Organic sources boost soil fertility, sustain crop productivity in long-term study.
The study looked at how different types of fertilizers and organic materials affect soil nutrients and carbon levels in Mollisols. After 32 years of rice-wheat cropping, all nutrient treatments couldn't maintain initial nitrogen levels, but phosphorus levels increased. Combining nitrogen fertilizers with moong straw led to the highest available nitrogen and phosphorus in the topsoil. Organic carbon content increased with all treatments, but none could sustain the initial levels. Integrated nutrient management raised organic carbon and total carbon levels more than fertilizers alone. Farmyard manure and green gram straw were effective organic sources for maintaining soil fertility and crop productivity.