Effect of Different Long-term Nutrient Management Practices on Depth-wise Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Long-term application of inorganic fertilizers is essential for supplying nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to enhance crop yields; however, it poses significant risks to soil health and sustainability. Prolonged use leads to depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC), which is vital for maintaining soil structure, nutrient retention, and microbial activity. This depletion primarily affects surface soils, reducing carbon sequestration and impairing soil physical properties like water retention. Extended inorganic fertilization also alters soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) profiles. Surface soil acidification, especially under nitrogen-only treatments, results from urea hydrolysis and nitrification, lowering pH values. In contrast, organic amendments such as farmyard manure and green manure help stabilize pH due to their buffering capacity. EC increases slightly with fertilizer intensity because of salt accumulation but remains below harmful levels. Elevated EC in subsurface layers is linked to salt leaching. In a rice-wheat system study, soil samples at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths showed that pH and EC variations were statistically insignificant among treatments. However, SOC content significantly increased with combined organic and inorganic fertilizer use, while nitrogen-only and unfertilized plots exhibited SOC depletion. Higher SOC concentrations consistently appeared in surface layers due to organic inputs and microbial activity
Source: PLANT ARCHIVES
Institution: Indira Gandhi Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225406201