Effect of Vermicompost Scheduling on Soil Properties, Growth Performance of Rice Crop and Its Residual Effect on Wheat Crop

Abstract

To study “Effect of Vermicompost Scheduling on Soil Properties, Growth Performance of Rice Crop and its Residual Effect on Wheat Crop”, field experiments were conducted during 2011-12 and 2012-13. The study area was CRC of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. Soil of experimental site was low in organic carbon, available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium with slightly alkaline pH. Ten different treatments comprising application of different levels of vermicompost alongwith with different levels of nitrogen and recommended level of PK were tested in a randomized block design with three replications. Rice variety PB-1 and wheat PBW-502 were grown during kharif and rabi seasons of both the years. Observations on different growth parameters, yield and yield attributing characters, nutrient content, nutrient assimilation and physico chemical properties of soil at different growth stages of rice-wheat cropping system were recorded. Data were subjected to statistical analysis on which basis treatments effect were explained. The results reveal that growth parameters and yield attributing characters of rice crop were higher with application of 100% NPK (T2) through chemical fertilizer followed by T3 where along with 75% N 100% PK basal application of 2 ton vermicompost was made. Grain yield was also higher in T2 but it did not differ significantly from T3, T4 and T5. Plant nutrient content and uptake was also higher in T2 at different growth stages of rice. The nutrients availability in soil was affected by the timing of vermicompost application. Organic carbon, pH and electrical conductivity of soil at different growth stages of rice remained unaffected due to application of different treatments. The residual effect of preceding rice crop treatments on number of tillers per meter row length of wheat, spike length and test weight was non significant while a significant residual effect was found on nutrients availability. The residual effect of 4 ton vermicompost application on grain yield of wheat was significant but application of 2 ton vermicompost could not result any significant effect. Percent organic carbon, soil pH, electrical conductivity remain unaffected due to residual effect while a significant effect was noticed on the bulk density of soil after wheat harvest. It is concluded that 25% nitrogen requirement of basmati rice can be supplemented through the application of 2 ton vermicompost ha-1 as basal, or at panicle initiation or at flowering stages of rice crop.