COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF FARM YARD MANURE AND VERMICOMPOST UNDER PRESCRIPTION BASED FERTILIZER APPLICATION IN MAIZE-WHEAT SYSTEM IN AN ACID ALFISOL
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Date
2014
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Publisher
CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavavidyalaya, Palampur
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to study the comparative effectiveness of farm yard manure
and vermicompost under prescription based fertilizer application in maize-wheat system in an acid Alfisol at
experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur. There were
nine treatments which were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The treatments were control, soil test
based, farmers’ practice, 100% NPK, target yield (non-IPNS), target yield with 2.5t and 5t FYM ha-1 with 2.5t and
5t vermicompost ha-1. The target yield for maize and wheat was 40 q and 35 q ha-1, respectively. The experiment
was conducted on maize and wheat for two years i.e. kharif 2011 to rabi 2012-13. The soil of experimental farm
was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction (pH 5.1), medium in organic carbon (7.8 g kg-1) with 208, 26.8
and 214 kg ha-1 of available N, P and K, respectively. The micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were 21.2,
0.83, 0.99 and 16.9 mg kg-1. Surface (0-0.15 m) and sub-surface (0.15-0.30 m) soil samples taken before the
sowing and after the harvest of each crop were analysed for pH, organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity
(CEC), available N, P, K, S, exchangeable Ca, Mg and micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn. Bulk density,
particle density, water holding capacity, water stable aggregates, microbial biomass carbon, urease and
phosphatase activity were determined before the sowing and after harvest of last crop. Yield of maize and wheat
was recorded. Plant samples of both the crops were analyzed for total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and micronutrient
cations and their uptakes were worked out. The study revealed that water holding capacity and water stable
aggregates increased in targeted yield treatments with integrated plant nutrient supply (IPNS) as compared to their
non-IPNS counterparts. However, the effect of IPNS treatments as compared to non-IPNS was non significant in
case of bulk density and particle density. Soil pH was not affected significantly but OC and CEC improved in
targeted yield with IPNS than rest of the treatments in both surface and sub-surface soil samples. The status of
available N, P, K and S was recorded highest in treatment where 5t vermicompost ha-1 with targeted yield was
applied. Exchangeable Ca, Mg and DTPA extractable micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn increased under
prescription based fertilizer application with IPNS as compared to non-IPNS in both surface and sub-surface soil
samples. Microbial biomass carbon, urease activity and phosphatase activity was recorded highest in the treatment
comprising of fertilizer application based on targeted yield with 5t vermicompost ha-1. Highest yield of both the
crops was recorded in treatment where 5t vermicompost ha-1 was applied with targeted yield concept and uptake
of primary (N, P and K), secondary (Ca, Mg and S) and micronutrient cations (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) were recorded
higher in targeted yield treatments of IPNS as compared to rest of the treatments. In maize, the highest net returns
were recorded in the treatment with targeted yield (non-IPNS) followed by targeted yield with 2.5 t FYM ha-1 and
lowest in farmers’ practice whereas, in wheat the highest net returns were recorded in the treatment with targeted
yield (non-IPNS) followed by 2.5t FYM ha-1 with targeted yield treatment and lowest in farmers’ practice. In
maize, output input ratio was highest (2.6) recorded in targeted yield treatment with non-IPNS whereas, in wheat
it was highest in soil test base (3.2). All the physical, chemical and biological properties were positively correlated
with grain and straw yield of maize and wheat except bulk density and particle density.
Description
Doctoral Dissertation
Keywords
##Unable to generate tags th8496.pdf, Soil Science, ##Unable to generate tags th8496.pdf, Fertilizers, ##Unable to generate tags th8496.pdf, Maize