An Asian Journal of Soil ScienceVolume 8 | Issue 2 | December, 2013 | 487-490

Influence of nutrient management systems on soilproperties and productivity under soybean-safflower cropping sequence of Vertisol

S.V. CHIKSHE, A.S. DHAWAN AND A.L. DHAMAK

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

MEMBERS OF RESEARCH FORUM :

Received : 19.08.2013; Revised :18.11.2013;Accepted : 26.11.2013

SummaryTo understand the effect of nutrient supply system on soil properties, soil samples were drawn from the long-term field experiment in progress on a Vertisol at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, MKV, Parbhaniunder All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseed. The rotation followed was soybean-safflower andtreatments included various combinations of N, P, PSB and Azotobacter. At the end of 2nd crop sequence, soilquality status improved upon initial status with indication of significantly higher organic carbon and availableN, P, K. However, no marked changes on soil bulk density, pH and EC over the years were noticed.

Key words : Nutrient management system, Soybean-safflower, Soil properties, Vertisol, Yield

How to cite this article : Chikshe, S.V., Dhawan, A.S. and Dhamak, A.L. (2013). Influence of nutrient managementsystems on soil properties and productivity under soybean-safflower cropping sequence of Vertisol. Asian J. SoilSci., 8(2): 487-490.

Research Article

Corresponding author :A.L. DHAMAK, Department of SoilScience and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Agriculture, MarathwadaKrishi Vidyapeeth, PARBHANI (M.S.)INDIAEmail: anil.ldhamak@gmail.com

Co-authors :S.V. CHIKSHE AND A.S. DHAWAN,Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth,PARBHANI (M.S.) INDIA

IntroductionLegume-oilseed cropping system is given greater

emphasis in Indian agriculture because of increasing evidencethat this practice gives stabilized yield advantage easily.Normally both crops i.e. soybean and safflower are grown asa major Kharif and Rabi crops, respectively. Low soil fertilityand inadequate manuring are the major causes of low yieldsof both the crops. Chemical fertilizers/organic manures alonecannot sustain the desired levels of crop production undercontinuous farming.

Integrated soil fertility management using fertilizers,biofertilizers, manures including residues of soil building cropwill facilitate restoration, improvement and maintenance ofsoil fertility which will guarantee agricultural production athigh levels with high quality produce as well. Long term fieldexperiments are precise monitoring tools of changes in soilfertility and productivity. Additionally, it has preformedinfluenced on eco-system sustainability. Keeping this in view,soil samples from All India Coordinated Research Project on

Oilseed at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture,Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani were drawn to studythe influence of nutrient supply system on physico-chemicalproperties of the soil.

Resource and Research MethodsA field experiment on soybean-safflower cropping

sequence was established in 2002-03 and 2003-04 at AgronomyFarm, College of Agriculture, MKV, Parbhani under All IndiaCoordinated Research Project on Oilseed. The soil of theexperiment field was clayey (52.30%) having pH 7.72, EC 0.24dSm-1, organic C (4.60 g kg-1), available N (171.42 kg ha-1)available P (13.26 kg ha-1) and available K (305.60 kg ha-1).The details of various treatments applied in kg ha-1 to soybeanand safflower are as follows ; T

1 = No NP and No NP; T

2 = 50%

NP and 50% NP; T3 = 50% NP and 100% NP; T

4 = 100% NP

and 50% NP; T5 = 100% and 100% NP; T

6 = 100% NP and 50%

N + 100% P; T7 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + 100% P; T

8 =

100% NP and 50% N + Azotobacter + 100% P; T9 = 100% NP

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE 488 Asian J. Soil Sci., (Dec., 2013) 8 (2) :

and Azotobacter + PSB; T10

= 100% NP and 50% NP +Azotobacter + PSB; T

11 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 100% NP

and T12

= 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 50% NP + Azotobacter +PSB, respectively. The experiment was laid out in a randomizedblock design with three replications in a fixed layout for twoyears. The recommended dose of fertilizer for soybean andsafflower was 30-60-30 and 60-40-00, respectively. Theamounts of N, P and K added through 18:18:10, singlesuperphosphate and MOP to soybean crop whereas forsafflower crop N and P were applied through urea and singlesuperphosphate, respectively. The Azotobacter and PSB wasapplied through seed treatments @ 250 gm kg-1 of seed. Theplot size was 6 m x 4.5 m.

