Vol. 11, Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Dharmendra Singh, Priyanka Pannu and Dr. Anil Mawalia

Abstract:
A field study entitled “Soil microbial biomass and soil quality indicators as influenced by long term application of organic and inorganic inputs under wheat-maize cropping system in typic haplustepts” was conducted during Kharif 2016-17 and 2017-18 in the Long Term Fertilizer Experiments initiated in Kharif, 1997 at the Instructional Farm of the Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The results of the present investigation revealed that the maximum content of soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial biomass nitrogen, soil microbial biomass phosphorus and soil microbial biomass sulphur were registered under application of FYM @ 20 t in LTFE soils. Application of either manure (FYM) alone or in combination with inorganic fertilization significantly improved microbial biomass as compared to inorganic fertilization alone. Application of 20 t ha^-1 FYM significantly increased CEC of soil followed by 100% NPK+ FYM 10 t ha^-1 application. Application of FYM alone recorded highest soil organic carbon and total organic carbon content of soil. Application of FYM @ 20 t ha^-1 gave lowest bulk density and significantly maximum total porosity, water holding capacity and hydraulic conductivity of soil followed by FYM 10 t ha^-1 + 100% NPK treatment.