Effect of vermicompost on the electro-chemical properties and nutritional characteristics of variable charge soils
| dc.contributor.advisor | Rajendran, P | |
| dc.contributor.author | Bijulal, B L | |
| dc.contributor.author | KAU | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-05-10T07:39:22Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-05-10T07:39:22Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1997 | |
| dc.description | PG | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | The study entitled "Effect of vermicompost on the electrochemical properties and nutritional characteristics of variable charge soils" has been carried out during 1994-95 which comprised of two experiments, viz., an incubation study and a pot culture experiment. The incubation experiment was carried out at the laboratory attached to the Department of Soil Science and Agrl. Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani which was intended to study the effect of vermicompost (VC) in comparison with two other organic manures, viz., FYM and ordinary compost, on the electro-chemical properties and nutritional characteristics of a low activity clay soil taken from Vellayani. The pot culture experiment was conducted using the same soil used for the incubation study, to compare the agronomic effectiveness of various organic manures including vermicompost using cowpea as a test crop. Both the experiments were laid out in Completely Randomized Design. The incubation experiment was conducted with nine treatments consisting of various organic manures with and without rock phosphate. Periodical sampling and analyses of soil incubated with various treatment materials were done at 30 days' interval to study the comparative effect of treatments on the electo-chemical properties and nutritional characteristics of the soil. The pot culture experiment was conducted with eleven treatments containing different organic manures with and without chemical fertilizers, to study the comparative effect of different treatments on crop growth using cowpea. Observations on various biometric and yield parameters have been recorded and analyses of plant samples were done at three stages of growth of the plant, viz., 20 DAS, maximum flowering and at harvest. The nutrient status of the soil after the experiment was also analysed. From the incubation experiment it was made clear that the effect of various organic manures differed significantly in influencing the electro-chemical and nutritional properties of variable charge soils. In general, vermicompost maintained its superiority over other organic manures, especially in the presence of chemical fertilizers, in influencing various soil properties. The effects were statistically significant in the order vermicompost > FYM> ordinary compost. From the experiment it was proved that lower doses of vermicompost could be equated with higher doses of FYM and ordinary compost. Vermicompost established its superiority over other organic manures by influencing many of the soil properties favourably. The major effects were the reduction in P-fixation and increased P solubility in presence of vermicompost. The increased mineralisation of other major and secondary nutrients in the presence of VC caused an enhancement in the availability of these nutrients on an equivalent weight basis. A substantial increase in base status and pH, caused by vermicompost improved the overall plant nutrient status and soil environment compared to other organic manures. The organic matter fractions and other colloidal fractions were found to be favourably influenced by vermicompost. Organic colloids, being the most active and reactive phase of the soil, its contribution towards the total base exchange capacity and cation protection was more pronounced in the case of vermicompost. Biometric observations at critical stages of growth of the crop and yield parameters recorded when analysed statistically have proved the superiority of VC over other organic amendments studied. Vermicompost application in combination with chemical fertilizers was proved to be the best among treatments tested. Lower doses of VC (10 t ha-1) with lime and fertilizers was equally effective as higher doses (20 t ha-1) of other organic manures studied. Analysis of plant samples at critical stages of growth also revealed the same effect. Soil analysis data after the pot experiment has further established the superiority of VC over other treatments. This is indicative of the ability of VC to sustain a higher level of soil fertility for a sufficiently longer period of time. However, the present study being an experiment under controlled conditions, further research involving detailed field experimentation with selected crops is needed for drawing final conclusions. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | 171219 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810102733 | |
| dc.keywords | Soil science and agricultural chemistry, vermicompost, analysis of soil during incubation, pot culture experiment | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani | en_US |
| dc.sub | Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry | en_US |
| dc.subject | null | en_US |
| dc.theme | Nutritional characteristics of variable charge soils | en_US |
| dc.these.type | M.Sc | en_US |
| dc.title | Effect of vermicompost on the electro-chemical properties and nutritional characteristics of variable charge soils | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |