Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Rajesh Kumar, Shankar Jha, Shiveshwar Pratap Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Niru Kumari and Rajeev Padbhushan

Abstract:
Intensive cultivation and imbalance fertilization have declined the quality of soil and maize yield in calcareous soil. In order to obtain good crop yield, proper soil management is important. In preview of this the present study was designed with treatments combinations including chemical fertilizers, household vermicompost, rock phosphate addition and zinc (Zn) over the control (no fertilizer). Use of integrated rock phosphate and Zn in the vermicompost along with chemical fertilizer resulted in higher crop yield than vermicompost added with rock phosphate and Zn alone along with chemical fertilizers which were at par with full recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF). Also, soil parameters were improved on combining rock phosphate and Zn in the vermicompost along with chemical fertilizers than RDF and control. Therefore, combined use of household vermicompost enriched with rock phosphate and Zn can be best substituted for 25% N using chemical fertilizer and increased grain yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) higher by 8.0% and 7.5% than RDF. Overall, this study concluded that integrated use of chemical fertilizer along with household waste enriched vermicompost improved the crop yield and soil sustainability in calcareous soil.