Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND APPLICATION MODE OFZINC AND VERMICOMPOST ON MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENTAVAILABILITY IN SANDY LOAM SOIL

Suhal Sardar, U.P. Shahi, Rajendra Prashad and Sharad Pandey

Abstract

Field experiments on rice crop were conducted on sandy loam soil at crop research center chirodi of SVBPuniversity of Agriculture and Technology Meerut during 2011 and 2012 to evaluate “Effect of differentsources and application mode of zinc and vermicompost on residual soil fertility in sandy loam soil”. Thetreatments comprised of 4 sources of Zn (zinc sulphate heptahidrate, mono zinc sulphate, chelated zincand micronutrient mixture) and vermicompost with the combination of RDF (NPK @ 120:60:60) in differentmode of application (soil application and foliar spray). There were 12 treatments combinations replicatedthrice in a factorial randomized block design. The vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 were applied before transplantingwith the combination of RDF during 2011 and 2012. While the graded level of Zn were applied at the timeof transplanting, tillering and panicle initiation. The experimental soil was low in organic carbon andavailable nitrogen and medium in phosphorus and higher in potassium with slightly alkaline in pH. NPKavailability in soil at harvest stage was influenced significantly by different treatments during both theyears. The highest availability of N (228.36 and 241.44), P (25.17 and 26.29) and K (260.54 and 259.22) kg ha-1 during 2011 and 2012 was found in T2 (100% RDF) and it is similar to the treatment T12 where VC @ 3 tonha-1 + RDF was applied. The highest zinc availability 2.53 and 2.24 ppm during 2011 and 2012 found in T3(5kg Zn ha-1 through ZnSO4) was significantly higher than the rest of the treatments while minimum zincavailability recorded in T1(control). The application of 3t ha-1 vermicompost with recommended NPK inrice crop significantly increased the content of DTPA- extractable Cu, Fe and Mn in soil and also similar tothe T11 where micronutrient mixture with recommended NPK was used during both the years. There is noappraisal change was found in soil pH, EC, during both the years.