Abstract
Nutrient use efficiency is reported as a strong indicator of the buildup soil nutrient status for nutritional security of crops through an integrated nutrient management approach under a rice-wheat system. The data revealed that integrated application of manures and fertilizers reported maximum organic carbon (0.39%) in the treatment receiving 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) + farmyard manure and lowering the pH to 6.39. The maximum available N (360.8 kg ha−1) was found in 100% RDF + press mud treatment; available P (66.30 kg ha−1) was found in 75% RDF + poultry manure; and available K, Zn, Cu, and Fe (226.3 kg ha−1 and 2.220, 0.732, and 36.87 mg kg−1, respectively) in 100% RDF + farmyard manure treatments. Similarly, total macro- and micronutrient content in soil increased with the addition of organic manures alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers. The highest agronomic efficiency and utilization efficiency of nitrogen (41.83 and 102.55 kg kg−1, respectively) and phosphorous (83.57 and 204.9 kg kg−1, respectively) were recorded in the treatment receiving 75% RDF + poultry manure. This study concluded that the integrated application of manures and chemical fertilizers is a must for improving soil nutrient status and nutrient use efficiency and ultimately enhances nutritional security under a rice-wheat system.
Highlights
The rapid rate of increase in global population is exerting pressure on land resources due to intensive cultivation practices, which are degrading the soil
The results indicated that the integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures was better at improving agronomic efficiency (AE) compared to the sole applications of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and 100% RDF
The results reported that physiological and agro-physiological efficiencies decreased with the addition of organic manures along with chemical fertilizers, which might be due to the crop needs being satisfied with the lower dose of nutrients, which were supplied without organic manures
Summary
The rapid rate of increase in global population is exerting pressure on land resources due to intensive cultivation practices, which are degrading the soil. There is an urgent need to maintain soil health and quality for sustainable land production [1]. The improper and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers deteriorated soil health by producing serious effects on soil microorganisms, soil enzymatic activities, the atmosphere, and groundwater quality, causing health hazards and climate change [3]. It has declined nutrient-use efficiency, making the consumption of chemical fertilizers uneconomical
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