View article

The physical quality of the soil, which creates suitable environment for the availability and uptake of the plant nutrients, is generally ignored. Though the effect of organic manures on soil physical quality has been widely appreciated but that of inorganic fertilizers is studied to a lesser extent. The present study carried out during 2004–2005 aims to characterize the soil physical quality in relation to the long-term (32 years) application of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers in maize (Zea mays L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. The treatments during both maize and wheat crops were (i) farm yard manure at 20Mgha⁻¹ (FYM), (ii) nitrogen at 100kgha⁻¹ (N₁₀₀), (iii) nitrogen and phosphorus at 100 and 50kgha⁻¹ (N₁₀₀P₅₀) and (iv) nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at 100, 50 and 50kgha⁻¹ (N₁₀₀P₅₀K₅₀) in addition to (v) control treatment, i.e. without any fertilizer and/or FYM addition. The …