Indexing Soil Quality under Long-Term Maize-Wheat Cropping System in an Acidic Alfisol

A study was undertaken to identify suitable indicators of soil quality from a long-term fertilizer experiment conducted since 1972, which was laid out in a randomized block design with eleven treatments replicated three times. Surface (0–0.15 m) soil samples were collected after harvest of wheat crop during 2010–11 and were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological properties. Sustainable yield index (SYI) was calculated based on long-term yield data. Highest and lowest overall SYI values were found in balanced fertilization along with manures and urea-only treatments, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, pH, labile carbon, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), pentetate zinc trisodium (DTPA Zn), and nitrogen mineralization were most important minimum dataset (MDS) indicators. The greatest soil quality index (SQI) value was found in balanced fertilization along with manures followed by balanced fertilization along with lime; and the urea-only treatment was the lowest. Balanced fertilization along with manures showed positive change in soil quality and maintained sustainability of productivity.