MICROBIAL CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS ORGANIC PREPARATIONS INFLUENCING GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

Organic farming is an emerging option to protect the soil health by replenishing the rapidly depleting organic matter under t ropical soil condition to ensure production sustenance. Present study evaluates the effect of indigenous organic preparation panchagavya, cattle dung manure and biodynamic preparations on nitrate reductase activity, chlorophyll content, phyllospheric microbial count, soil microbial activity as well as growth and yield of wheat crop. Amongst, all the organic preparations viz. panchagavya, cattle dung manure, Biodynamic compost, BD500 and Cow Pat Pit, liquid preparation panchagavya contained low amou nt of plant nutrients. The highest count of bacteria (log10cfu 9.39 per ml) and aerobic nitrogen fixers (log10cfu 7.35 per ml) were found in Panchagavya. Improvement in grain yield of wheat with application of panchagavya and other organics was recorded however; compared to inorganic fertilizer treatment, reduction in grain yield to the extent of 35.42% in panchagavya 9.1% in integrated nutrient management, 12.7% in conventional organic treatment and 16.3% in biodynamic treatment indicated less nutrient supplementing potential of organics in short term as evidenced by lower leaf chlorophyll content and nitrate reducta se activity. Enhancement in phyllospheric microbial population and soil dehydrogenase activity with organic application suggested favorable impact of application of organics.