Correlation Analysis of Soil Properties and Rice Yield Under Long Term Soil Fertility Management

Abstract

The excessive application of chemical fertilisers poses a significant threat to soil health and undermines the sustainability of agricultural practices over time. A research investigation entitled "Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health under Long-Term Soil Fertility Management in a Rice–Rice Cropping System" was carried out across the Kharif and Rabi growing seasons of 2016–2017 and 2017–2018. The study was conducted at the Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Institute and Regional Agricultural Research Station, situated in Maruteru, West Godavari District, as part of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Long-Term Fertiliser Experiments (AICRP-LTFE). The primary objective of this research was to examine the relationship between rice yield and a range of soil properties, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological dimensions. The study's outcomes demonstrated that most soil parameters (N,P,K) were positively correlated with both grain and straw yields. With respect to soil chemical properties assessed at the time of harvest, the most notable improvements were recorded under the treatment comprising 100% RDF + ZnSO₄ + FYM @ 5 t ha⁻¹, with the next best response observed under the 50% NPK + 50% N through FYM treatment. These findings suggest that farmyard manure holds considerable potential as a partial substitute for synthetic fertilizers, thereby reducing dependence on inorganic nutrient inputs. These results highlight the advantage of integrating organic manures with a well-balanced use of inorganic fertilizers, reinforcing the case for a combined nutrient management approach in sustaining soil health and agricultural productivity.