Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Soil quality and carbon sequestration potential in response to long term nutrient management practices under finger millet-maize cropping system in an Alfisol

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13056
Submitted
4 December 2025
Published
30-07-2026

Abstract

Understanding the effects of long-term manuring and fertilisation is vital for sustaining soil quality in continuous cropping system particularly in low-fertile Alfisols for developing suitable soil management practices. The research evaluated the impact of long-term manuring and fertilisation on soil quality index (SQI) under finger millet-maize system in Alfisols at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru during 2020–22 using a LTFE experiment since 1986. The experiment consists of 11 treatments viz., 50 % nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK),  100 % NPK, 150 % NPK, 100 % NPK + hand weeding, 100 % NPK + lime, 100 % NP, 100 % N, 100 % NPK + farmyard manure (FYM), 100 % NPK (-S), 100 % NPK + FYM + lime and control in a randomised block design with 3 replications. Soils (Typic Kandic Paleustalfs) were sampled at 0–15 cm after harvest of maize and analysed for various soil indicators. Application of FYM and lime with recommended NPK improved soil quality (e.g., organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity), while unfertilised or imbalanced treatments (N or NP) showed decline. The SQI ranged from 0.64 to 0.99 in surface soils, with organic carbon and pH as key contributors to soil quality. The NPK + FYM + lime treatment showed higher carbon sequestration rate from the initial compared to alone fertiliser application. Integrated application of FYM, lime and recommended NPK significantly improved soil quality, while imbalanced fertilisation led to soil degradation in the long-term finger millet-maize system on Alfisols.

