Long-Term Effect of Fertilizers and Amendments on Maize Productivity and Relationship of Soil Health Parameters with Quality Traits of Maize Grains under Mid Hills Sub Humid Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

This study was undertaken in an on-going long-term fertilizer experiment, initiated during 1972-73 at Experimental Farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV Palampur to work out the relationship of soil health parameters with quality of maize in an acid Alfisol. The soil of the experimental site was silt loam and classified taxonomically as Typic Hapludalf. The experiment consisted of eleven treatments with varying levels of NPK fertilizers, and FYM & lime as amendments. Continuous application of fertilizers and amendments for forty-six years significantly influenced the yield of maize. The highest grain (46.5 q ha^-1) and stover yield of maize (77.0 q ha^-1) was recorded in the 100 per cent NPK + FYM treatment and was at par with 100 per cent NPK + lime. Continuous omission of S and K decreased the grain yield by 55 and 53 per cent, respectively, whereas regular application of N alone resulted in zero yield. Soil health parameters and grain quality traits were assessed and the relationship between soil health parameters and quality traits of maize grains was worked out. Correlation studies revealed that soil organic carbon exhibited a positive and significant relationship with non- reducing sugar (r = 0.737**). Similar positive relationship was found between porosity and non-reducing sugars (r =0.940**). There was a positive and significant relationship between dehydrogenase activity and reducing sugars (r = 0.866**). Invariably, bulk density exhibited negative and significant relationship with different quality traits of maize grains.