Influence of different organic amendments in modulation of soil physico-chemical characteristics and growth of marigold seedlings

Abstract

Organic farming has emerged as a sustainable approach for increasing crop production while maintaining soil fertility. This eco-friendly practice relies on the use of various living microbes such as Rhizobia, arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and partially or fully decomposed biological materials like manure, compost, litter, coir, moss, and similar products used as soil supplements and/or conditioners for augmenting soil fertility. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of these amendments on soil physico-chemical characteristics, and on germination and growth of marigold (Tagetes erecta) seedlings raised on these soils. The experiment was carried out in pots filled with garden soil amended with compost, moss, coir and NPK while un-amended garden soil served as control. Analysis of soil samples with organic materials show a slight change toward basic pH while inorganic fertilizer made the soil acidic. All the amendments led to increase in electrical conductivity while modulation of soil texture resulted in change in percolation rate. Amendments also resulted in changes in the soil nutrient content (organic C, N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn). However, coir and moss amendments did not bring about much change in nutrient status of the soil. There were notable changes in growth of marigold expressed in increased fresh weight, root length, shoot length as well number of nodes and number of leaves in amended soils. The study indicates that though coir and moss did not bring much change in nutrient status of soil but they altered the particle size for improved percolation.