Green Global
Foundation   Journal
...an emerging window for scientific research and publication across the globe

PADDY CULTIVATION IN SODIC SOIL THROUGH VERMITECH (Pages : 1 - 4)

Present investigations were conducted at the farms of Uttar Pradesh Bhumi Sudhar Nigam at Shivri, Lucknow during the Kharif season in 1998-99 to assess the impact of organic amendment vermicompost in comparison to chemical fertilisers on paddy (variety-Sarju-52) in sodic soil and in relation to soil fertility, yield parameters and economics. Results indicated an increase in soil organic matter from 0.38 to 0.96 %, organic carbon from 0.22 to 0.56 %, available nitrogen (N) from 499.52 to 1245.44 kg /ha, carbonate ions from 0.20 to 0.23 meq/100 g of soil, calcium ions from 0.89 to 1.09 meq/100 g of soil and decrease in pH from 8.74 to 8.25, electric conductivity (EC) from 0.86 to 0.69 dSm-1 , sodium ions from 11.85 to 1.47 meq/100 g of soil and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) from 67.51 to 57.42, suggesting qualitative improvement of soil, in the plots amended with vermicompost. Paddy yield of 4975 kg/ha was recorded from plots amended with vermicompost while 4900 kg/ha, from plots amended with chemical fertilizers, as control. Cost benefit ratio was found to be 1:1.5 for cultivation of paddy using vermitech where as in case of chemical fertilisers, it was 1:1.06 suggesting that by the application of vermicompost in paddy, the cost of production could be reduced without compromising on harvest. Download