Effect of conjoint use of bio-organics and chemical fertilizers on yield, soil properties under French bean-cauliflower-based cropping system

摘要

This study investigates the effect of conjoint use of bio-organics (biofertilizers + crop residues + FYM) and chemical fertilizers on yield, physical-chemical and microbial properties of soil in a ‘French bean-cauliflower’-based cropping system of mid hills of the north-western Himalayan Region (NWHR) of India. Conjoint bio-organics at varied levels of NPK chemical fertilizers increased yield of ‘cauliflower’ over corresponding single application. Incorporation of crop residues with 75% of the recommended NPK application resulted in the highest yield (19 t ha−1). Conjoint use of bio-organics produced a yield (15.65 t ha−1), which was statistically on a par with 75% of the recommended NPK application alone. This indicated a saving of 75% NPK chemical fertilizers. In the case of ‘French bean’, the effect was non-significant. The results also showed significant higher soil available N (351.3 kg ha−1) under 75% NPK + biofertilizers, whereas the highest soil available K (268.3 kg ha−1) was recorded under 75% NPK + crop residues. Lowest bulk density (1.03 Mg m−3), highest water holding capacity (36.5%), soil organic matter (10.6 g kg−1), bacterial (4.13 × 107 cfu g−1) and fungal (6.3 × 107 cfu g−1) counts were recorded under sole application of bio-organics. According to our study, we concluded that the combination of NPK fertilizers and bio-organics increased yield except French bean, soil available N, K and saved chemical fertilizers under ‘French bean-cauliflower’-based cropping system.