References

  1. 1. De Deyn GB, Kooistra L. The role of soils in habitat creation, maintenance, and restoration. Philos Trans R Soc B. 2021;376(1834):20200170. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0170
  2. 2. Vasu D, Tiwary P, Chandran P. A novel and comprehensive soil quality index integrating soil morphological, physical, chemical, and biological properties. Soil Till Res. 2024;244:106246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106246
  3. 3. Cavalcante DM, Silva APF, de Almeida BG, Freire FJ, dos Santos Silva TH, Cavalcante FMS. Physical soil quality indicators for environmental assessment and agricultural potential of Oxisols under different land uses in the Araripe plateau, Brazil. Soil Till Res. 2021;209:104951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104951
  4. 4. Guo S, Han X, Li H, Wang T, Tong X, Ren G. Evaluation of soil quality along two revegetation chronosequences on the loess hilly region of China. Sci Total Environ. 2018;633:808–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.210
  5. 5. Rakshit R, Das A, Padbhushan R, Sharma RP, Kumar S. Assessment of soil quality and identification of parameters influencing system yield under long-term fertilizer trial. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2018;66:166–71. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0228.2018.00021.X
  6. 6. Liu E, Yan C, Mei X, He W, Bing SH, Ding L, et al. Long-term effect of chemical fertilizer, straw, and manure on soil chemical and biological properties in northwest China. Geoderma. 2010;158(3–4):173–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.04.029
  7. 7. Shoemaker HE, McLean EO, Pratt PF. Buffer methods for determining lime requirement of soils with appreciable amounts of extractable aluminum. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc. 1961;25:274–7. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1961.03615995002500040014x
  8. 8. Piper CS. Soil and plant analysis. Bombay: Hans Publications; 1966.
  9. 9. Jackson ML. Soil chemical analysis. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Pvt Ltd; 1973.
  10. 10. Walkley AJ, Black CA. An examination method for determination of soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 1934;37:29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
  11. 11. Subbiah BV, Asija GL. A rapid procedure for the determination of available nitrogen in soils. Curr Sci. 1956;25:259–60.
  12. 12. Lindsay WL, Norvell WA. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 1978;42(3):421–8. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030009x
  13. 13. Berger KC, Truog E. Boron determination in soil and plants. Ind Eng Chem Anal Ed. 1939;11(10):540–5. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac50138a007
  14. 14. Carter MR. Ninhydrin reactive-N released by the fumigation extraction method as a measure of microbial biomass under field conditions. Soil Biol Biochem. 1991;23:139–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(91)90126-5
  15. 15. Casida LE, Klein DA, Santaro T. Soil dehydrogenase activity. Soil Sci. 1964;96:371–6. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-196412000-00004
  16. 16. Eivazi F, Tabatabai MA. Phosphatases in soils. Soil Biol Biochem. 1977;9(3):167–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(77)90070-0
  17. 17. Watts GW, Crisp JD. Spectrophotometric method for determination of urea. Anal Chem. 1954;29:554–6.
  18. 18. Andrews EM, Kassama S, Smith EE, Brown PH, Khalsa SDS. A review of potassium-rich crop residues used as organic matter amendments in tree crop agroecosystems. Agriculture. 2021;11:580. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070580
  19. 19. Brejda JJ, Moorman TB, Karlen DL, Dao TH. Identification of regional soil quality factors and indicators in central and southern high plains. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 2000;64:2115–24. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2000.6462115x
  20. 20. Gomez KA, Gomez AA. Statistical procedures for agricultural research. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1984.
  21. 21. Titirmare NS, Ranshur NJ, Patil AH, Patil SR, Margal PB. Effect of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures on physical properties of soil: A review. Int J Plant Soil Sci. 2023;35(19):1015–23. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i193638
  22. 22. Zeraatpisheh M, Ayoubi S, Mirbagheri Z, Mosaddeghi MR, Xu M. Spatial prediction of soil aggregate stability and soil organic carbon in aggregate fractions using machine learning algorithms and environmental variables. Geoderma Reg. 2021;27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00440
  23. 23. Suri D. Effect of chemical fertilizers, organics and lime on micronutrient cation fractions in continuous maize–wheat cropping in an acid Alfisol [PhD thesis]. Himachal Pradesh: CSKHPKV; 2023.
  24. 24. Sharma UC, Datta M, Sharma V. Managing soil acidity. In: Soil Acidity: Management Options for Higher Crop Productivity. Cham: Springer Nature; 2025. p. 427–522. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76357-1_5
  25. 25. Vista SP, Gaihre YK, Dahal KR. Plant nutrient availability in acid soil and management strategies. In: Climate Change and Soil-Water-Plant Nexus: Agriculture and Environment. Singapore: Springer; 2024. p. 331–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6635-2_11
  26. 26. Bueno CS, Ladha JK. Comparison of soil properties between continuously cultivated and adjacent uncultivated soils in rice-based systems. Biol Fertil Soils. 2009;45:499–509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0358-y
