Long-term effect of farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield and physico-chemical properties of loamy sand soil

A study was conducted to determine long-term effects of FYM and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield and soil properties by utilizing on-going experiment on continuous cropping which commenced in 1980. Two levels of FYM (0 and 10 t ha⁻¹) were applied once in a year to kharif pearl millet and four levels of recommended dose of NP fertilizers (0, 50, 100 and 150% of RD) applied to each crop (pearl millet-mustard-summer cowpea in RBD (factorial) with three replications. The FYM application was found beneficial to increase yield due to its residual effect on summer cowpea (fodder). The highest green and dry fodder yield of cowpea was observed under the treatments of FYM application @ 10 t ha⁻¹ and NP application @ 150% RD as compared to control. The treatments of FYM and fertilizers improved WHC, OC and availability of major (N and P₂O₅, K₂O and S) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn Zn and Cu) in soil but decreased BD as well as pH and EC in 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths of soil.