S. YADAV AND PARVEEN KUMAR*
School of Business, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune-411038 (Maharashtra), India
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, G. D. Goenka University, Sohna- Gurugram Road, Sohna-122 103 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: parveenenv@gmail.com; Mobile: +91 2071177104)
(Received: February 7, 2024; Accepted: March 20, 2024)
ABSTRACT
The rice straw is a potential resource for use as valuable organic amendment in soil. The present study investigated influence of rice straw, Azadirachta indica (leaves), and cow dung derived organic amendments (vermicompost and compost) on the physico-chemical properties of the loamy sand soil of Gurugram during tomato plant cultivation. The experimental set up comprised of four treatments (P1, P2, P3, and P4) in plastic pots using plants, organic amendments derived from different combinations of feed stocks, and soil. Eisenia fetida species of earthworm was used for vermicompost production. Loamy sand soil was added to the respective pots up to a height of 20 cm. The organic amendments were added over the soil layer and tomato plant seedlings were transplanted in each pot. The initial soil quality parameters were measured before incorporation of the organic amendments. The tomato plants were harvested after 120 days of transplantation and the soil from the bottom of all pots was collected for analysis of final soil quality parameters. The results showed significant improvement (P <0.05) in soil quality parameters for all treatments with the application of organic amendments as compared with the initial soil sample, i.e., EC (0.5 to 2 fold), TOC (0.47 to 0.51 fold), TN (0.97 to 1.34 fold), P (0.46 to 1.57 fold), K (0.05 to 0.71 fold), Zn (0.08 to 0.29 fold), Fe (0.05 to 0.42 fold), Cu (0.12 to 1.21 fold), Mn (1.04 to 2.06 fold), and total microbial load (0.22 to 0.71 fold). The 1.74 to 3.79% decrease was observed in the soil pH with the application of organic amendments. The findings revealed positive influence of the organic amendments on the soil quality parameters. Key words: Eisenia fetida, neem leaves, quality parameters, rice straw, soil health, vermicompost