  27. 27. Pathariya P, Dwivedi BS, Dwivedi AK, Thakur RK, Singh M, Sarvade S. Potassium balance under soybean–wheat cropping system in a 44-year-old long-term fertilizer experiment on a Vertisol. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 2022;53(2):214–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2021.1984516
  28. 28. Dinesh KS, Venkatesh D, Nair P. Lime application and soil acidity management for improving organic carbon levels in tropical soils. Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2021;67(6):834–43.
  29. 29. Dinesh KS, Venkatesh D, Rao DLN. Impact of long-term cropping systems on soil organic carbon dynamics in tropical soils. Soil Biol Biochem. 2023;153:108085.
  30. 30. Gocke MI, Gaigue J, Bauke SL, Barkusky D, Baumecker M, Berns AE, et al. Interactive effects of agricultural management on soil organic carbon accrual: A synthesis of long-term field experiments in Germany. Geoderma. 2023;438:116616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116616
  31. 31. Qin W, Wang D, Guo X, Yang T, Oenema O. Productivity and sustainability of rainfed wheat–soybean system in the North China Plain: Results from a long-term experiment and crop modelling. Sci Rep. 2015;5:17514. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17514
  32. 32. Urkurkar JS, Tiwari A, Chitale S, Bajpai RK. Influence of long-term inorganic and organic manures on fertility and productivity of rice and wheat in Inceptisols. Indian J Agric Sci. 2010;80(3):208–12.
  33. 33. Masto RE, Chhonkar PK, Purakayastha TJ, Patra AK, Singh D. Soil quality indices for evaluation of long-term land use and soil management practices in semi-arid sub-tropical India. Land Degrad Dev. 2008;19:516–29. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.857
  34. 34. Sharma RP, Kaushal V, Verma G, Sharma SP. Effect of long-term fertilizer and amendments on maize–wheat cropping system in acid Alfisols. J Nat Appl Sci. 2014;6(1):106–9. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v6i1.383
  35. 35. Babu MVS, Reddy CM, Subramanyam A, Balaguravaiah D. Effect of integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and yield of sugarcane. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2007;55:161–6.
  36. 36. Lavanya KR, Kadalli GG, Siddaram Patil, Jayanthi T, Naveen DV, Channabasavegowda R. Sulphur fractionation studies in soils of long-term fertilizer experiment under finger millet-maize cropping sequence. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2019;8(9):1334–45. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.809.153
  37. 37. Hemalatha S, Radhika K, Maragatham S, Praveena KS. Influence of long-term fertilization on soil fertility: A review. Res Rev J Agron. 2013;2:30–6.
  38. 38. Rutkowska B, Szulc W, Sosulski T, Stepien W. Soil micronutrient availability to crops affected by long-term inorganic and organic fertilizer applications. Plant Soil Environ. 2014;60(5):198–203. https://doi.org/10.17221/914/2013-PSE
  39. 39. Robinson JM, Liddicoat C, Munoz-Rojas M, Breed MF. Restoring soil biodiversity. Curr Biol. 2024;34(9):393–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.035
  40. 40. Singh S, Kumar N, Manuja S, Kumar P, Sandeep, Singh S, et al. Substitution of inorganic nitrogen with organic amendments for improvement of soil properties in maize–wheat system under sub-temperate ecology. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2024;24(2):2386–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01653-9
  41. 41. Thekkumpurath AS, Ghotgalkar P, Ekatpure S, Bhanbhane V, Pardeshi A, Deore P. Assessment of degradation mechanism of imidacloprid residues in grape rhizosphere soil and impact on enzyme activity. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2024;31(3):3763–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31285-y
  42. 42. Mukherjee A, Lal R. Comparison of soil quality index using three methods. PLoS One. 2014;9(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0105981
  43. 43. Kumar S, Samiksha, Sukul P. Green manuring and its role in soil health management. In: Soil Health. 2020. p. 219–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44364-1_13
  44. 44. Yadav RK, Purakayastha TJ, Kumar D, Jha PK, Mahala DM, Yadav DK, et al. Long-term impact of manuring on soil organic matter quality indicators under field cropping systems. Front Environ Sci. 2023;11:1116930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1116930
  45. 45. Six J, Frey SD, Thiet RK, Batten KM. Bacterial and fungal contributions to carbon sequestration in agroecosystems. Soil Biol Biochem. 2020;42:375–85.
  46. 46. Khan A, Guo S, Wang R, Zhang S, Yang X, He B, et al. An assessment of various pools of organic phosphorus distributed in soil aggregates as affected by long-term P fertilization regimes. Soil Use Manag. 2023;39:833–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12901
  47. 47. Huang S, Zhang W, Yu X, Huang Q. Effects of long-term fertilization on corn productivity and its sustainability in an Ultisol of southern China. Agric Ecosyst Environ. 2010;138:44–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.03.015
  48. 48. Sharma A, Biswas S, Jha P, Aggarwal P. Microbial and enzymatic indicators of soil health under different cropping systems in semi-arid tropics. Soil Use Manag. 2023;39:140–50.
  49. 49. Garcia-Orenes F, Morugán-Coronado A, Zornoza R, Scow K. Soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities under different agricultural management systems in Mediterranean semiarid soils. Appl Soil Ecol. 2022;170:104256.
  50. 50. Wang X, Wang J, Zhang J, Meng Q. Integrated soil fertility management enhances phosphorus use efficiency and maize yield. Field Crops Res. 2021;263:108039.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.