Establishment and Evaluation of Soil Fertility Gradient on the Basis of Sorghum Fodder Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Post-Harvest Soil Test Values
Isha *
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
Poonam Gautam
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
Navneet Pareek
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
Subhash Chandra
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
Jai Paul
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
A.P. Singh
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Field experiment was carried out with fodder sorghum at N.E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G.B.U.A.&T., Pantnagar during kharif, 2022 under AICRP on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) approach aimed to establish and evaluate soil fertility gradient on the basis of sorghum fodder yield, nutrient uptake and post-harvest soil test values. The experimental field was divided into three plots, each receiving graded levels of N, P2O5 and K2O: N0P0K0 (Plot A), N100P100K100 (Plot B) and N200P200K200 (Plot C). Thereafter, fodder sorghum was grown and fodder yield was recorded from each plot. Chemical analysis of plant samples was performed to estimate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and total nutrient uptake was worked out. Post-harvest soil samples were collected across the three plots and analysed for available N, P and K. Findings revealed wide variation in sorghum fodder yield, nutrient uptake and post-harvest soil fertility status for available N, P and K in different plots confirming the establishment of soil fertility gradient for the respective nutrients. The establishment of soil fertility gradient is necessary and serves as a pre-requisite for developing improved nutrient management strategies i.e. STCR-based fertilizer recommendations to sustain crop yield and optimize fertilizer requirements.
Keywords: Soil fertility gradient, STCR, sorghum, NPK, fodder yield, nutrient uptake, post-harvest soil test values