Use of Fortified Compost for Improving Soil Properties aAnd Enhancing Wheat Grain Yield in an Acid Alfisol

Abstract

An experiment on wheat (cv. HS-295) was conducted in growtli chamber of the Department of Organic Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during rahi 2011 with seven treatments and four replications in completely randomized design. Biocomposts were prepared from cow dung, Eupatorium weed and with two levels of rock phosphate i.e. (5% and 10%). The best one among three biocomposts i.e. cowdung+Eupatorium weed + 5% rock phosphate was selected and applied to wheat in combination with fertilizers. The highest grain yield was recorded in treatment- fortified compost + 5ml bio-inoculants + 5% cow urine + 1% urea (T₃). After harvest of crop, soil samples were analyzed for chemical and microbiological properties. The results revealed that after harvest the highest available nitrogen nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) i.e. 146.6 mg 1^ ' and 14.7 mg kg ^-1 respectively were observed in 100 % recommended NPK. The highest available P and K i.e. 11.3 mg kg^-1 and 92.2 mg kg^-1 respectively were recorded in treatment involving unfortified compost (no rock phosphate)+50% recommended NPK. The highest total N, P, K and S contents i.e. 599 mg kg^-1, 128 mg kg^-1', 1430 mg kg^-1 and 246 mg kg^-1, respectively were recorded in treatment involving unfortified compost+50% recommended NPK (T₄). The highest total microbial count was recorded in fortified compost + 5ml bio-inoculants. Microbial biomass carbon and urease activity were recorded highest i.e. 93.67 4μg g'and 6.4μg g'min'in unfortified compost + 50% recommended NPK(₄). Grain and straw samples were analyzed for total N, P, K and S contents and results revealed that N, P, K and S content in grain and straw increased with addition of fortified compost.