Effect of Organic Manures on Soil Properties and Yield of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana) Gaertn

Abstract

Pot experiment was conducted during 1993 on ragi grown on a sandy clay loam soil to know the periodic changes in 0-15 cm soil depth on pH, organic carbon(O.C.),available N,P and K due to application of organic manure in conjunction with fertilizer. Application of organic manures alone or in combination with fertilizer increased the soil pH, organic carbon(O.C.),available N,P and K and grain yield when compared to NPK alone. The addition of FYM compared to green leaf manure and vermicompost increased soil pH significantly. The organic carbon(O.C.)content of GLM treated soil significantly superior to VC treatment but was at par with FYM treatment at all stages of plant growth. At all stages organic manures in combination with fertilizer were superior in influencing available N,P and K compared to NPK(fertilizers) alone. There was no significant difference in the grain yield due to application of organic manures individually or in combination with fertilizers compared to NPK but maximum yield was noticed on adding 50% fertilizer N as GLM + 50% N + P + K.