INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC-CARBON ON THE INTERPRETATION OF SOIL TEST-PFOR WHEAT GROWN ON ALKALINE SOILS

Organic carbon is known to alter crop response to applied phosphorus ( P) but that fact has not been incorporated in soil test interpretation s. To achieve this objective, field experiments with wheat were conduc ted for four years on alkaline soils of Punjab, India. The experimenta l soils ranged from loamy sand to loam in texture, 7.4 to 9.6 in pH, 0 .16 to 0.75% in organic carbon (OC) and 2 to 40 mg Olsen extractable P kg-1 soil. Response of wheat to fertilizer phosphorus application was related to the combined effect of Olsen P and soil OC content. At a g iven Olsen P level, wheat yield was a function of soil OC content. Mul tiple regression analysis of the data showed that OC content <0.2% did not affect yield significantly. At values >0.6%, OC along with Olsen P accounted for 97% of the variation in yield and there was no respons e to applied fertilizer P. Yield isoquants for 4 and 5 tons grains ha- 1 showed that for a given Olsen P level, as OC content increased the a mount of fertilizer P required to achieve a yield target decreased. It was shown that OC may be used to approximate the contribution of orga nic P mineralization to plant available soil P during a growing season . The reliability of fertilizer recommendations based on Olsen P may b e improved on some alkaline soils by consideration of soil OC content.