Effect o Organics by Substitutting Inorganic N Fertilizer on Soil Properties, Nematode Population and Yield of Banana

A field experiment was conducted to quantify the amount of inorganic N fertilizer which can be substituted by using different organics and to find out its effect on soil properties, nutrient uptake, nematode population and yield of tissue cultured banana cv. GRAND NAINE. Application of 25 % N through FYM + 75 % N through inorganic fertilizers were found beneficial in terms of banana yield and monetary returns. Which was followed by application of 25 % N through FYM and green manuring crop + 75 % N through inorganic fertilizers. Further, substitution of inorganic N fertilizers by using FYM or Neem cake upto 50 or 75 % was not found beneficial and economical. Soil available NPK after harvest of crop and nutrient uptake (kg/ha) by crop was highest in all the treatment (T₂ to T₆) where different sources of organics were used with inorganic fertilizers as compared to the treatment T₁ i.e. 100 % N through inorganic fertilizers only. The nematode population was lower in the treatments in which part of inorganic N was provided through either Neem cake or other organic sources as compared to the inorganic treatment.