Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON MICROBIAL INDICES OF SOIL UNDER LONG TERM NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Urmila, U.S. Rawat, S.C. Bhandari and H.S Purohit

Abstract

The integrated nutrient supply, envisaging conjunctive use of fertilizers and other nutrient sources of organic or biological origin is an ideal approach to maintain soil health and increasing productivity. Microbial indices were examined for various surface soils collected from field of All India crop Improvement Project on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment trial at RCA, Udaipur to assess the changes in soil health by microbial properties under long term nutrient fertilization. Microbial activity, biomass and microbial population were found maximum in soil where application of organic manure as FYM 10 t /ha and 20 t / ha either singly or coupled with inorganic fertilizers compared to only fertilizers. Soil health was better maintained under the long term nutrient management system compared to only fertilizers.