Author(s):

A Velmurugan and TP Swarnam

Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of enriched manures, inorganic fertilizers and their integrated use on maize-rice cropping system and soil mineral N and organic C pools under rainfed condition. The study comprised seven treatments and three replications in a RBD experiment for two years. The results revealed that yield of maize and rice increased significantly ranging from 48 to 121% due to integrated use of enriched manures and chemical fertilizers over control and application of manures alone. However, plots amended with enriched manures maintained higher total organic carbon, labile carbon, microbial biomass carbon and mineralizable carbon over control and farmers practice. Mineral N and C/N ratio in soil improved significantly with application of 100% NPK followed by enriched compost+50% NPK. Although farmers practice of in-situ residue recycling helps in maintaining soil carbon and recorded 17% higher yield than control but insufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of cereal cropping systems. The effect of enriched organic manures as revealed by principal component analysis was comparable with inorganic fertilizer in terms of yield and soil fertility as indicated by different soil carbon pools. This highlighted the potentials of using enriched organic manures as alternatives to inorganic fertilizers under rainfed and low input systems. This study will be helpful in crafting sustainable nutrient management programs in future to enhance crop productivity and soil organic carbon with minimum nutrient loss.

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