PREDICTION OF POST-HARVEST SOIL TEST VALUE AFTER SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius L.) CROP IN VERTISOL OF CHHATTISGARH, INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/abr.2026.28.01.38Keywords:
Integrated nutrient management, post-harvest soil test value, safflower, soil test crop responseAbstract
Soil fertility management is cornerstone for sustainable crop production, ensuringnutrient availability for optimal yields.Reliable estimates ofpost-harvest soil test values (PHSTVs) are crucial for planning nutrient applications for succeeding crops. Conventional soil testing after each crop cycle is costly and time-consuming; hence, predictive models based on initial soil fertility status, applied fertilizer doses, and crop yields provide a practical alternative. The present study was aimed to assess the relationship between observed and predicted PHSTVs and to generate prediction equations after safflower cultivation. Multiple regression analysis was performed, considering PHSTVs as the dependent variable and initial soil test levels, fertilizer inputs, and grain yields as independent variables. Equations developed on the basis of yield and nutrient uptake demonstrated high predictability for KMnO4-N, Olsen’s P, and NH4+-acetate extractable K. Predicted PHSTVs for N, P, and K were compared with observed values, yielding considerably large R² values, confirming strong model performance. Calibration using RMSE and RE showed RMSE values in the order K > N > P, while RE values followed P > K > N. For safflower, RE values below 10% indicated excellent prediction accuracy. The generated equations for PHSTVs offer a reliable tool for estimating soil test values without repeated laboratory testing. This approach reduces soil testing costs, improves nutrient management efficiency, and supports sustainable crop production.
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