Restoration of Soil in Mine-affected Area for Enhanced Crop Production using Diverse Fertilizer Treatments

Abstract

Coal mining is an economic activity which degrades soil quality and adversely affects the crop production. The restoration and management of soil is therefore very essential part of mine area development. This work evaluates the effect of different fertilizer treatments on soil amendments, crop production and soil health in mine area. Soil in study area was moderately acidic and deficient in organic carbon, macro as well as micronutrients. Pot experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of different inorganic and organic fertilizer treatments on soil chemical properties, crop yield and growth in maize-cowpea-rice cropping system. Grain yield of maize was found significantly higher in organic matter treatment (OM100). The combined application of lime and OM100 gave significantly higher yield of cowpea and rice. Different fertilizer treatment combinations had significant effect on soil pH and available nutrients. Maximum improvement in pH of soil was obtained in treatment of lime and lime with OM100. Organic and inorganic fertilizers are effective in restoring the productivity of degraded soils. Also, the organic matter amendment resulted in maximum significant improvement in grain yield of crops in mine area.