Organic nutrition for soil health and productivity of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
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Date
2011
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Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Agriculture,Vellayani
Abstract
An investigation was carried out at the Instructional farm, attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to evaluate the effect of two enriched composts viz. BM compost and EM compost at different rates alone as well as in combination with two growth promoters viz, Panchagavya and vermiwash on physico-chemical and biological properties of soil and also their impact on crop performance using chilli variety Vellayani Athulya as test crop.
The results from the field experiment revealed that the plant growth characters viz. height of the plant at 30, 60 and 90 DAT and primary branches per plant at 90 DAT showed significant variation due to the application of 75% N as BM compost along with Panchagavya. The treatments did not significantly affect the biometric observation, ‘days to 50% flowering’. Significant differences were observed among yield attributing characters viz. number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per (g plant-1), total fruit yield (t ha-1) and total dry matter yield (t ha-1). The treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) recorded the highest values for all these characters but it was found to be on par with T7 (75% N as EM compost + Panchagavya). This shows that BM compost can be substituted with EM compost when used along with Panchagavya.
With respect to quality characters, the treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) registered the highest values for capsaicin, ascorbic acid and shelf life of fruits. However ‘oleoresin’ was not influenced by different treatments.
Disease incidence percentage (Colletotrichum fruit rot) was found to be reduced by the treatments with organic sources. The treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) reduced the incidence of pests and diseases to a considerable extent. Highest BC ratio also was recorded by the same treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya). Post harvest analysis of the soil indicated that organic carbon, available macro and micro nutrients pH, EC and microbial load and dehydrogenase activity were increased by the combined application of enriched manures viz. 75% N as BM compost and Panchagavya or 75% N as EM compost and Panchagavya. Bulk density was found to be reduced favourably.
From the results it was clearly indicated that 75% N as BM compost and Panchagavya or 75% N as EM compost and Panchagavya was superior to all other organic sources in promoting soil health and yield and quality of chilli.
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173066