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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp9 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Effects of phosphorus sources and application levels on soil properties and phosphorus dynamics under a pearl millet-mustard cropping system in semi-arid slightly alkaline soils

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.17174
Submitted
2 August 2026
Published
14-10-2026

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) fertiliser application significantly influences soil quality by modifying key physicochemical attributes and regulating P dynamics, which are essential for sustaining nutrient supply and crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted from July 2021 to November 2021 using a randomised block design (RBD) comprising eleven treatments with three replications to evaluate the impact of different P sources and levels on soil properties and P fractions after pearl millet harvest. Implementation of different nutrient management practices decreased the soil pH (p = 0.001) as compared to initial value, while soil electrical conductivity (EC) increased (p = 0.069). Integrated application of farmyard manure (FYM) + single super phosphate (SSP) showed the highest increases in available nitrogen (N), P and sulphur (S), as well as significant increases in key inorganic P fractions (saloid-P (Sa-P), aluminum-phosphorus (Al-P), iron-phosphorus (Fe-P), calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P), total inorganic phosphorus (Tpi) and total-P) and biological yield (114.36 q ha-1) compared to control. However, application of FYM + di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) showed highest increase in available potassium (K) (p = 0.001). In control plots, inorganic P fractions followed the order Ca-P (66.5 %) > Fe-P (19.02 %) > Al-P (11.83 %) > Sa-P (2.61 %). Overall integrating 7.5 t FYM ha-1 along with SSP superiorly modulates P transformation and availability in semi-arid soils compared to chemical fertilisers alone. These findings demonstrate that integrated nutrient management (INM) is vital for optimising P efficiency, restoring soil health and ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions.

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