Effect of long term manure and fertilizer application on major available nutrient status and sulphur fractions under finger millet-maize cropping system in Karnataka

The AICRP on long term fertilizer experiment (LTFE) ie finger millet-maize cropping system was initiated at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, GKVK, UAS, Bangalore during 1986–87. Soil in 1986 had 69 per cent sand, 16 per cent silt, 14 per cent clay, 6.17 pH (1:2.5), 0.45 dS/m electrical conductivity (1:2.5), 12.2 cmol (p+)/kg CEC, 0.46 g/kg soil organic carbon, 257 kg/ha available N, 34.3 kg/ha available P and 123.1 kg/ha available K. Available status of major nutrients increased significantly by application of organic sources of nutrients either alone or in combination with fertilizers over fertilizers alone viz available nitrogen 247.86 kg/ha, available phosphorus 194.06 kg/ha, available potassium 175.30 kg/ha; different sulphur fractions were available S 9.92 to 34.77, water soluble S 8.74 to 33.87, organic S 30.44 to 73.15 and total S 110.47 to 427.76 mg/kg.