Soil nutrient balance under influence of different organic manures and fertilizers in fodder maize

Soil nutrient balance and soil health is mostly affected by application of different sources of nutrients. A faulty nutrient management technique to the crops results in an imbalance in the soil nutrient status which could have a long term negative impact on crop production. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the effect of different nutrient management strategies on nutrient balance of soil. Nutrient management strategies included organic manure application (M1: No manure, M2: Farm Yard Manure (25 t ha-1), M3: Vermicompost (12 t ha-1) and M4: Poultry Manure (12 t ha-1) in Main plots and inorganic fertilizer application (F1:Control, F2: 125% RDF, F3: 100% RDF and F4: 75% RDF) in sub plots. The recommended dose of fertilizer applied for fodder maize was 60:40:20 kg NPK ha-1. The organic manures were applied as per the N equivalent basis to inorganic nutrient recommendation. Nutrient balance was calculated by using following formula: Apparent gain or loss of nutrient = Final status of nutrient in soil - (Initial status of nutrient in soil + nutrient applied - nutrient uptake by crop) Net gain or loss of nutrient = final status of nutrient in soil - Initial status of nutrient in soil. The results revealed that apparent gain of Nitrogen (51.7 Kg) was found higher in application of poultry manure along with 75% RDF to fodder maize followed by control. The actual loss of nitrogen (-19.0 Kg) is low in application of poultry manure along with 125% RDF. Apparent gain of P was low in control (-0.94 Kg)followed by application of poultry manure along with 75% RDF (-17.57 Kg) and apparent gain of K (-2.15 Kg) was low in the same treatment. But actual loss of P and K was high in control plots. Therefore, basal application of poultry manure with 125% RDF followed by poultry manure with 100% RDF can minimize nutrient losses from soil in turn fodder maize utilized the applied nutrients effectively.