Effect of integrated nutrient management on physico-chemical properties of lateritic soil of Konkan region of Maharashtra

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the farm of College of Agriculture, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra to study the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on physico-chemical properties of lateritic soil of Konkan region of Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) comprising eleven treatment combinations replicated thrice on bottle gourd (variety Samrat) as a test crop during kharif season of 2017. The physico-chemical properties of soil were studied at initial stage and after harvest of the crop using the standard analytical methods. Results showed that the different INM combinations did not show significant effect on mechanical composition, maximum water holding capacity, bulk density and particle density of the soil after harvest of the bottle gourd. However pH, electric conductivity (EC) and organic carbon (OC) showed significant improvement as a consequence of various treatment combinations. In general physico-chemical properties of experimental plot represented a typical lateritic soil of Konkan Maharashtra. Application of 50 per cent inorganics and 50 per cent of poultry manure registered maximum pH value (5.99) and OC content (14.90 g/kg) in soil after harvest of the crop. The integration of 50 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through inorganics and 50 per cent RDN through vermicompost recorded maximum EC value (0.47 dS/m) of soil after harvest.