Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India

IntroductionEnhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: R. Krishna Murthy, Bhavya Nagaraju, K. Govinda, S. N. Uday Kumar, P. K. Basavaraja, H. M. Saqeebulla, G. V. Gangamrutha, Sanjay Srivastava, Pradip Dey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1439523/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846168532885176320
author R. Krishna Murthy
Bhavya Nagaraju
K. Govinda
S. N. Uday Kumar
P. K. Basavaraja
H. M. Saqeebulla
G. V. Gangamrutha
Sanjay Srivastava
Pradip Dey
author_facet R. Krishna Murthy
Bhavya Nagaraju
K. Govinda
S. N. Uday Kumar
P. K. Basavaraja
H. M. Saqeebulla
G. V. Gangamrutha
Sanjay Srivastava
Pradip Dey
author_sort R. Krishna Murthy
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEnhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fertilizer recommendation that ensures efficient use, supporting higher crop production while protecting the environment and preserving resources.MethodologyA long-term field experiment on the STCR approach was initiated in 2017 at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. The experiment aimed to study the impact of STCR-based nutrient prescription along with farmyard manure (FYM) for a targeted yield of soybean (Glycine max), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dry chili (Capsicum annuum), aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on yield and changes in soil health in comparison with other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.ResultsThe results showed a significant and positive impact of the integrated use of fertilizer with FYM based on the STCR approach on the productivity of all the crops and soil fertility. Significantly higher yields of soybean (23.91 q ha−1), sunflower (27.13 q ha−1), dry chili (16.67 q ha−1), aerobic rice (65.46 q ha−1), foxtail millet (14.07 q ha−1), okra (26.82 t ha−1), and kodo millet (17.10 q ha−1) were observed in the STCR NPK + FYM approach at yield level 1 compared to the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. This approach outperformed the standard recommendations, enhancing nutrient uptake and efficiency across various crops. Utilizing the principal component analysis, the soil quality index effectively reflected the impact of nutrient management on soil properties, with the STCR NPK + FYM treatment at yield level 1 showing the highest correlation with improved soil physical and chemical parameters.DiscussionThe STCR approach led to improved yield, nutrient uptake, utilization efficiency, and soil health, thanks to a balanced fertilization strategy. This strategy was informed by soil tests and included factors like crop-induced nutrient depletion, baseline soil fertility, the efficiency of inherent and added nutrients through fertilizers and farmyard manure, and the success of yield-targeting techniques in meeting the nutritional needs of crops.
format Article
id doaj-art-279392d461a04990acf65bc70068500b
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-279392d461a04990acf65bc70068500b2024-11-13T17:02:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-11-011510.3389/fpls.2024.14395231439523Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern IndiaR. Krishna Murthy0Bhavya Nagaraju1K. Govinda2S. N. Uday Kumar3P. K. Basavaraja4H. M. Saqeebulla5G. V. Gangamrutha6Sanjay Srivastava7Pradip Dey8All India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaAll India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, IndiaSoil Science, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, IndiaIntroductionEnhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fertilizer recommendation that ensures efficient use, supporting higher crop production while protecting the environment and preserving resources.MethodologyA long-term field experiment on the STCR approach was initiated in 2017 at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. The experiment aimed to study the impact of STCR-based nutrient prescription along with farmyard manure (FYM) for a targeted yield of soybean (Glycine max), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dry chili (Capsicum annuum), aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on yield and changes in soil health in comparison with other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.ResultsThe results showed a significant and positive impact of the integrated use of fertilizer with FYM based on the STCR approach on the productivity of all the crops and soil fertility. Significantly higher yields of soybean (23.91 q ha−1), sunflower (27.13 q ha−1), dry chili (16.67 q ha−1), aerobic rice (65.46 q ha−1), foxtail millet (14.07 q ha−1), okra (26.82 t ha−1), and kodo millet (17.10 q ha−1) were observed in the STCR NPK + FYM approach at yield level 1 compared to the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. This approach outperformed the standard recommendations, enhancing nutrient uptake and efficiency across various crops. Utilizing the principal component analysis, the soil quality index effectively reflected the impact of nutrient management on soil properties, with the STCR NPK + FYM treatment at yield level 1 showing the highest correlation with improved soil physical and chemical parameters.DiscussionThe STCR approach led to improved yield, nutrient uptake, utilization efficiency, and soil health, thanks to a balanced fertilization strategy. This strategy was informed by soil tests and included factors like crop-induced nutrient depletion, baseline soil fertility, the efficiency of inherent and added nutrients through fertilizers and farmyard manure, and the success of yield-targeting techniques in meeting the nutritional needs of crops.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1439523/fullSTCRyieldnutrient use efficiencysoil qualityprinciple component analysis
spellingShingle R. Krishna Murthy
Bhavya Nagaraju
K. Govinda
S. N. Uday Kumar
P. K. Basavaraja
H. M. Saqeebulla
G. V. Gangamrutha
Sanjay Srivastava
Pradip Dey
Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
Frontiers in Plant Science
STCR
yield
nutrient use efficiency
soil quality
principle component analysis
title Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
title_full Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
title_fullStr Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
title_full_unstemmed Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
title_short Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India
title_sort soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability a long term study under alfisols of southern india
topic STCR
yield
nutrient use efficiency
soil quality
principle component analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1439523/full
work_keys_str_mv AT rkrishnamurthy soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT bhavyanagaraju soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT kgovinda soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT snudaykumar soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT pkbasavaraja soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT hmsaqeebulla soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT gvgangamrutha soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT sanjaysrivastava soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia
AT pradipdey soiltestcropresponsenutrientprescriptionequationsforimprovingsoilhealthandyieldsustainabilityalongtermstudyunderalfisolsofsouthernindia