Effectiveness of Organics with Nitrogen Levels and Bio-fertilizers on Soil Chemico-biological Properties of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Crop [Cv.PBW-343] in Inseptisol

Aims: To enhance soil quality, production, productivity and profit maximization with higher economic returns through integrated farming practices. In addition, to fulfill the needs of farmers economical point of view, academic, society and social reforms.

Study Design: Effectiveness of organics with nitrogen levels and bio-fertilizers on soil chemico-biological properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop [Cv.PBW-343] in Inseptisol.

Place and Duration of Study: The cumulative study period of 2018-19 and 2019-20, at research farm, department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, naini agricultural institute, sam higginbottom university of agriculture, technology and sciences, which is located at 25°58’ North latitude and 81°52' East longitude with an altitude of 98 meter above mean sea level and is situated 5km away on the right, bank of Yamuna river.

Methodology: Randomized block design fallowed here with 12 treatment combinations replicated 3 times. Recommended dose of fertilizers i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, was applied @ 120:60:40 kg ha-1 as urea (46% N), single super phosphate (16% P2O5), muriate of potash (60% K2O) and zinc sulphate (21% Zn). The Azotobactor spp. and Azospirilium spp. (seed inoculants), applied at 3 kg ha-1 with farm yard manure @ 5 tha-1, at 5 cm depth in furrows, before seed sowing was done on 13th and 14th of November (2018-2019) with spacing of 22.5 X 5 cm. Wheat cultivar used here is PBW-343 as a test crop.

Results: The cumulative mean of low soil pH (6.82), electrical conductivity (0.37 dS m-1) and free lime content (13.55%), the higher cation exchange capacity (16.37 cmol (p+) kg-1), higher available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and available sulphur of 262.12: 21.75:220.51:32.57 kg ha-1, respectively, high available iron and zinc (i.e. 3.90 and 1.79 mg kg-1), low available manganese and copper (3.77 and 0.31 mg kg-1), further the cumulative mean of dehydrogenase enzyme activity (1.49 µg triphenyl-formazan g-1 day-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (186.35 µg para-nitrophenol g-1 hr-1) and microbial biomass carbon (37.59 g kg-1) was labelled in treatment (T9) consisting of 75% N + farm yard manure @ 5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter spp + Azospirillum spp (3 kg ha-1) + zinc in comparison to in-organic application over control.

Conclusion: The combined application of farm yard manure, Azotobacter spp and Azospirilium spp along with in-organics, has led to improvement in soil health potential, nutrient availability and yield sustenance under wheat crop cultivation.