Author(s): A. DEY, S. DASGUPTA, S. BHATTARCHARYA1, A. K. CHAITANYA, S. PATI AND B. PAL

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted for the consecutive two years (2011-12 and 2012-13) to study the effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on different soil physical properties for surface (0-15 cm) as well as sub-surface (15-30 cm) layers in an intensely cultivated new alluvial soil, taxonomically classified as Typic Hapludalf of West Bengal. The effect of different levels and combinations of organics viz. crop residue, bio-fertilizer, FYM alone and in combination with chemical fertilizers viz., 0, 50, 100 and 150% of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) were tested. Addition of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure, crop residue, and bio-fertilizers increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content, water holding capacity (WHC), capillary and non- capillary pore space and aggregate stability indices of the soil while reducing bulk density in both 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths. SOC content was strongly correlated with bulk density, WHC and structural co-efficient of the studied soil. The mean effect of different organic treatments on improvement of soil physical properties is nearly similar in treatments with 50% organics + 50% inorganic (INM). Thus, we can conclude that integrated use of a balanced inorganic fertilizer with organics i.e. organic manure-crop residue-bio fertilizer helps to maintain a good soil physical environment which is better for achieving higher crop productivity under potato based intensive cropping systems.

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