Effect of Different Nutrients on Physical and Chemical Properties of Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Long Term Fertilizer Experiment

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.114.13

Abstract:
Long-term nutrient management plays a crucial role in maintaining soil health and sustaining crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2025 under the Long-Term Fertilizer Experiment (LTFE) at Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management on selected soil physical and chemical properties in maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 12 nutrient management treatments and four replications. Results revealed that long-term application of farmyard manure (FYM), either alone or in combination with recommended NPK fertilizers, significantly improved soil quality. The lowest bulk density (1.33 Mg m-3) was recorded under FYM @ 20 t ha⁻¹ (T₈), representing an 8.90% reduction over the control, while particle density remained unaffected across treatments. Soil pH showed only marginal, non-significant variation, whereas electrical conductivity ranged from 0.82 to 0.93 dS m-1. Organic amendments markedly enhanced soil organic carbon and cation exchange capacity, with the highest values (0.990% OC and 13.54 cmol(p⁺) kg-1 CEC) observed under FYM @ 20 t ha⁻¹. The findings demonstrate that continuous incorporation of FYM, particularly when integrated with balanced fertilization, effectively improves soil physical condition, increases organic carbon, enhances nutrient retention and promotes long-term soil fertility.

Keywords:
Integrated nutrient management, long-term fertilizer experiment, farmyard manure, bulk density, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity.

Article Info:
Received: 16 Jun 2026; Received in revised form: 10 Jul 2026; Accepted: 15 Jul 2026; Available online: 23 Jul 2026

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