EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMENTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, YIELD AND GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2015
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PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
Effect of soil amendments on soil physical environment, yield and green house
gas emissions in maize (Zea mays L.) was studied with taking maize variety 900-MGOLD
during rabi 2014-15 in Randomised Block Design (RBD ) with 6 treatments
replicated four times at the college farm, college of agriculture, Rajendranagar.
The soil was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline, non saline and medium in
organic carbon content. The soil was low in available nitrogen and medium in available
phosphorus and high in available potassium. Treatments consist of combinations of
RDF and amendments (tanksilt @ 50 t ha-1, vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, FYM @ 10 t ha-1
and biochar @ 10 t ha-1 ), Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) alone and control.
Undisturbed core samples were collected for determination of bulk density, hydraulic
conductivity and soil moisture at field capacity and permanent wilting point using
pressure plate apparatus. Undisturbed aggregates were taken for determining aggregate
stability by wet sieving method. Data on GHG emission samples were collected at
regular intervals from various treatments using anchors and chambers and analysed by
GC (Varian 3800) on the same day.
The gravimetric soil moisture content was increased in order of tanksilt >
vermicompost > biochar > FYM > RDF > control. Application of tanksilt increased
moisture holding capacity of soil 2.1 to 5.6 % over control throughout growth period.
The application tanksilt and vermicompost significantly increased the (AWC) available
water content (2.5 and 1.48 %) respectively compared to control (9.02%). However the
application of biochar, FYM and RDF resulted in AWC of (9.14, 9.43 and 9.29%)
which was on par with the control.
The application of different amendments tanksilt, vermicompost and FYM along
with RDF significantly decreased the bulk density compared to RDF applied plots.
Almost 50% increase in aggregate stability was observed with the application of
tanksilt (28.92 %). Significant increase in stability of aggregates was noticed in tanksilt,
vermicompost, biochar and FYM application over control (19.95 %). Application of all
the amendments viz., tanksilt, vermicompost, biochar and FYM reduced hydraulic
conductivity to 0.020, 0.029, 0.031 and 0.028 cm min-1 respectively over the control
(0.034 cm min-1).
Clay percentage was increased from 16.3 to 18.2% by application of tanksilt @
50 t ha-1. Almost 2 % increase in clay content was observed.
Application of tanksilt, vermicompost and biochar in combination with RDF
resulted in significant increase of soil available NPK status.
Application of all the amendments improved dry biomass and was significantly
more than that of control and RDF plots. Application of amendments increased the
drymatter production in the order of tanksilt > vermicompost > biochar > FYM > RDF
>control. The application of tanksilt, vermicompost, biochar, FYM and RDF
significantly increased the SPAD meter reading (20.69, 19.50, 15.79, 15 and 11.53)
respectively compared to the control (9.73).
The increase in grain yield was 33.14, 30.38, 15.94 and 10 % in tanksilt,
vermicompost, biochar and FYM applied plots respectively over RDF applied plots
(3547 kg ha-1).
Application of tanksilt, vermicompost and biochar in combination with RDF
resulted in significant increase in N content (2.50, 2.42 and 2.03) respectively in stover
over the RDF (0.68%).The application of tanksilt, vermicompost and biochar in
combination with RDF resulted in significant increase in P content (0.11, 0.10 and
0.09%) respectively in stover over the RDF (0.07%).The application of tanksilt,
vermicompost, biochar and FYM in combination with RDF resulted in significant
increase in Potassium content (1.53, 1.44,1.35 and 1.32 %) respectively in stover over
the RDF (1.24%). Similar trend was observed in plant NPK uptake as that of plant NPK
contents.
The cumulative CO2 emissions were recorded in the order of control >
vermicompost > tanksilt > FYM > RDF > biochar. The application of vermicompost,
tanksilt, FYM, RDF and biochar decreased the cumulative CO2 emission (126.3, 124.4,
121.6,111.13 and 109.18 kg Co2-C ha-1) respectively compared to the control (134.12
kg Co2-C ha-1).The application of biochar, RDF, tanksilt and FYM decreased the
cumulative CH4 emission (0.051, -0.041, -0.097 and -0.151 kg ha-1) respectively
compared to the control (0.059 kg ha-1) but the application of vermicompost increased
the cumulative CH4 emission (0.093 kg ha-1). The application of RDF, tanksilt, FYM
vermicompost and biochar increased the cumulative N2O emission (1.58, 0.97, 0.78,
0.67 and 0.38 kg ha-1) respectively compared to the control ( 0.037 kg ha-1). The
application of RDF, tanksilt, FYM, vermicompost and biochar increased the N2O
emission factor (0.775, 0.41, 0.28, 0.243 and 0.127) respectively. Highest global
warming potential was observed in the RDF and this was followed by tanksilt and
lowest being the control i.e., without any fertilizer application. Among the amendments
lowest global warming potential was observed in biochar application plots.
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Keywords
farmyard manure, vermicomposting, maize, land resources, irrigation, harvesting, fertilizers, yields, soil amendments, crops