Different Cropping System Effects of Depth-Wise Distribution of Available NPKS in an Inceptisol of Southern Telangana Zone

The present study was undertaken in the ongoing long-term experiment initiated during 2017 at the experimental farm of College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Soil samples were collected from two depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) and analysed for soil fertility parameters namely: available N, P, K and S. The results indicated that the different cropping systems had positive influence on improving the nutrient status (i.e., available N, P and K) significantly over the initial soil values (N: 112.20, P: 23.40 and K: 170.30 kg ha-1, respectively). Interestingly, it was noticed that improved availability of nutrients (N, P, K and S) was more profound in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm) compared to lower depth (15–30 cm) in all the cropping systems (CS). The CS: Bt cotton + Greengram – Groundnut had recorded high nitrogen (N=221.60 kg-1), CS: Fodder maize – Lucerne recorded high in available P (P=49.13 kg-1) and CS: Fodder sorghum + Fodder cowpea – Horsegram – Sunhemp recorded high in K and S (K=208.10 kg-1, S= 172.0 kg S ha-1) after kharif season. While, CS: Pigeon pea + Greengram – Sesame showed high for N (N=228.57 kg-1), CS: Fodder maize – Lucerne for high P (P=48.27 kg-1) and Rice – Maize recorded high for K and S (K=207.63 kg-1 and S= 95.40 kg S ha-1) in top soil layer (0–15 cm) after harvest of rabi compared to lower soil depth (15–30 cm).