Active soil organic matter fractions and maize productivity as influenced by fertilizers, FYM, and lime in an acid Alfisol

This study analyzes the effect of fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), and lime on active soil organic matter (SOM) fractions and maize productivity in an acid soil of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India after three years of continuous maize cultivation. The experiment was laid out with eleven treatments comprising 100% NPK, 100% NPK with different combinations of FYM and lime, Natural Farming and control. The increase in the active SOM fractions (water-soluble organic carbon, water-soluble carbohydrates, and soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) was higher with the application of 100% NPK, 10t FYM ha ^-1 and full dose of lime. By integrating fertilizers with FYM and lime, the grain and stover yield of maize significantly increased over the rest of the treatments. The active SOM fractions were significantly and positively correlated with the maize yield. Hence, proper soil management approach including the judicious use of fertilizers, FYM and lime is essential to improve the SOM fractions and enhance the maize productivity in acid soils.