Long-term application of fertilizers and manure on soil properties and yield of groundnut grown on Alfisols

Abstract

An experiment on long-term application of fertilizers and manure in groundnut grown on Alfisol was initiated in the year 1981 during kharif season at ANGRAU, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The same experiment was used for the present investigation to study the influence of continuous application of fertilizer and manure on various soil properties during kharif, 2023.The experiment consisted of eleven treatments, however, only seven treatments were selected for the present research study, each replicated four times in a randomized block design. The treatments include T1: Control (no manure or fertilizers), T2: Farm yard manure @ 5 t ha-1 (once in 3 years), T3: 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1, T4: 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1, T5: 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 +250 kg gypsum ha-1 (top dressing), T6: 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 + lime 100 kg ha-1 (top dressing), T7: 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 +250 kg gypsum ha-1 (top dressing) +ZnSO4 25 kg ha-1 once in 3years (as basal, once in 3 years).The physical, physico-chemical and chemical properties were estimated in soil at pre-sowing and post-harvest of groundnut crop. The results revealed that long-term application of fertilizers and manure did not show any significant influence on soil properties at pre-sowing of groundnut crop. However, the influence was significant in post -harvest soils. The bulk density was significantly decresead in the application of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 once in 3 years (T2) (1.34 Mg m-3) and highest bulk density was recorded in control (1.48 Mg m-3).Similarly, the treatments showed the highest aggregate stability in FYM application (T2) (30.41%) followed by 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 (T4) (28.69%) and the lowest was recorded in control (T1).The long-term application of fertilizer caused acidity in all the treatments but change in pH was minimum with FYM application followed by control. The lowest pH of 6.20 was recorded in 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 +250 kg gypsum ha-1 (top dressing) (T5). However, the treatment did not show any influence in soluble salts content. The organic carbon was significantly influence in 20 kg N ha-1 + 10 kg P ha-1 +25 kg K ha-1 +250 kg gypsum ha-1 (top dressing), + ZnSO4 25 kg ha-1 once in 3years (T7) (0.39%) followed by FYM @ 5 t ha-1 once in 3 years (T2) (0.38%) and lower was in control (T1). The highest available N (194 kg ha-1), available P (58.70 kg ha-1) and available K (334 kg ha-1) were recorded in (T7) and (T4) 138,43.30and 218 kg ha-1 respectively. Similarly, higher pod yield (1821 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (3458 kg ha-1) were recorded in (T7) and1728, 3437 kg ha-1 T6 respectively and 1785,3262 kg ha-1 (T2) respectively and lower was in control. The continuous cropping and application of fertilizers and manure for 43 years showed significant influence on soil properties in rainfed groundnut crop grown on Alfisols.