The core objective of conducting the current study was to evaluate the chemical compositions of different composts and their effect on wheat yield. Mineral matter content, ash and moisture were higher in all enriched composts and vermicompost in comparison to conventional compost whereas as total organic carbon, water soluble carbon and C:N ratio were higher in conventional compost.There was higher variation in the content of nutrients in different composts as that of the conventional one but nitrogen and phosphorus were higher in nitrogen enriched phosphorous-compost and phosphorous enriched vermicompost. Zinc was higher in nitrogen enriched phosphorous-compost, vermicompost and phosphorous enriched vermicompost whereas manganese was higher in vermicompost and phosphorous enriched vermicompost. Biochemical quality stated that conventional compost had lesser amount of total phenol, alkaline and acid phosphatase enzyme activity but higher dehydrogenase activity than those of enriched composts. The more dehydrogenase activity in conventional compost is an indicator of partial decomposition. The time period of decomposition was almost similar (120 ± 5 days) among the enriched composts, whereas in case of conventional compost, decomposition period was 160 ± 10 days.Crop yield was lower in conventional compost but highest yield was obtained by supplying nitrogen enriched phosphorous-compost and phosphorous enriched vermicompost, nitrogen enriched phosphorous-compost provided yield at par to inorganic fertilizer application at 90 kg ha -1 N, 20 kg ha -1 P and 20 kg ha -1 K.

SummaryThe main objective of conducting the current study was to evaluate the chemical compositions of different chemically-enriched composts prepared by the methods of pit and heap and compare it with conventional compost. The various composts viz., phosphocompost (PC), nitrogen-enriched phosphocompost (NPC), phosphorus-enriched vermicompost (PVC) and vermicompost (VC) were compared with conventional compost. These composts were produced by using chemical amendment in case of chemically-enriched compost whereas vermicompost was prepared by inoculating the epigeic earth worms (Eisenia foetida) with and without rock phosphate. Mineral matter content, ash and moisture were higher in all enriched composts and vermicompost in comparison to conventional compost whereas as total organic carbon, water soluble carbon and C: N were higher in conventional compost. There was higher variation in the content of nutrients in different composts as that of the conventional one but nitrogen and phosphorus were higher in nitrogen enriched phosphoruscompost and phosphorus enriched vermicompost. Zinc was higher in nitrogen enriched phosphorus-compost, vermicompost and phosphorus enriched vermicompost whereas manganese was higher in vermicompost and phosphorus enriched vermicompost. The time period of decomposition was almost similar (120±5) among the enriched composts, whereas in case of conventional compost, decomposition period was (160±10). Biochemical quality stated that conventional compost had lesser amount of total phenol, alkaline and acid phosphatase enzyme activity but higher dehydrogenase activity than those of enriched composts. The more dehydrogenase activity in conventional compost is an indicator of partial decomposition of the compost. The vermicompost was better than conventional compost; it could be still further improved by rock phosphate enrichment.

:The decreasing trend in apple productivity during the last decade due to changing climate scenario has caused a serious concern to the fruit growers and planners of the country. Several factors like inadequate pollinizer proportion, reduction in natural population of pollinating agents, occurrence of spring frosts, hails and gales, nutrient deficiencies, droughts etc. are the factors leading to poor fruit setting in Delicious apple (Gautam et al., 2004). The present studies on influence of solubor, biozyme and triacontanol on leaf and fruit nutrient content of apple cv. RED DELICIOUS"were carried out in the Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar during the year 2013 and 2014. Twenty five year old apple trees of cv. RED DELICIOUS were selected at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, Kashmir. In experiment: chemicals of solubor (0.1 %) biozyme (1.5 ml/lit) and triacontanol (10 ppm) and their combinations were sprayed at three timings: (i) at pink bud stage (ii) three weeks after fruit set of apple (iii) two months after second spray. Two months after second spray, solubor was replaced with 0.5 % CaCl 2 while going through the results, leaf nitrogen content not significantly influenced by different treatments. However, maximum leaf phosphorus (0.26 %), potassium (2.62 %), calcium (2.46 %) and magnesium (0.88 %) was recorded in solubor + biozyme + triacontanol followed by solubor + biozyme. The leaf boron increased significantly with solubor + biozyme + triacontanol and solubor + biozyme (48.00 and 47.25 ppm) followed by solubor + triacontanol. However, data with respect to leaf nitrogen/ calcium ratio were found to be statistically non-significant. Maximum fruit nitrogen (0.39 %), phosphorus (0.11 %), potassium (0.99 %), calcium (0.049 %), magnesium (0.078 %) and boron (19.82 ppm) was obtained from solubor + biozyme + triacontanol followed by solubor + biozyme. However, N/Ca (17.96) ratio was calculated from control followed by triacontanol (12.33) and biozyme (10.62) and lowest was observed in solubor + biozyme + triacontanol (8.06).While going through the results of both the experiments, it is revealed that the combinations of solubor, biozyme and triacontnaol were best to improve the fruit set and yield of apple fruits. It is clear from results that bio-stimulants increase nutrients through foliar application and thus will improve the fruit yield and quality of apple. In addition bio-stimulants are safe for human and animal and environment to get lower pollution and reduce soil salinity.

Depth-wise distribution of different fractions of nitrogen in some selective sites (soil depths) of district Pulwama of Kashmir valley was studied. In all the soil profiles nitrogen fractions (forms) decreased with increase in depth except the fixed NH 4-N which increased with decreased depth. Organic nitrogen showed high significant positive correlations with total nitrogen (r=0.987***), organic nitrogen decreased with depth while the fixed NH 4-N increased and these two fraction were also showed highly significant correlation with each other (r=0.