Comparative Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Organic Carbon and Wheat Productivity under Arid Region

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 1406 - 1422
• Main Authors: Hammad, Hafiz Mohkum, Khaliq, Abdul, Abbas, Farhat, Farhad, Wajid, Fahad, Shah, Aslam, Muhammad, Shah, Ghulam Mustafa, Nasim, Wajid, Mubeen, Muhammad, Bakhat, Hafiz Faiq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 30.05.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agrochemicals; Arid regions; Arid zones; Computer simulation; Crop production; Crop yield; dry environmental conditions; Economic analysis; Economic models; farm profitability; Farms; Fertility; Fertilizers; Grain; grain quality; grain yield; income; Mineral fertilizers; model validation; Organic carbon; Organic farming; Organic fertilizers; Organic wastes; Phosphorus pentoxide; plant analysis; plant nutrition; Productivity; rothamsted carbon turnover model; Soil; Soil fertility; soil organic carbon; Soils; Sustainable agriculture; Triticum aestivum; Wheat
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2020.1763385

Organic amendments in the soil perform better than synthetic fertilizers in regards to soil fertility and sustainable crop productivity. Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of organic and synthetic fertilizers on soil fertility and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity. Soil fertility and protein contents of wheat grains (13.2% and 13.3% during 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively) were improved by organic amendments. However, synthetic fertilizer (at the rate of 150, 100, and 60 kg ha −1 N, P 2 O 5 , and K 2 O, respectively) applications resulted in the maximum grain yield (4.05 and 4.46 t ha −1 during 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively). The observed and simulated soil organic carbon (SOC) reasonably agreed during RothC model validation (R 2 = 0.99). Economic analysis showed the maximum net profit and relative increase in income ($729 US ha −1 and 309%, respectively) from inorganic treatment. Application of synthetic fertilizers increased grain yield and farm profit while organic manure enhanced grain quality. The RothC model had potential for determining the SOC in organic farming under arid environment.