Effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on crop growth and yields in maize-cowpea-paddy system in coal mine affected area

The restoration and management of soil in mine affected areas is very essential as it degrades soil quality and adversely affects the crop production. The present study evaluates the effect of different inorganic and organic fertilizer treatments on crop yield in mine affected area of Jharkhand state in India. Pot experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of various treatments on crop yield and crop growth in a maize-cowpea-paddy cropping system. A randomized complete block design was employed with seven treatments and four replicates. The organic soil amendment resulted in significant improvement in grain yield of different crops. Treatment with full dose of organic matter (OM₁₀₀) recorded higher (57%) grain yield of maize, while treatment of lime with full dose of organic matter (LOM₁₀₀) recorded 35 and 57% higher grain yield of cowpea and paddy, respectively. Dry matter produce was higher with organic matter treatment T6 (LOM₁₀₀) in maize (101% higher) and with treatment T4 (OM₁₀₀) in cowpea (38% higher) and produce was significantly higher under treatment T5 (LCF₁₀₀) in case of paddy (65% higher). Results show that organics along with lime and inorganic fertilizers are effective in restoring the productivity of degraded soils in open cast mine affected areas in Jharkhand, India.