ABSTRACT
Continuous cropping without adequate restorative practices may endanger the sustainability of agriculture (FAO, 2003). Nutrient depletion is considered a major form of soil degradation. An in-depth study of the depletion of plant nutrients from soils will help understand the state of soil degradation and may be useful in devising nutrient management strategies. Nutrient-balance exercises may serve as an instrument to provide indicators for the sustainability of agricultural systems.
