Long-term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on some soil quality indicators in rice-wheat cropping system

Organic agriculture is one of the improved management practices to restore soil quality that has been degraded due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers. The present study evaluated the impact of organic amendments on selected soil properties after 10 years of rice (Basmati)-wheat cropping. The results showed that application of farmyard manure (FYM), rice straw compost (RSC), vermicompost (VC) and integrated nutrient management (INM) using FYM and NPK for 10 years reduced soil bulk density from 1.55 to 1.2–1.4 Mg m⁻³ and improved mean weight diameter (MWD) from 0.65 to 1.95 mm. Organic production system had 2-to-5 fold higher soil N mineralization potential than the use of chemical fertilizers alone. Changes in soil properties with INM were in-between organic and conventional treatments. The results showed that organic method of rice-wheat production resulted in improved soil quality.