Effect of phosphorus, FYM and lime on yield, P uptake by maize and forms of soil acidity in typic hapludalf of Meghalaya

Field experiments were conducted during the kharif seasons of 1999 and 2000 to study the effect of P levels, FYM and lime on yield, P use efficiency (PUE) by maize and forms of soil acidity. Application of 60 kg P2O5 with 5 t FYM and 2 t lime ha−1 resulted in a significant increase in yield, test weight, P uptake and PUE by maize. Available P and exchangeable Ca and Mg in post-harvest soil also increased due to application of P, FYM and lime but there was a considerable decline in exchangeable Al due to liming. Application of lime and FYM along with P reduced the different forms of acidity and the exchangeable acidity registered a decline up to 72 per cent on liming. Soil available P showed significant negative correlation with exchangeable acidity.