EFFECT OF ENRICHED URBAN COMPOST AND WASTES ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2023-02-09
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Effect of enriched urban compost and wastes on soil properties and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)” was carried out in farmers field during 2022 near Bengaluru. Prior to initiation of the field experiment, urban compost and wastes i.e., FYM, urban solid waste compost, sewage sludge and humanure compost were enriched with five different microbial strains viz., Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium, Fraturia aurantia, Psedomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viridae. Field experiment consisting of nine treatment combinations comprising varied levels of recommended NPK with enriched urban compost and wastes, was laid out in RCBD with three replications. The results revealed that application of 75 % NPK+ microbial enriched urban compost at 7.5 t ha-1 (T7) had significantly higher kernel yield (8512 kg ha-1), stover yield (12115 kg ha-1) and significantly higher uptake of N (112.07 and 136.09 kg ha-1) P (28.66 and 29.08 kg ha-1) and K (95.61 and 156.28 kg ha-1) were
recorded in both kernel and stover, repectively. Treatment with 75 % NPK + microbial enriched urban compost at 7.5 t ha-1 (T7) recorded significantly higher soil available nutrients i.e., N (231.98 kg ha-1), P (60.68 kg ha-1) and K (238. kg ha-1) after harvest of
the crop. Enriched urban solid waste compost, humanure compost, sewage sludge serves as alternative to FYM and they can also reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.