Abstract:A long term fertilizer experiment (30 years) at Bengaluru had been started during 1986 with eleven treatments and four replications in an Alfisol on finger millet (Elusine coracana)-maize (Zea mays) cropping sequence. The results of the ongoing experiment after 27 cycles of finger millet and maize on changes in soil chemical properties revealed that application of inorganics alone resulted in impaired soil fertility status (soil pH, organic carbon content and available nutrients in soil were decreased) over balanced fertilizer application. There was a decline in soil reaction over the initial status and the maximum decrease was observed in 100 %NP (-1.46), 100 % N (-1.20) and other treatments. Application of 100 % NPK+FYM+lime maintained the soil pH (6.2) compared to all the other treatments. Organic carbon content of soil in all the treatments was higher (6.46 g kg ) compared to the initial status; however, maximum increase in organic carbon content was registered on application of NPK+FYM. Application of 10 t ha -1 along with recommended dose of fertilizers and lime was found promising in term of sustaining crop and soil productivity.
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