Effect of wool waste in combination with farm yard manure and fertilizer on soil properties in aridisol of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Aim: The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of conjunctive use of wool waste, farm yard manure and chemical fertilizer on soil properties of Aridisol of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. Methodology: After harvest of cabbage crop, soil samples were collected from the respective experimental plot of crop field by adopting the standard procedure. Bulk density, particle density, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available N, P, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, microbial count and dehydrogenase activity were estimated following the standard protocol. Results: Application of wool waste @ 7.5 t ha-1 along with FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 (W1) significantly increased organic carbon and plant available nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) over control and rest of the treatment. but W1 and W2 (Wool waste @ 5 t ha-1 along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1) treatment was found at par with respect to nitrogen. Treatment W1 also gave significant performance of microbial count and dehydrogenase activity during experimental season over rest of the treatment. Application of each increasing level of recommended dose of fertilizer significantly enhanced all chemical and biological properties of soil. Application of wool waste @7.5 t ha-1 along with FYM @7.5 t ha-1 increased available macronutrients and micronutrients over control. Interpretation: It can be concluded that conjunctive use of wool waste, farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizer proved better nutrient management option for improving soil properties.

Effect of Silicate Solubilizing Bacteria and Fly Ash on Mean Leaf Erectness of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) in Low, Medium and High Silicon Soils.

The leaf erectness is known to be one of the important factors that affect light conditions in plant population. Thereby triggers photosynthetic activity. A field experiment was carried out in low Si soil and observations made on leaf erectness at tillering stage and correlated with Si uptake and dry matter production. The leaf openness varied greatly due to application of graded levels of fly ash with and without SSB and FYM. Application of fly ash @ 100 t ha-1 with SSB and FYM registered the lowest value (16.7) which was on par with application of 50 t ha-1 fly ash +SSB and FYM. This parameter was negatively and significantly correlated with Si content (r = -0.83) and uptake (r = -0.92) in rice plant at tillering. Similarly, significant and negative correlation (r= -0.70) was observed with grain yield in loamy sand soil with low Si status. In sandy loam soil with low to medium Si status the parameter was best correlated with grain yield (r=-0.94) and negatively, significantly correlated with Si content (r =-0.55) and uptake (r=-0.82) in plant at tillering. Among the different treatments, application of SSB + FYM recorded the lowest leaf openness of 14.9 which was on par with SSB (16.4) followed by FYM (17.4) whereas control recorded the highest leaf openness of 20.0. The interaction between different main treatments and graded levels of fly ash has not rendered significant change in leaf openness under high soil Si status.

Chromium accumulation potential of Zea mays grown under four different fertilizers.

Chromium (Cr) contamination in soil is a growing concern in sustainable agriculture production and food safety. We performed pot experiment with chromium (30 mg/ soil) to assess the accumulation potential of Zea mays and study the influence of four fertilizers, viz. Farm Yard Manure (FYM), NPK, Panchakavya (PK) and Vermicompost (VC) with respect to Cr accumulation. The oxidative stress and pigment (chlorophyll) levels were also examined. The results showed increased accumulation of chromium in both shoots and roots of Zea mays under FYM and NPK supply, and reduced with PK and VC. While the protein and pigment contents decreased in Cr treated plants, the fertilizers substantiated the loss to overcome the stress. Similarly, accumulation of Cr increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) indicating the enhanced damage control activity. However, these levels were relatively low in plants supplemented with fertilizers. Our results confirm that the maize can play an effective role in bioremediation of soils polluted with chromium, particularly in supplementation with fertilizers such as farm yard manure and NPK.

Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram north-eastern India: Energy and economic efficiencies.

Energy and economic efficiencies were evaluated on young (6 year) and old (20 year) jhum fields in Mizoram, north-eastern India during second year of cropping, and were compared with those in the first year. The effect of auxiliary measures such as tilling the soil or application of fertilizers (chemical or farm-yard manure or both in combination) was also examined on energy and economic efficiencies. The results indicated that traditional jhum cultivation is labour intensive and energy efficient, producing almost 15-20 times of energy invested. Energy and economic efficiencies decline with shortening of jhum cycle. These efficiencies decline further from first to second year of cropping. Tilling is not useful to improve either energy or economic efficiency. Fertilizer application, which is though profitable from the point of view of economic efficiency, is highly energy inefficient. Application of fertilizers during second year cropping can be encouraged. Organic manuring may be a better option than others to alleviate energy efficiency. However, a combination of organic and inorgamic manuring could be the best option to enhance economic efficiency.

Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram, north-eastern India—Phytomass dynamics and primary productivity.

Cropping on jhum fallows in north-eartern India is predominantly done for one year in a jhum cycle. If second year cropping is done, expanse of the forest land required for slashing and burning could be reduced significantly. We tested this hypothesis in a young (6 yr) and an old (20 yr) jhum fallow. We also evaluated if the productivity during second year cropping could be alleviated by auxiliary measures such as tilling the soil or application of fertilizers (chemical or farm-yard manure or both in combination). The results demonstrate that the ecosystem productivity (total dry matter production) and economic yield (rice grain production) decline with shortening of jhum cycle. Second year cropping causes a further decline in ecosystem productivity in old jhum field, but not in young jhum field. Economic yield from second year cropping in its traditional form (without any fertilizer treatment) is not much lower than that in the first year, and can be improved further by manuring the soil. Tilling of soil improves neither ecosystem productivity nor economic yield. Different fertilization treatments respond differently; while inorganic manuring enhances ecosystem productivity, a combination of inorganic and organic manuring improves economic yield.

Effectiveness of beta-exotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis on the ability of Meloidogyne sp. from brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to survive.

Beta-exotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis grown in the acid hydrolysates of wheat and rice brans caused 95% and 85% mortality respectively of Meloidogyne sp. as against 72% of ß-exotoxin produced on farm yard manure within 7 days. Acid hydrolysate of wheat or rice bran and solid farm yard manure proved to be the best media for growth of B. thuringiensis var. thuringiensis.