Soil samples from all three replications (0 – 0.15 m)were taken before starting the experiment and from eachtreatment after harvest of soybean crop (Kharif 2003) ofthe year 2003-04 and safflower crop (2004) of the year 2003-04.The soil samples were air dried and ground to pass through a2 mm sieve and were analyzed for pH and EC in 1 : 2.5 soil :water suspension; organic carbon by the Walkley and Black(1934) method; available N by KMnO

4 oxidized method

(Subbiah and Asija, 1956); available P by Olsen method (Olsenet al., 1954), available K by extraction with 1 N ammoniumacetate (NH

4OAC) soil at pH 7.0 (Jackson, 1967). All

observations recorded on soybean-safflower yield and soilproperties were analyzed statistically.

Research Findings and DiscussionThe results obtained from the present investigation as

well as relevant discussion have been summarized underfollowing heads :

Bulk density :Bulk density, it ranged from 1.15 (T

1) to 1.21 (T

5) Mgm-3

after harvest of soybean and 1.17 (T2) to 1.23 (T

9) Mgm-3 after

harvest of safflower. The bulk density was not significantlyaffected by various nutrient sources and their combination.This may be because of the fact that bulk density of soilhardly undergoes a change in short run. These results are inaccordance with the findings of Chaphale et al. (2000).

Soil reaction and electrical conductivity :A perusal of data in Table 1 showed that pH of the soil

after harvest of soybean as well as safflower crops did notshow any visible trend under different treatments. Continuoususe of chemical fertilizers and their combination withinorganics resulted in non significant change in soil pH overthe years because this soil is highly buffered due to itscalcareous nature. Similar results were reported by Thakurand Sharma (1988). There was no much variation in electricalconductivity due to different nutrient management treatments.Brar and Singh (1986) also reported the same while comparingthe different nutrient management treatments even after 8 yearsof experimentation.

Organic carbon content :Perusal of data in Table 1 revealed that the organic carbon

ranged from 3.95 (T1) to 5.55 (T

12) g kg-1 after harvest of

soybean and 4.10 (T1) to 5.70 (T

12) g kg-1 after harvest of

safflower. The increase in organic carbon might be due to lotof litter tall and other organic matter contributed by soybean.Similar results were observed due to inclusion of legumes inthe cropping system (Ganure, 1991). Kanwar and Prihar (1982)indicated that continuous application of inorganic fertilizers

Table 1: Effect of nutrient management on pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon after harvest of soybean and safflower crop (2003-04)

Bulk density (Mgm-3) pHElectrical

conductivity (dsm-1)Organic carbon

(g kg-1)TreatmentsSoybean Safflower Soybean Safflower Soybean Safflower Soybean Safflower

T1 = No NP and No NP 1.15 1.19 7.76 7.80 0.22 0.26 3.95 4.10

T2 = 50% NP and 50% NP 1.17 1.17 7.80 7.82 0.24 0.27 4.90 5.05

T3 = 50% NP and 100% NP 1.20 1.21 7.82 7.85 0.23 0.25 5.00 5.15

T4 = 100% NP and 50% NP 1.19 1.20 7.85 7.88 0.26 0.28 5.10 5.30

T5 = 100% and 100% NP 1.21 1.19 7.90 7.91 0.27 0.29 5.40 5.55

T6 = 100% NP and 50% N + 100% P 1.18 1.21 7.88 7.90 0.25 0.27 5.45 5.60

T7 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + 100% P 1.16 1.22 7.88 7.95 0.23 0.25 4.95 5.20

T8 = 100% NP and 50% N + Azotobacter + 100% P 1.19 1.19 7.86 7.89 0.25 0.28 5.35 5.50

T9 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + PSB 1.16 1.23 7.82 7.91 0.27 0.29 5.40 5.60

T10 = 100% NP and 50% NP + Azotobacter + PSB 1.20 1.19 7.91 7.98 0.25 0.27 5.40 5.60

T11 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 100% NP 1.19 1.20 7.78 7.88 0.22 0.24 5.50 5.65

T12 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 50% NP +

Azotobacter + PSB

1.16 1.17 7.80 7.89 0.23 0.26 5.55 5.70

SE ± 0.016 0.018 0.041 0.039 0.016 0.016 0.19 0.10

CD NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.56 0.31

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with organic material increased the organic carbon. Thesefindings indicate that organic carbon content plays animportant role in maintaining and improving soil health (Tiwariet al., 2002).

