Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Physical and Physico-chemical Properties of Soil

Abstract

Increasing food production while reducing environmental impact and resource use is the main challenge in agriculture. The usage of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture for increasing food production does not guarantee a sustainable future. In Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) we make conjunctive use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers for improving soil productivity while also protecting soil properties from being destructed. In this research, the effect of INM on various soil properties is been investigated. The field experiment was carried out in India, during the rabi season of 2020 in a sandy loam soil of ustic Inceptisols under maize (Zea mays L.) variety Pioneer - 3396 as the Test crop. Application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 10 t/ha, biofertilizers namely Azospirillum and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (Pseudomonas sp.) @ 5 kg/ha each, was followed. The inorganic fertilizers @ 200:60:50 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1 were followed as recommended dose and applied in three splits. The experiment is conducted in Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising eight treatments and three replications viz., T1: Control, T2: 100% RDN, T3: 125% RDN, T4: 75% RDN+ 25% N through FYM, T5: 75% RDN + 25% N through FYM + Biofertilizers, T6: 100% RDN+ 25% N through FYM, T7: 100% RDN+ Biofertilizers and T8: 100% RDN+ 25% N through FYM + Biofertilizers. Statistical significance was tested by applying F-test at a 0.05 level of probability. There was observed a non-significant effect on the Bulk Density (BD), Porosity, Water Holding Capacity (WHC), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Soil reaction (pH), and Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC) of the experimental soil, which might be due to the short duration of the study.

Challenges and Opportunities in Biofertilizer Commercialization

“…Biofertilizers, comprising beneficial microbial inoculants like rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, are vital in soil nutrient cycling and mineralization [69,70]. Farmers can secure a consistent nutrient supply to crops when biofertilizers are integrated into INM-a strategy that judiciously combines organic and inorganic fertilizers.…”