Influence of integrated plant nutrient supply system on soil quality restoration in a red and laterite soil: Einfluss integrierter pflanzennährstoff versorgung auf die wiederherstellun der bodenqualität von rotem und laterit boden

Abstract

Unsuitable agricultural practices together with adverse environmental conditions have led to degradation of soil in many red and laterite zones of West Bengal, India. One method of recovering degraded soils in these regions is to add organic matter in order to improve soil characteristics, thereby enhancing biogeochemical nutrient cycles. The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer amendments is often studied shortly after addition of a single dose to the soil, but less is known about the long-term effects of amendments. We conducted a study to determine the effects of the long-term addition of organic and inorganic fertilizer amendments either alone or in combination on soil physico-chemical and microbiological properties. Surface soil samples were taken from an experimental field site of the Regional Research Station, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Birbhum district, West Bengal, India in December 2000 after 2 years of experiment. Organic supplements (decomposed cow manure and vermicompost) either alone or in combination improved soil quality parameters such as water holding capacity, total organic C, microbial biomass C and soil respiration on comparison to chemical fertilizers and no input. Among the different treatment combinations, decomposed cow manure, along with chemical fertilizer gave significantly higher organic C (1.66%), microbial biomass C (289 μg/g oven dry soil) and substrate induced soil respiration (16.27 μg CO2/g oven dry soil/h) than the others. The results clearly indicate that the incorporation of organic supplements seemed to have a greater positive effect on the soil characteristics studied and is beneficial for recovering degraded soils.