Sustaining Soil Health and Soybean Productivity with Partial Substitution of Nutrients through Gliricidia Green Manuring and Chemical Fertilizers in Vertisols of Central India

The present study was conducted to study the effect of partial substitution of nutrient through gliricidia with chemical fertilizers on soil health and soybean productivity in Vertisols under AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola-444104 (M.S.) during 2009-13. The experiment was laid out with nine treatments comprised of application of potassium through chemical fertilizers and gliricidia along with recommended dose of N and P (inorganic source) in a randomized block design with three replications. The pooled data indicated that application of 100% NP + 25 kg K ha-1 + biofertilizers had highest soybean grain yield followed by application of 50% N through glyricidia +50% N through inorganics+ biofertilizers + 25 kg K ha-1 which were on par with each other. The higher SYI and monetary returns were obtained with the application of substitution of 50 % N through gliricidia along with 50 % N through inorganics and biofertilizer which were statistically on par with application 100 % NP along with 25 kg K through chemical fertilizers. The results of the study also indicated significantly higher enhancement in soil organic carbon, residual soil fertility and nutrient uptake by soybean with the application of 50 % N through gliricidia along with 50 % N through inorganics and biofertilizer. Hence, it can concluded that for sustaining soil fertility and soybean productivity with higher economic returns, application of 50% N (25kg ha-1) through glyricidia +50% N through inorganics + biofertilizers + 25kg P2O5 + 25kg K2O ha-1 is recommended as an integrated plant nutrient supply system on Vertisols under dryland condition in central India.