The long-term effect of fertilizers and manures on response of cotton-wheat rotation and changes in physical and chemical properties of a sandy loam Typic Torripsamment was studied from 1984 to 1992. The results revealed that nitrogen application alone considerably increased the seed cotton and wheat grain yield. Neither phosphorus nor potash application had any significant effect on seed cotton and wheat grain yield. Combined application of phosphorus and nitrogen additively increased cotton and wheat yields. Potash application non-significantly increased seed cotton yield and significantly increased grain yield of wheat over NP application. Full dose of NPK gave the highest seed cotton and grain yield of wheat. Unbalanced use of fertilizers depleted the soil fertility. Application of FYM improved the soil properties. Full dose of NPK was found to be on a par with 1/2 FYM + 1/2 NPK dose in influencing cotton yield.
Continuous cropping and fertilization, crop yields, soil properties
