JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Influence of farm yard manure, vermicompost and fertilizers on the activity of soil mesofauna and soil organic carbon in the soybean cropping system

Authors: P.M. PRASANNA AND N.G. KUMAR

Abstract:

An investigation was carried out at the University Of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, to evaluate the various doses of FYM, vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers on the abundance of soil mesofauna in soybean crops during cropping and non-cropping season. It was observed that applying FYM and Vermicompost alone or mixed with inorganic fertilizers recorded increased population soil fauna (cropping and non-cropping season) and soil organic carbon compared to fertilizer alone and control treatment. However, the population of soil fauna slowly reduced/ decreased over days during the non-cropping season. However, treatments applied with organic manures remained higher in the population of soil mesofauna compared to untreated control and recommended package of practice applied treatments. Similarly, the organic manure plots observed higher soil organic carbon content during the cropping season.

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