Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Soil as Affected by Organic Amendments in Coloured Capsicum under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Organic manures and bio-fertilizers are one of the alternative renewable sources of nutrient supply. Bio-fertilizers combined with organic manure influences the plant growth by enhancing root biomass; total root surface facilitates higher absorption of nutrients and increase in yield by reducing consumption of natural sources of energy. In this experiment, various types of organic sources of nutrients (FYM, Poultry manure, Vermicompost and Sheep manure) and biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB and KSB) were evaluated in coloured capsicum under greenhouse conditions and their impact was studied on various physico-chemical properties of soil. Observations were recorded on various physical parameters like pH, soil EC, soil OC, soil bulk density, chemical parameters like available N, P, K and uptake of nutrient N, P and K. Data on various soil parameters revealed that T5 (75% vermicompost+ Azotobacter+ PSB+ KSB) significantly enhanced available soil nutrients and resulted in maximizing the nutrient status of the soil after the crop harvest. Highest available N (220.13kg/ ha), P (30.24kg/ ha), K (222.16kg/ ha) was recorded in treatment T5 and was found maximum as compared to all other treatments under study. However, the uptake of nutrients was observed maximum in treatment T9 (RFD). Treatment T5 (75% vermicompost + azotobacter +PSB +KSB) also contributed in improving the physical parameters of soil like electrical conductivity (0.114 dsm-1) and soil organic carbon content (1.37%) than initial status of soil, recording EC of 0.102 dsm-1 and organic carbon content of 1.19%. Additionally, the organic manures also brought the pH of soil to a desired level and pH was declined from 7.02(initial status) to 6.81 by treatment T5 (75% vermicompost + azotobacter +PSB +KSB). But treatment T2 (100% Poultry manure) improved the bulk density of soil and was reduced to 1.22 g/cm3 as compared to initial soil status recording bulk density of 1.38 g/cm3.