Levels and Sources of Phosphorus Improve Soil OrganicCarbon and Microbiological Properties under Pearl Millet-Mustard Cropping System in Semi–Arid Region
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Authors
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Preeti Sharma
PhD Scholar
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Sunita Sheoran
College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Bawal, Rewari, India
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Dhram Prakash
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Bawal, Rewari, Haryana, India
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Priyanka
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India
Keywords:
Enzymatic activities, farmyard manure, microbial biomass, phosphorus and SOCAbstract
This study aimed to elucidate the impact of varying phosphorus sources and levels on soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbiological properties in semi–arid regions of northwest India. Application of P fertilizers (SSP; single super phosphate, DAP; di-ammonium phosphate, RP; rock phosphate) either alone or in combination with farmyard manure (FYM) improved SOC and DOC content in soil and the highest SOC (0.60%) and DOC (20.30 mg kg–1) was observed with the conjoint application of FYM with SSP. Application of FYM along with P fertilizers significantly increased the alkaline phosphatase and aryl sulphatase activity as compared to sole P fertilizers, however, non–significantly increment was observed for urease activity. Among P fertilizers, higher enzymes activity was observed with DAP (29.25 μg NH+ g-1 hr–1 as urease activity; 321.52 and 260.81 μg PNPg–1hr–1, as alkaline phosphatase and aryl sulphatase, respectively) as compared to SSP and RP. Conjoint application of P fertilizers and FYM significantly increased microbial biomass in soil and the highest microbial biomass carbon (224.42 mg kg–1), nitrogen (26.38 mg kg–1), phosphorus (17.00 mg kg–1) and sulphur (15.15 mg kg–1) was recorded with application of 7.5 t FYM ha–1 along with SSP. The results conclusively indicated that application of FYM along with P fertilizers played a pivotal role in enhancing soil chemical and microbiological properties under pearl millet–mustard cropping system.
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