Available nitrogen :The available nitrogen content ranged between 141.12

(T1) to 200.74 (T

7) kg ha-1 after the harvest of soybean and

139.03 (T1) to 206.98 (T

7) kg ha-1 after the harvest of safflower

(Table 2). It is observed that treatment T4 to T

12 are almost at

par with each other and superior over T1 (control). In this

treatment, 100% N was applied to Kharif soybean whereas forRabi safflower 50% was reduced and substituted by biofertilizer

like Azotobacter. This was resulted into optimizing the Nsupply and also be due to residual and cumulative effect of Nsupply as well as residue recycling of Kharif soybean whichis easily decomposed during the subsequent Rabi season.These results are in line with findings of Bhatnagar et al.(1996).

Available phosphorus :The results from this experiment indicate (Table 2) that

available phosphorus status in treated plot was significantlyhigher over the control. The available P status among thetreated plots was found to be at par with each other after theharvest of soybean as well as safflower. The residual and

Table 2 : Effect of nutrient management of available nutrient content (Kgha-1) of soil after harvest of soybean and safflower crop (2003-04)Available N Available P Available K

TreatmentsSoybean Safflower Soybean Safflower Soybean Safflower

T1 = No NP and No NP 141.12 139.03 9.25 9.10 304.26 301.46

T2 = 50% NP and 50% NP 179.81 185.04 15.83 18.66 317.33 313.60

T3 = 50% NP and 100% NP 177.71 183.99 16.72 20.15 315.46 312.67

T4 = 100% NP and 50% NP 196.55 199.68 19.86 21.95 323.87 321.07

T5 = 100% and 100% NP 193.41 197.66 18.37 22.84 321.07 320.13

T6 = 100% NP and 50% N + 100% P 197.60 204.89 18.51 20.75 317.33 315.47

T7 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + 100% P 200.74 206.98 17.92 20.90 318.27 316.40

T8 = 100% NP and 50% N + Azotobacter + 100% P 197.60 203.86 18.96 2180 322.00 320.13

T9 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + PSB 194.46 196.55 18.52 19.86 315.47 312.67

T10 = 100% NP and 50% NP + Azotobacter + PSB 198.65 201.77 19.26 21.05 322.93 316.40

T11 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 100% NP 194.46 200.72 17.17 21.95 323.87 321.06

T12 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 50% NP + Azotobacter +

PSB

199.69 203.84 17.32 21.80 325.73 322.00

SE ± 3.20 4.86 0.89 0.94 2.90 2.72

CD 9.37 14.25 2.62 2.80 8.49 7.97

Table 3 : Effect of nutrient management on grain and straw yield (kg ha-1) of soybean and safflower crop (mean of two year)Soybean Safflower

TreatmentsGrain yield Straw yield Grain yield Straw yield

T1 = No NP and No NP 1694.7 2340.1 1144.8 2255.9*

T2 = 50% NP and 50% NP 1912.2 2638.8 1388.9 2883.0

T3 = 50% NP and 100% NP 1933.2 2668.3 1597.9 3354.4

T4 = 100% NP and 50% NP 2239.1 3047.2 1425.3 2963.0

T5 = 100% and 100% NP 2206.8 3039.4 1701.8 3651.8

T6 = 100% NP and 50% N + 100% P 2190.0 2921.8 1395.9 2819.8

T7 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + 100% P 2161.9 2984.0 1245.8 2491.5

T8 = 100% NP and 50% N + Azotobacter + 100% P 2180.1 3005.1 1418.4 2946.1

T9 = 100% NP and Azotobacter + PSB 2157.7 2979.8 1275.2 2457.9

T10 = 100% NP and 50% NP + Azotobacter + PSB 2164.7 2992.4 1498.3 3076.6

T11 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 100% NP 2084.8 2874.6 1599.3 3367.0

T12 = 100% N + 50% P + PSB and 50% NP + Azotobacter + PSB 2115.6 2925.1 1506.8 3055.5

SE ± 49.6 68.3 54.7 93.5

CD 137.2 212.1 151.4 290.7

INFLUENCE OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON SOIL PROPERTIES & PRODUCTIVITY UNDER SOYBEAN-SAFFLOWER CROPPING SEQUENCE OF Vertisol

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cumulative effect of applied nutrients in a cropping systemcoupled with crop residues recycled in cropping system, it isnot necessary to apply 100% recommended dose ofphosphorus to both the crops. Integrating the differentsources of plant nutrients like chemical fertilizers withphosphate solubilizing bacterial culture and crop residuerecycling, phosphorus dose to either of the crops in thecropping system can be reduced to half without causingsignificant reduction in available P level. Motsra and Mann(1992) found the complimentary effect of use of PSB cultureand organic manures in maintaining higher levels of availableP status. Similar trend on available P was reported by Bellakiand Badanur (1997).

