Response of different levels of NPK and boron on physico-chemical properties of soil in Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) var. Bikores

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season (November 2023-February 2024) to assess the “Response of different levels of NPK and Boron on Physico-Chemical Properties of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) var. Bikores on central research fam of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, U.P. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three levels of NPK fertilizer (0%, 50% and 100%) and three levels of Boron (0%, 50% and 100%). The Treatment T9 (100% NPK + 100% Boron) consistently yielded the Maximum values across multiple parameters, including bulk density (1.31 Mg m-3 at 0-15 and 1.32 Mg m-3 at 15- 30 cm), particle density (2.50 Mg m-3 at 0-15 and 2.54 Mg m-3 at 15-30 cm), water holding capacity (55.59% at 0-15 and 54.60% at 15-30 cm),soil organic carbon (0.54% at 0-15 and 0.48% at 15-30 cm),percent pore space (51.50 at 0-15 and 50.35 at 15-30 cm), soil pH (7.28 at 0-15 and 7.34 at 15-30 cm), electrical conductivity (0.34 at 0-15 and 0.31dSm-1 at 15-30cm), Nitrogen (243.89 kg ha-1 at 0-15 cm and 241.89 kg ha-1 at 15-30 cm), phosphorus(30.52 kg ha-1 at 0-15 cm and 28.72 kg ha-1 at 15-30 cm), potassium (198.26 kg ha-1 at 0 -15 cm and 195.28 kg/ha at 15-30 cm), and boron (0.68 mg kg-1 at 0-15 cm and 0.55 mg kg-1 at 15-30 cm). The maximum Cost- benefit (C:B) ratio was observed 1:2.26 in treatment T9. the results underline that balanced application of NPK and Boron enhances soil physical and chemical properties, thus improving soil health and crop productivity.