Soil hydrophysical properties under different nutrient management practices, their relationship with soil organic carbon fractions and crop yield under pigeonpea-wheat sequence

Abstract

Soil physical degradation is one of the serious production constraints in the Indo-Gangetic Plain region. The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different nutrient management practices involving the use of fertilizer NPK alone or in combination with Farm Yard Manure (FYM), sulphitation pressmud (SPM), or induced defoliation (ID, imposed in pigeonpea through foliar spray of 10% urea solution at physiological maturity) on soil hydrophysical properties of a Typic Haplustepts under pigeonpea-wheat sequence, in a field experiment that continued for 5 years at IARI, New Delhi. Fertilizer NPK at recommended rate to both the crops resulted in a significant increase in macroaggregates, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, water-stable aggregates, and saturated hydraulic conductivity in surface soil. Conjoint use of fertilizers, organic manures, and ID also decreased soil bulk density (0–15 cm) significantly over control. Effectiveness of organics and ID in improving soil physical environment was in the order: FYM > ID > SPM.