Department of Soil Science, Ranchi Agricultural College, Kanke, Ranchi, Bihar
*Present address: Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, IARI, New Delhi
In a field experiment continuing for six years on an acidic, red silty clay loam soil, balanced use of fertilizers proved highly effective in sustaining the level of production, whereas the treatment of nitrogen alone resulted in very poor yield of potato, wheat and soybean and in case of the latter two crops the yield was even less than no fertilizer application. Highly beneficial role of phosphorus was observed on the yield as well as nutrient composition and uptake of all the crops in the rotation. Effect of potassium was significant on potato and of farmyard manure on soybean and potato. Liming significantly benefitted the yield and nutrient uptake of soybean only. In general, NPK fertilizers in combination with FYM and lime recorded the maximum removal of nutrients by the crops. No differential effect of hand weeding and chemical control was observed either on crop yield or nutrient uptake.
Long-term fertilizer use, cropping system, chemical fertilizers, farmyard manure, liming, nutrient uptake by crops, weed control
