Abstract
AbstractSodic soil is increasing due to intensive cropping and imbalanced use of agrochemicals. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to reduce the soil sodicity in agricultural fields using sustainable resources. The ‘microbe–residue–soil’ interaction is hypothesized to foster the structural and functional changes during sodic soil reclamation. To elucidate the hypothesis, rice straw (RS) assimilation in sodic soil was instated in the presence of synergistically interacting Trichoderma koningiopsis NBRI‐PR5 (PR5) and T. asperellum NBRI‐K14 (K14) consortium. The interaction of the ‘microbe‐residue‐soil’ was investigated in‐vitro and in sodic fields. Our studies included estimation of soil physicochemical properties, enzymes, CO2 efflux using LI‐COR, microbial population, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The compatibility and synergism of PR5 assisted the K14 to produce laccase enzyme at high pH condition (pH 8) to degrade RS in sodic soil. For in vitro and field applications, Trichoderma were colonized on RS (TrichoRS) and applied at 25 t ha−1. Impact of TrichoRS on soil was evident from decreased soil pH (9.6 to 7.8), exchangeable sodium percent (19.6 to 9.9%), increased soil porosity (~53% from 38%), and cation exchange capacity (~twofold). The FTIR showed differences in the stretching of O‐H bonds at 3750–34500 cm−1 indicating the presence of more kaolinite‐type silicates after TrichoRS amendment. Field application of TrichoRS increased the total organic carbon and water‐holding capacity from 0.37% to 1.3% and 34% to 57%, respectively. Increased microbes and urease, protease, and phosphatase activity by 2.72‐, 0.94‐, and 0.88‐times, respectively, ensured nutrient availability. The improved soil properties and ~ 30% increased production justify the hypothesis in providing sustainable reclamation solution for reviving fertility of sodic and intensively cultivated fields.
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