Macronutrients (NPK) and other soil properties influenced by long term organic and conventional potato farming in West-Central Bhutan
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Abstract
There are reported overuse of chemical fertilizers by some conventional potato farmers in Bhutan. On the other hand, over the years, some farmers have been growing potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) organically. The macronutrients (NPK) and other soil properties influenced by long-term organic and conventional potato farming were investigated in Gasa and Wangdue Phodrang Districts in West-Central Bhutan. The total nitrogen (N)% in organic potato soil (0.38%) was significantly higher than in conventional soil (0.26%) at p<0.01. Available phosphorus (P) was significantly higher in conventional potato soil (8.87 mg/kg) than in organic soil (4.87 mg/kg) at p<0.05. There was no significant difference in available and exchangeable potassium (K) between organic and conventional soils. The pH of conventionally cultivated soil (4.99) was significantly lower than organic soil (5.57) at p<0.01. There was a positive correlation (0.883) between total N% and soil organic matter in conventional soil at p<0.01. However, no significant difference was observed in the organic matter% content between these farming systems. Further, the Carbon: Nitrogen (C: N) ratio was significantly lower in organic (9.99) than conventional soil (11.52) at p<0.01. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was significantly higher in organic soil (22.26) than in conventional soils (19.45) at p<0.05. The study revealed that organic farming led to higher soil residual N and higher CEC than conventional one. It also showed a lower C:N ratio, whereas conventional farming led to higher P but lower pH than organic farming
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