Enhancing Soil Health, Fodder Energy Fractions, and Fodder Yield in Maize–Berseem Cropping Sequence Through Integrated Organic Nitrogen Fertilization

Intensified mechanization, elevated chemical inputs, and sluggish organic manure decomposition pose challenges to agricultural productivity and soil health under organic farming. We hypothesize that integrated nitrogen fertilization using farmyard manure (FYM), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and panchagavya will enhance soil health, fodder energy, and crop yield. The field experiment consisted of maize (M) and berseem (B) cropping sequences, which were laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and seven treatments. The findings showed that treatment T₇ (100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through FYM + PGPR+ 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR+ 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B)) significantly improves the soil organic carbon (5.0%–13.3%), soil organic matter content (4.85%–15.7%), available nutrients (19.1%–32.6%), microbial populations (69.0%–207.1%), and soil enzymatic activities (87.7%–163.8%) from the first year (2018–2019) to the third year (2020–2021) over the control treatment (T₁) applied with a recommended dose of fertilizers (RDFs). Moreover, treatment T₇ recorded significant changes in the fodder energy fractions, total digestible crude protein, and green fodder yield of maize and berseem during the first year (2018–2019) to the third year (2020–2021) of cultivation as compared to the control (T₁). Based on the findings, treatment T₇: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) can be recommended for adoption to the farmers for producing organic fodder with higher yield with energy and with improved soil health under organic conditions.