Response of Organic Inputs in Modulating Soil Physico-chemical Properties under Finger Millet (Eluecine coracana L.) Cultivation on Terraced Land

Background: This investigation is precisely steered to comprehend the constructive implications on soil health as influenced by the incorporation of organic manures into the soil. The global food demand has amplified significantly creating a trend to exploit excessive chemical fertilizer for achieving higher yield. To address these challenges and to demonstrate the potential of organic manures in the production of finger millet, this study was meticulously steered. Methods: An experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2023-24 at the experimental farm of Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus to evaluate the response of organic inputs in modulating soil physico-chemical properties under finger millet (Eluecine coracana L.) cultivation on terraced land. The experiment was designed based on randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments viz. T1: Control, T2: FYM @ 10 t ha-1, T3: FYM @ 5 t ha-1, T4: poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1, T5: poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1, T6: vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, T7: vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T8: enriched manure @ 5 t ha-1, T9: enriched manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 which was replicated thrice. Result: Application of organic manures had a significant effect on the substantial fractions of the soil properties analyzed in this study like soil pH (5.21), organic carbon (1.14%), cation exchange capacity {12.11 cmol (p+) kg-1}, available nitrogen (459.95 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (16.52 kg ha-1), available potassium (169.87 kg ha-1), porosity (53.81%), water holding capacity (52.95%), hydraulic Conductivity (3.0 cm h-1), per cent aggregate greater than 0.25 mm (95.57%) and mean weight diameter (1.65 mm).