Integrated effect of inorganics and organics on soil characteristics

The adoption of integrated nutrient management (INM) practice under the rainfed condition not only enhance and sustain the fertility and productivity of soil but also improve the nutrient and water use efficiency besides sustaining the physical, chemical and biological properties as well as over all soil health and environment.The productivity of soil cannot be sustained with the fertilizer alone as application of fertilizer alone has led to deterioration in health and productivity of rainfed soils. Application of vermicompost and farmyard manure coupled with inorganic sources of nutrients proved beneficial in augmenting the fertility status of the soil by improving soil characteristics under rainfed conditions.Due to paucity of organic sources of nutrients and their inability to meet total nutrient requirements to sustain large scale productivity goals to meet the demand of growing population, their integrated use with chemical fertilizers is inevitable.