Available potassium :The available potassium status is presented in Table 2.

It indicates that the significant reduction of availablepotassium in control treatment over the treated. Among thetreated plot, the available K was found to be at par after harvestof soybean as well as safflower. There was a uniformapplication of 30 kg potassium per hectare to soybean as arecommended dose of the crops whatever variation wasobserved, it could be attributed to the variation in biomassharvested and crop residues recycled as a result of N and Pmanagement among the treated plots as well as control plots.The similar findings were also reported by Bellaki and Badanur(1997).

Yield :Data presented in Table 3 show that so far as yield of

soybean and safflower are concerned, the treatment effectwas significant over the control. The outstanding treatmentswere T

4 and T

5 for soybean (grain + straw) and safflower,

respectively. Which has received 100% recommended doseof N and P through chemical fertilizer but these treatments arestatistically at par with each other. From the data, it is revealedthat for optimization and economization of nitrogen andphosphorus in a cropping sequence like soybean-safflower,an application of 100% NP through chemical fertilizer can beskipped and replaced by 50% P + PSB or 50% N + Azotobacteri.e. 50% dose is reduced by 50% which is supplemented bythe biofertilizers like PSB and Azotobacter to one of the cropsin the sequence with scarifying the yield levels. Similar resultswere also observed by Nagar et al. (1993) and Deshmukh etal. (1995).

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integrated nutrient on properties of Vertisol under dryland agriculture.J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 45(3): 438-422.

Bhatnagar, P.S., Joshi, O.P., Shatia, U.S., Billore, S.D. and A. Ramesh(1996). Soybean based cropping system in Indian – A Review. J.Oilseeds Res., 13(1): 1-6.

Brar, S.P.S. and Singh, B. (1986). Intensive cultivation and soil fertility.Indian Fmg., 36(3) : 3-5.

Chaphale, S.D., Chaphale, B.S., Yerne, A.Z. and Lanjewar, A.D.(2000). Effect of green manuring on soil properties and yieldperformance of rice. J. Soils & Crops, 10(1) : 136-140.

Deshmukh, S.D., Wahane, D.V., Gaikwad, S.S. and Puranik, R.B.(1995). Effect of presmud cake and superphosphate as a source ofP on yield and nutrient uptake by soybean. Abstract of Seminarheld at MPKV, Rahuri on INM, pp : 13.

Ganure (1991). Studies on oilseed based cropping sequences inrelation to soil fertility, crop productivity and quality of grains.Ph.D. Thesis, MAU, Parbhani (India).

Jackson, M.L. (1967). Soil chemical analysis. Prantice Hall of India,New Delhi, INDIA.

Kanwar, J.S. and Prihar, S.S. (1982). Effect of continuous applicationof manure and fertilizer of some physico-chemical properties ofPunjab soils. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 10 : 242-248.

Motsra, M.R. and Mann, J.S. (1992). Soil fertility management forsustained crops production with special reference to biofertilizers.Paper presented on the occasion of National symposium on Resourcemanagement for sustained crop production held at RAU, Bikaner,pp : 25-28.

Nayar, R.P., Mali, G.C. and Lal, P. (1993). Effect of P and S on yieldand chemical composition of soybean in Vertisols. J. Indian Soc.Soil Sci., 41(2) : 385-386.

Olsen, S.R., Cole, C.V., Frank, S.W. and Dean, L.A. (1954).Estimation of available phosphorus by extraction with sodiumbicarbonate. United Sates Department of Agriculture CircularNumber, 939 : 19.

Subbiah, B.V. and Asija, G.L. (1956). A rapid method for theestimation of available nitrogen in soil. Curr. Sci., 25: 259-260.

Thakur, H.C. and Sharma, N.N. (1988). Effects of various croppingpatterns including cereals, pulses and oilseeds on chemical propertiesof soil. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 58(9) : 708-709.

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of ExcellenceYear

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