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AICRP
on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment to
Study Changes in Soil Quality, Crop Productivity and Sustainability
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| About
Project |
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Fertilizer
is a key factor for increasing agricultural production
and its consumption in agriculture is increasing rapidly.
Need felt for studying the impact of fertilizers not
only on the crop yields and quality but also on the
soil and the environment under intensive cropping
systems which are major users of fertilizers. This
has created the need of long term studies at fixed
sites for monitoring the changes in nutrient dynamics
with the objectives of developing strategies for sustainable
productivity by incorporating different fertilizer
interventions.
In view of the emerging compulsions, the Indian Council
of Agriculture Research (ICAR) launched the “All
India Coordinated Research Project on Long Term Fertilizer
Experiment” in September 1970 at 11 centres.
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The
locations of various centres |
The
LTFE centre was started in the year 1995-96 at Dr.
P.D.K.V. Akola on soybean – wheat cropping sequence.
In the year 2004-05, the experiment on soybean –wheat
cropping sequence was concluded. The the experiment
initiated by the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural
Chemistry on sorghum – wheat cropping sequence
in the year 1988 (kharif) was continued as Long Term
Fertilizer Experiment from the year 2005-06. The experiment
on sorghum-wheat cropping sequence has completed 21st
cropping cycle in the year 2008-09. |
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Agro Climatic Information |
| Climate
and soil
The experimental site at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh
Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola represents the Vidarbha
region of Maharashtra state. It lies in between
17057’-21046’ N Latitude and 75057’-
80059’ E Longitude and covers an area
of 97762.9 sq. km occupying about 31.92 per
cent area of Maharashtra state. The region is
bounded by Satpuda Hill Ranges in North, Ajanta
Hill Ranges at the South-West and a series of
high hill ranges along the Eastern border. It
is divided into Godavari and Tapi river basins.
The climatic conditions of Vidarbha region can
broadly described as semi-arid type. Region
experiences sub- humid to humid conditions in
monsoon, semi-arid in winter and arid in summer
season.
Akola is situated at the latitude of 22042’
North and longitude of 77002’ East at
an altitude of 307.42 m above Mean Sea Level
(MSL). It represents Agro Ecological Region
No. 6.3 and sub - region number – K5Dm4.
Eastern Maharashtra Plateau, hot moist, semi-arid
ESR with medium and deep clayey black soils
(Shallow loamy to clay black soils) medium to
high available water holding capacity (AWC)
and LGP between 120-150 days.
Initial soil
characteristics of experimental site
The soil of experimental field was classified
as Vertisols, particularly montmorillonitic
type, hyperthermic, a family of Typic Haplustert.
It has smectite clay mineral with swell - shrink
properties. The soil contained 31.2 % sand,
16.1 % silt and 51.2 % clay. The soil is slightly
alkaline in reaction (pH 8.1), low in available
nitrogen (120 kg N ha-1), medium in available
phosphorus (8.4 kg P ha-1), very high in available
potash (358 kg K ha-1) and have 11.8 mg kg-1
available sulphur and 0.62 mg kg-1 DTPA extractable
zinc.
Crop sequence
Sorghum-wheat is an important sequence which
is generally being followed in sorghum based
crop production system. The Long Term Fertilizer
Experiment is based mainly on sorghum-wheat
sequence to study the changes in soil quality,
crop productivity and sustainability. The sorghum
crop is grown on an area of 5.02 million hectares
with annual production of 4.38 million tonnes.
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| Infrastructure
Facilities |
IThe
AICRP on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment has well
equipped laboratory with advanced instruments for
soil, plant and FYM analysis. |
Advanced
Instruments
• Micro Processor Based
Automatic Digestion and Distillation Apparatus
• Flame Photometer
• Micro Processor Based pH and EC Meters
• Hot Air Oven
• Environmental Shaker
• Water Bath
• Hot Plate
• Plant Sample Grinder |
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| Mandate
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| 1. |
To
study the effect of continuous application of plant
nutrients, alone and in combination in organic and
inorganic forms including secondary and micro nutrients
(as per need) on crop productivity and uptake in multiple
cropping systems. |
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To study
the effect of application of secondary and micronutrients
(as per need) on yield and also on the assessment
of the need for these elements under an intensive
cropping programme. |
| 3. |
To work
out the amount of nutrients removed by the crops. |
| 4. |
To monitor
the changes in soil properties as result of continuous
manuring and cropping with respect to the physical,
chemical, and microbiological characteristics of the
soil in relation to soil quality and yield sustainability. |
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| Research
Activities and Achievements
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| Sorghum-Wheat
sequence |
1. |
Vertical
distribution of sulphur fractions as influenced by
long term manuring and fertilization under sorghum
- wheat sequence on vertisols. |
2. |
Effect
of long term fertilization and manuring on porosity
and C:N ratio under sorghum wheat cropping sequence
on vertisols. |
| 3. |
Long term
effect of manures and fertilizers on soil biological
properties and nutrient availability under sorghum
wheat sequence. |
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| Research
Recommendations |
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the basis of long term fertilizer experiment, following
recommendations were made during last 21 years and passed
through Joint Agresco. |
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On the basis of 15 years results
of LTFE for sustainable higher production with improved
fertilizer particularly in respect to organic carbon
pools under sorghum-wheat sequence on vertisols, it
is recommended that 10 t FYM ha-1 be supplemented with
recommended dose of fertilizer (100:50:40) to sorghum
and recommended dose of fertilizer (120:60:60 NPK kg
ha-1) to wheat. |
| 2. |
On the basis of 20 years results
of long term fertilizer experiment, for sustaining soil
quality and crop productivity application of recommended
dose of fertilizer along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1 is recommended,
however, continuous application of FYM 10 t ha-1 alone
improves soil quality but declines crop productivity. |
| 3. |
Under soybean wheat sequence
grown on Vertisols it is recommended that either 150
% RD of NPK + S + Zn (45:50:0:20:2.5) or 50 % N through
organics (Leucaena Loppings/FYM) should be applied for
obtaining higher yield sustainability and improvement
in soil fertility. |
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| Extension
Activities and Achievements
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Research –Extension
linkage
Evaluation of efficiency of
most sustainable fertilizer use practices for enhancing
productivity, sustainability and nutrient response
ratio under different cropping systems and Agro-ecological
situation (soybean-wheat).
In order to demonstrate and disseminate the technology
evolved out of the Long Term Experiment on soybean-
wheat sequence at Akola Centre a set of treatments
was selected to conduct the satellite experiment
on the farmer’s fields. Five locations were
selected on the farmers’ fields.
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| Findings |
Application
of recommended dose of NPK along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1+
Zn @ 2.5 kg ha-1 to soybean and recommended dose of
NPK only to wheat recorded higher grain yield of soybean
and wheat in soybean - wheat cropping sequence, which
confirms the need of integrated nutrient management
approach in sustaining the crop productivity as well
as soil quality in various crop sequence. |
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| Publications
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Effect
of Long Term Fertilizer application and cropping
on the sustenance of soil fertility and crop productivity
under sorghum - wheat sequence in vertisol. Research
Bulletin, 2004.
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Dirgha
Mudatiya Khat Prayogache Nishkarsh Folder No.
402, 2008.
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| Contact
Information |
| Shri
S.D. Jadhao,
Associate Professor & Principal Investigator
AICRP on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment
Department of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola -
444 104(M.S.)
Phone: (91) –(0724) 2258201-17 (Extn.1067)
Email ID: sdjadhao@rediffmail.com
shyam_jadhao@ymail.com
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