Author(s):

Shikha Verma, Prabhakar Mahapatra, Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Asha Kumari Sinha, Asisan Minz, Kumari Prerna Deep, Suryanshu Yadav, Jyotiranjan Pal and Arun Eby Palatty

Abstract: The present study was undertaken on the soil of on-going permanent manurial trial (PMT) during 2015-16, with maize-wheat cropping system, initiated in 1956 at Birsa Agricultural University in Jharkhand state, India. The selected treatments were T₁-N₀P₀K₀(control), T₂-100%N, T₃-100%NP, T₄-100%NPK, T₅-100%NPK+Lime, T₆-Farmyard manure (FYM) alone, T₇- _- ½ (N+FYM) + P _(A-X/2) + K _(B-Y/2) (Integrated nutrient management; INM) and T₈-Lime+N. Surface soil samples from all the treatments were collected and biological properties [soil microbial population, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and potential mineralizable nitrogen (PMN)] were determined and compared with the sustainability of the maize-wheat cropping system in terms of sustainable yield index (SYI). Population of bacteria and actinomycetes were favoured by application of lime/FYM in conjunction with 100% NPK as well as by FYM alone while application of<strong> </strong>only inorganic fertilizers resulted in higher fungal population. Application of lime or FYM in conjunction with NPK recorded increased SMBC, DHA and PMN over control. Continuous use of imbalanced chemical fertilizer particularly through urea alone had deleterious effect on biological properties of the soil. Highest SYI was recorded in 100%NPK+ lime treatment (0.43) followed by T7 receiving integrated application of FYM and NPK (0.36). 100% N treatment recorded the lowest and negative SYI (-0.03). The study revealed that integrated application of lime/FYM along with balanced chemical fertilizers for cereal-cereal cropping system in acid soil could be followed for maintaining the sustainability of the system as well for maintaining the soil biological health.

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