Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

Deeksha Choudhary ¹, S. P. Dixit ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

The effect of Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) based fertilizer application on physical properties of soil was evaluated in an acid Alfisols during rabi season (2017-18). The long term field experiment was initiated since kharif season, 2007 at Experimental Farm, Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, consisting of eight treatments, replicated thrice. The results indicated that the STCR based treatment with target 35 q/ha along with application of FYM @ 5 t/ha recorded lowest bulk density (1.22 Mg/m³) and particle density (2.52 Mg/m³). The treatment with target yield 25 q/ha along with application of FYM @ 5 t/ha ( 51.5 per cent) and treatment with target yield 25 q/ha (50.3 per cent) were statistically at par with each other in reference to porosity. The lowest water holding capacity was found in control (48.1 per cent) followed by general recommended dose (49.5 per cent). Target yield 35 q/ha with FYM @ 5 t/ha recorded highest porosity (51.7 per cent) as well as water holding capacity (53.6 per cent). The long term study based on STCR clearly demonstrated that prescription based fertilizer application not only improved the physical properties of soil but also saved the fertilizer without impairing soil health.

Keywords

Bulk Density, Fertilizer, Particle Density, Porosity and Water Holding Capacity.

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