Influence of Organic Amendments on Soil Health under Vegetable based Cropping Sequences at Mid-Hills Altitude of Meghalaya
Manoj Kumar
ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
Anup Das*
ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
Ramkrushna G.I.
ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
Jayanta Layek
ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
Subhash Babu
ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Economics, Organic farming, Produce quality, Productivity, Soil fertility, Yield
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during 2005 to 2015 at the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (950 m ASL) to study the effects of organic nutrient management practices on soil health under vegetable based cropping sequences. The organic sources used were farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), and integrated nutrient sources (½ through FYM + ½ through VC) applied on N equivalent basis; phosphosporus requirement being compensated through rock phosphate. Three cropping sequences tested were maize + soybean - tomato, maize + soybean - potato and maize + soybean - French bean. For present study, the data on soil health parameters were recorded during 2015 after 10 cropping cycles. The soil organic carbon concentration improved significantly due to application of all the organic manures as nutrient sources than that under control. Maximum microbial population and soil microbial biomass carbon were recorded with integrated nutrient source. The soil properties like nutrient status and SOC were higher under maize + soybean - tomato than others. Thus, FYM + VC as source of nutrient supply under maize + soybean - tomato system was found to be effective for sustainable organic food production in NEH region of India.
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Reference
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