Soil Application of Fly Ash Based Biofertilizers for Increased Crop Production

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in five consecutive years (2006–2011) in 20 different villages of Nabha, District Patiala, Punjab to observe the effect of fly ash based bacterial bio fertilizers viz., nitrofix and phosul on wheat (HD-2967 and PBW-343) and blue green algal biofertilizers on rice (PUSA 1121 and Basmati 1401) cultivars to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers, improve soil nutrient status and crop yield. Positive response and upward trend in wheat and paddy crop was observed with significant increase in paddy yield ranging from 5–23 quintals per acre in five year (2006–2011). Increase in yield of wheat was observed during field demonstration from 2 quintals per acre in 2006 to 20 quintals per acre in 2011 with reduction in application of urea and SSP from 6–30%. An overall increase in soil organic carbon from 0.100.51%, total nitrogen from 0.001–0.08% and available phosphorus from 5–26 mg/kg of soil was observed during field trials conducted during 2006–2011 as a result of application of microbial inoculants.