Effect of Long-Term Application of P, K and FYM on Some Soil Chemical Properties

Results of a long-term experiment laid out to study the effect of application of 0, 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅ and 30 kg K₂O and 0 and 15 tonnes FYM/ha in different combinations in three phases of manuring (only in kharif, only in rabi and both in rabi and kharif) to bajra-wheat rotation since 1967–68 revealed that pH and EC of the soil remained more or less unaffected under various treatments. Organic carbon content of the soil increased by 0.033, 0.042 and 0.143% with 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅ and 15 tonnes FYM/ha, respectively. Total and available N increased significantly with application of phosphate and FYM but not with K. Available P increased by 3 and 4 ppm with 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha, respectively. FYM had a positive, while K had no effect on the available P content of soil. Available K increased with FYM and K application but not with phosphate Plots under both rabi and kharif manuring were richer in org.C, available N, P and K than those manured once in a year.