An Asian Journal of Soil Science

N. J. Jadav ¹, J. K. Parmar ², T. V. Gangwal ¹, M. V. Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 C. P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of phosphorus, sulphur and phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth and nutrient uptake by mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Cosson.] grown in loamy sand soil. The experimental soil has pH 7.60 and was deficient in available sulphur and nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus. The experiment was tested by Randomized Block Design with four replications. The treatments comprised of three levels each of phosphorus (0, 25, 50 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) and sulphur (0, 20, 40 kg S ha^-1) and two levels of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) inoculation (no inoculation and inoculation with Aspergillus niger strain-1). The results of the experiment revealed that each successive increase in level of phosphorus significantly increased the crop growth and uptake of nutrients. Different levels of sulphur significantly improved the growth, yield as well as uptake of nutrients by seeds and straw of mustard. Seed inoculation with PSB (I₁) significantly increased yield, uptake in seed and straw and availability of nutrients in soil. Combined effect of 50 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 and 40 kg S ha^-1 with seed inoculation with PSB gave higher seed and straw yield as well as nutrient content in seed and straw which resulted in higher nutrient uptake by mustard grown in loamy sand of North Gujarat.

Keywords

Phosphorus, Sulphur, PSB, Yield, Uptake, Fertility Mustard.

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S. S. Gadhiya ¹, B. B. Patel ², N. J. Jadav ², R. P. Pavaya ², M. V. Patel ², V. R. Patel ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C. P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Cotton Research Sub-Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Khedbhrahma (Gujarat) in randomized block design (factorial) during the kharif season of 2005-06. Three levels each of N (160, 200 and 240 kg ha^-1), P₂O₅ (0, 20 and 40 kg ha^-1) and K₂O (0, 40 and 80 kg ha^-1) were tried. Total 27 treatment combinations were replicated three times. The results indicated that Bt cotton crop fertilizing at 240 kg N ha^-1 significantly increased yield attributes viz., plant height, sympodial branches per plant, No. of bolls per plant, No. of seeds per boll and boll weight as well as seed cotton yield, quality and nutrient uptake. Fertilizing Bt cotton at 40 kg P₂O₅ kg ha^-1 numerically increased yield attributes and seed cotton yield of 2427 kg ha^-1 which was at par with 20 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. An application of 80 kg K₂O ha^-1 significantly increased yield attributes viz., plan height, sympodial branches per plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight and seed cotton and stalk yield. However, this level was at par with 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 in yield attributes, seed cotton and stalk yield. Application of 80 kg K₂O ha^-1 removed higher N (53.48 kg ha^-1) and K (50.46 kg ha^-1) which was statistically at par with 40 kg K₂O ha^-1. Among all treatment combination numerically highest seed cotton yield (2641 kg ha^-1) and maximum net realization of Rs. 38704 ha^-1 was recorded under treatment 240 kg N ha^-1 + 20 kg P₂O₅ kg ha^-1 + 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 (N₃P₁K₁). Thus, the results of present study indicated that potential production and profit from Bt cotton crop can be secured by fertilizing the crop with 240 kg N ha^-1, 20 kg P₂O₅ kg ha^-1, and 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 under irrigated condition.

Keywords

Bt Cotton, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.

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N. J. Jadav ¹, R. P. Pavaya ¹, V. R. Patel ¹, B. B. Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University (erstwhile G.A.U.), Sardarkrushinagar during rabi and summer seasons of 2003 to study the “Influence of soil compaction and industrial wastes on yield and nutrients uptake by wheat-pearl millet crops grown in sequence in loamy sand soil”. Total twenty one treatment combinations comprising of seven levels of soil compaction viz., 1.50 (C₀), 1.68 (C₁) and 1.70 (C₂) under dry condition; 1.80 (C₃), 1.85 (C₄), 1.75 (C₅) and 1.83 (C₆) Mg m^-3 bulk densities under wet condition and three levels of industrial wests viz., control (Iw₀), ETP sludge (Iw₁) and fly ash (Iw₂) @ 10 t ha^-1 were tested in a split plot design with four replications. The results of the field investigation indicated that soil compaction treatments of C₄/C₆ increased the grain and straw yield of wheat as well as subsidiary crop of pearl millet. The per cent increase in grain yield of wheat due to C₄ and C₆ levels was 21.3 and 24.3 per cent over control, respectively. Similarly, these treatments also showed residual effects on pearl millet productivity by 23.8 and 14.7 per cent higher over control, respectively. Soil compaction produced beneficial effects on growth and yield attributes of all the three crops. However, it was found significantly superior in obtaining higher plant height, total and effective number of tillers per plant of wheat and pearl millet and test weight of grain of both the crops. Higher levels of soil compaction (C₄, C₆, C₃ and C₅) attained through 4 and/or 8 passes of iron roller at certain moisture content recorded higher content and uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) in grain and straw of wheat as well as succeeding crop of pearl millet. As regards the use of industrial wastes, it was observed that incorporation of ETP sludge (Iw₁) significantly increased grain and straw yields both the two crops over by fly ash (Iw₂) and control (Iw₀). The per cent increase in grain yield of wheat and pearl millet due to ETP sludge was 10.1 and 10.9 and that of fly ash was to the tune of 7.8 and 8.0, respectively over control. Industrial wastes enhanced content and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu by grain and straw of all the three crops. Generally, these followed the order ETP sludge>fly ash>control for removal of above ions.

