Comparative Study on the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Health

Abstract

Fertiliser source can influence crop growth and soil properties, but comparative information for pea cultivation under the mid-hill agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh remains limited. A field experiment was conducted at Panjiala Village, Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, India, during the rabi season from December 2025 to March 2026 to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilisers on soil health and the growth performance of pea (Pisum sativum L.) cv. PB-89. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with three treatments and three replications: T₁ (vermicompost applied at 5 t ha⁻¹, equivalent to 3.0 kg per gross plot), T₂ (seaweed-fortified granules applied at 416.7 kg ha⁻¹, equivalent to 250 g per gross plot), and T₃ (unfertilised control). The fertilisers were thoroughly incorporated into the soil before sowing, and observations were recorded from the net plot area (2.4 m × 1.8 m). Soil samples collected before sowing and after harvest were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, soil texture, and soil colour. Plant height and number of leaves were recorded at weekly intervals from December to March. The organic treatment produced the greatest plant height (76.0 ± 8.25 cm) and number of leaves (79.0 ± 8.40) and increased soil organic carbon from 0.80% before sowing to 1.10% after harvest. In contrast, the inorganic treatment recorded the highest available phosphorus (32.8 kg ha⁻¹) and potassium (385.6 kg ha⁻¹) after harvest. Soil pH remained slightly to moderately acidic, while EC remained within the normal range under all treatments. These results suggest that vermicompost was more effective in improving vegetative growth and soil organic carbon, whereas seaweed-fortified granules enhanced the availability of phosphorus and potassium under the agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh.