Impacts of vermicompost and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium application on soil fertility status in arecanut grown on a laterite soil.

摘要

A field experiment (1998 to 2010) investigated the effects of vermicompost (VC) and chemical fertilizer (CF) application alone or in combination on soil fertility status in arecanut. Vermicompost significantly increased the soil pH (6.3) over CF and integrated treatments (5.7-5.8). Greater soil organic carbon was noticed with VC (2.85-3.00%) than with CF (1.72-1.89%) and VC+CF (1.89-2.55%) in 2009. Soil test phosphorus (P) (mg kg-1) significantly increased with VC 200% nitrogen (N) equivalency (35.3) compared to other treatments (8.5-23.3) at the 0- to 30-cm depth in 2009. In 2003, soil test potassium (K) (mg kg-1) was significantly greater with CF at depths of both 0-30 cm (162-187) and 30-60 cm (172-214) than VC and control. Soil test K depleted with VC application in 2009. Application of VC significantly improved soil test calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) compared to CF, CF+VC, and control at 0-30 cm deep. Soil test values for micronutrients increased in 2009 compared to initial status.