Abstract

In the long term fertilizer experiment started in the year 1972 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore under finger millet-maize cropping sequence on an Inceptisol, the effect of continuous fertilization and manuring on yield, uptake and changes in available nutrients status of finger millet crop was studied in the year 2011. The experiment consisted of ten treatments which were replicated four times in randomized block design with a plot size of 20 m X 10 m. Application of 100 per cent NPK along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain and straw yields than all other treatments. Uptake of NPK by both grain and straw and soil available NPK and organic carbon were also significantly higher in the above mentioned treatment. Next in order, the yield and available nutrients were higher under 150% NPK which was significantly higher than 100% NPK. Non-inclusion of PK in N alone treatment resulted in decline in crop productivity and available nutrient status. Further, continuous application of 100 % NPK along with ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 increased soil available Zn over other treatments.

Keywords: Long-term fertilization, manuring, yield, uptake, available nutrients, finger millet