Long-term Effect of Chemical Fertilizers and Soil Amendments on Sustainable Productivity and Sulphur Nutrition of Crops under Maize-Wheat Cropping System in an Acid Alfisol

A study on long-term effect of chemical fertilizers and soil amendments on sulphur nutrition and crop productivity under maize-wheat cropping system was carried out in randomized block design with 11 treatments viz. 50% NPK (T1), 100% NPK (T2), 150% NPK (T3), 100% NPK + hand weeding (T4), 100% NPK + Zinc (T5), 100% NP (T6), 100% N (T7), 100% NPK + FYM @ 10 t ha -1 to maize only (T8), 100% NPK without S (T9), 100% NPK + lime (T10) and Control (T11). Treatments were replicated 3 times with the increase in rates of N and P fertilizers, there was an increase in sulphur supply and hence increased the sulphur content in wheat grain, maize grain and stover. The T9 resulted in higher maize grain and stover yield over control. Application of FYM (Farm Yard Manure) along with recommended doses of fertilizers increased the maize grain and stover yields to the maximum level. Increased productivity of maize was found with balanced integrated nutrient management (T8). Due to the application of N alone for the last 35 cropping cycles, the yield of wheat has become zero application of FYM along with 100% NPK resulted in significantly higher productivity levels of both grain and straw in wheat (33.66 and 65.90 q ha -1 , respectively) than 100% NPK and 150% NPK. The application of 150% NPK resulted in decline in grain yield (17.53 q ha -1 ) compared to 100% NPK (18.23 q ha -1 ). The sulphur uptake by the maize crop followed the trend of maize yield.

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