Influence of varied crop residues and green biomass composts to rabi sorghum growing soils on uptake of major nutrients, microbial biomass and soil fertility status

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on vertisols (pH of 7.56 with organic carbon content of 0.55%) at Re- search Institute on Organic Farming, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur coming under northern Karnataka during rabi season of 2015-16 to study the Influence of varied crop residues and green biomass composts to rabi sorghum growing soils on uptake of major nutrients, organic carbon and soil fertility status. In general application of Cotton stalks, Redgram stalks, Glyricidia, combination of cotton and redgram stalks composts, FYM and combina- tion of organic and inorganic fertilizers helped to buildup soil nutrients with respect to organic carbon, available nitro- gen and phosphorus. Significantly higher nitrogen (227.3 kg ha-1), phosphorous (75.7 kg ha-1) and potassium (141.7 kg ha-1) uptake by rabi sorghum was recorded with combined application of recommended FYM (3 t ha-1) and NP fertilizers (50:25 kg N, P2O5 ha-1) (T14) followed by Cotton stalks +Redgram stalks + Glyricidia sp. with C:N ratio of 30:1 compost @ 50 kg N equivalent (T12: 222.0, 74.0 and 132.3 kg ha-1). The least uptake was recorded with abso- lute control (T15: 127.0, 42.0 and 71.7 kg ha-1). Similar trend was observed with organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorus. Combined application of recommended FYM (3 t ha-1) and NP fertilizers (50:25 kg N, P2O5 ha-1) followed by Cotton stalks +Redgram stalks + Glyricidia sp. with C:N ratio of 30:1 compost @ 50 kg N equivalent at the time of sowing recorded higher major nutrients uptake, microbial biomass and soil fertility status.