Effect of organic and natural farming nutrient management practices on soil physical properties in the arecanut-black pepper cropping system
Keerthana V, Shivakumar KM, Yogeshappa H, SM Prasanna, Gurumurthy SB, Kiran N Nagajannavar, Anitha R Gandhe, Sayed Almas Mulla and Shankar Meti
Soil physical health plays a vital role in enhancing plant growth, water retention, and nutrient availability. A field experiment was conducted during the year 2021-2022 on acidic sandy loam soil at the Horticulture Research and Extension Center, Sirsi, to evaluate the impact of organic and natural farming nutrient management practices on soil physical properties in an arecanut and black pepper cropping system. Key soil parameters such as bulk density, porosity, and water holding capacity were measured and compared across treatments. Results revealed a significant improvement in soil physical conditions under organic farming practice. The maximum reduction in bulk density (1.22 Mg m⁻³) was observed in fields treated with organic manure. Additionally, surface soils under organic farming recorded higher water holding capacity (38.78%) and porosity (44.64%) compared to those under natural farming practices. These findings suggest that organic nutrient management can effectively enhance soil physical health, thereby supporting sustainable productivity in perennial cropping systems like arecanut and black pepper.
Keerthana V, Shivakumar KM, Yogeshappa H, SM Prasanna, Gurumurthy SB, Kiran N Nagajannavar, Anitha R Gandhe, Sayed Almas Mulla, Shankar Meti. Effect of organic and natural farming nutrient management practices on soil physical properties in the arecanut-black pepper cropping system. Int J Res Agron 2025;8(6):980-983. DOI: 10.33545/2618060X.2025.v8.i6l.3164
