Studies on nutrient release pattern and microbial population from treated rice residue in light texture soil

Abstract

A pot experiment entitled studies on nutrient release pattern and microbial population from treated rice residue in light-texture soil was conducted during Aug. to Nov. 2022 at the Department of Soil Science, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology Meerut (U.P.). The soil was sandy-loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The eight treatments consisting of rice residue amendment with different biological and organic sources viz., T1 (Absolutely control), T2 (Soil + untreated rice residue), T3 (Soil + rice residue + Jivamrit), T4 (Soil + rice residue + PUSA decomposer), T5 (Soil + rice residue + urea), T6 (Soil + rice residue + Trichoderma), T7 (Soil + rice residue + Pleurotus), and T8 (Soil + rice residue + Vermicompost) were tested in CRD with three replications. The results reveal that availability of nitrogen, phosphorous potassium, and manganese after termination of the experiment was maximum in T8 where rice residue was treated with vermicompost. Organic carbon and soil pH declined with the incubation period and maximum reduction was found in T3 and T4 respectively. Availability of Fe and zinc was more in T3 and T6 respectively. The bacterial and fungal populations during decomposition were not static; they reached a peak and then declined. Thus, it was concluded that amendment of rice residue with vermicompost was much more effective and this process improves soil fertility. Therefore, effective recycling of rice residue vermicompost may be an option.