results indicated that SOC contents increased significantly in the FYM-treated plots. The highest SOC density (554 g m–2) and stock (5.55 Mg ha–1) were recorded in the treatment with FYM at 10 kg plant–1. The rate of increase in SOC density was highest (193 g m–2 year–1) with FYM at 10 kg plant–1, and lowest in the untreated control (15 g m–2 year–1). Regular addition of FYM had a positive effect on the build-up of soil fertility. However, the greatest increases in soil N, P, K contents were in the 7.5 kg plant–1 FYM treatment (means = 319.9, 19.1, and 270.8 kg ha–1 for N, P, K, respectively). Farmyard manure significantly influenced the growth parameters of mango trees over the three seasons. There was a positive and linear relationship between increasing rates of application of FYM and trunk cross-sectional area.