Keywords

Soil Compaction, ETP Sludge, Fly Ash, Wheat, Pearl Millet, Loamy Sand Soil.

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J. M. Patel ¹, M. V. Patel ², N. J. Jadav ², R. P. Pavaya ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science, Central Instrumentation Laboratory, Directorate of Research, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Four hundred eighty soil samples from Banaskantha district were collected and analyzed to study the different forms of sulphur in soil. On an average, different forms of sulphur viz., total, organic, non-sulphate, sulphate, water soluble and heat soluble sulphur varied from 32.72 to 346.83, 11.05 to 266.90, 15.59 to 203.26, 1.64 to 48.68, 4.09 to 50.71 and 5.24 to 62.17 mg kg^-1, respectively in surface soil (0-15 cm depth), while 34.36 to 307.57, 11.90 to 202.30, 10.85 to 185.70, 3.27 to 32.31, 3.27 to 40.80 and 3.93 to 50.29 mg kg^-1, respectively in subsurface soil (15-30 cm depth). In general, different forms of sulphur showed decreasing trend with soil depth. In the soils of district, the forms of sulphur followed the following trend: non-sulphate>organic>heat soluble>water soluble>sulphate sulphur. The soils of Banaskantha district had the highest fraction of non-sulphate sulphur (50.76 per cent) followed by organic sulphur (36.74 per cent) and sulphate sulphur (12.49 per cent) of the total sulphur.

Keywords

Sulphur Fraction, Soil Properties.

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N. H. Desai ¹, N. J. Jadav ², C. L. Patel ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Agroforestry Forage Crops and Green Belt, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Banaskantha (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agri. Chemistry and Soil Science, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Banaskantha (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different sludges and soil conditioners viz., FYM(FYM10,FYM20), private farm manure (PFM10,FPM20), vermi compost (VC10,VC20), coir pith (CP10,CP20), fly ash (FA10,FA20), ETP sludge(ETP10, ETP20) ammonium chloride sludge (ACS10, ACS20) and glycerin sludge (GS10,GS20) @ 10 and 20 t ha^-1 along with control on soil water diffusivity, moisture content as a function of drying period from saturation to dryness and soil water retention characteristic. Irrespective of sludges and soil conditioners, higher water content was recorded at initial segments of plexiglass columns as compared to later one. However, the soil water diffusivity was progressively decreased from inlet to lateral segments. A given segment of column, incorporation of fly ash @ 20 t ha^-1 recorded higher water content as well as soil water diffusivity followed by VC20, CP20, PFM20, FYM10, PFM10, FYM20 and control under uniform bulk density at 1.50 Mg m^-3. Among different sludges and soil conditioners, incorporation of ETP sludge @ 20 t ha^-1 recorded higher moisture content even after 5^th days of incubation. Similarly, recorded maximum moisture content at all soil water potentials was noticed with ETP sludge. The moisture content was decreased with the increasing period of incubation. The moisture content under all the treatments was decreased with decrease in soil water potentials from -33, -100, -300 and -1500 MPa. Control plots registered higher soil bulk density and infiltration rate as compared to rest of the treatments except glycerin sludge. Incorporation of ETP sludge @ 20 t ha^-1 was found significantly superior over rest of the treatments with respect to moisture content in soil during crop growth.

Keywords

Sludges, Soil Conditioners, Soil Water Diffusivity, Saturation to Dry Ness, Soil Water Retention, Bulk Density, Infiltration Rate, Soil Water Potentials, Soil Moisture Content.

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