JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Increased soil nutrient application rates effect on microbial biomass carbon in maize cropping system.

Author: 

 NGANGOM UMADEVI

Abstract:

The impact of different doses of NPK fertilizer on the abundance of soil microbial biomass carbon under rainfed conditions, aiming to achieve various target yields in maize crops with and without farmyard manure, was studied. At the beginning of the trial, a significant disparity in soil microbial biomass carbon was observed among the treatments. Treatment T2(STCR approach target yield of 110q/ha) [50% through fertilizer (123.74: 48.91: 55.59 kg N:P: K / ha) + 50% through FYM (20.76 tonnes FYM/ ha)] exhibited a notable increase, measuring 2012.71 µg g⁻¹ soil, surpassing all others, while treatment T4 (STCR approach (target yield of 90q/ha) [50% through fertilizer (85.34:45.28:48.45 kg N:P:K /ha) + 50% through FYM ( 14.65 tonnes FYM/ ha)] recorded 1704.29 µg g⁻¹ soil. In contrast, treatment T1 [STCR approach (target yield of 110q/ha) fertilizer alone (251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P: K / ha)]had the lowest level at 803.91 µg g⁻¹ soil. After 45 days post-germination (DAG), soil microbial biomass carbon levels continued to vary. Treatment T2 [STCR approach (target yield of 110q/ha) 50% through fertiliser (123.74: 48.91: 55.59 kg N:P: K / ha) + 50% through FYM (20.76 tonnes FYM/ ha)] recorded the highest level at 3547.11 µg g⁻¹ soil, followed by T4 at 2856.95 µg g⁻¹ soil, while T1 again showed lower levels at 1565.77 µg g⁻¹ soil. At harvest, T2 once more achieved the highest soil microbial biomass carbon level with 2903.17 µg g⁻¹ soil, compared to T1's lowest value of 978.27 µg g⁻¹ soil. All treatments with farmyard manure (FYM) exhibited elevated levels of soil microbial biomass carbon, underscoring the significant impact of FYM.

Key words: Fertilizers, FYM, Maize, Soil microbial biomass carbon, STCR.

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