Carbon Sequestration under Saffron (Crocus sativa) Cultivation as Influenced by Different Levels of Organic Manure and Inorganic Nitrogen

Abstract

The effect on carbon sequestration under saffron (Crocus sativa) cultivation as influenced by different levels of organic manure and inorganic nitrogen was investigated in a field experiment at Dryland (Karewa) Agriculture Research Station, Budgam, Kashmir. The farm yard manure was applied at 0, 30 and 60 t ha-1 and inorganic nitrogen at 0, 45 and 90 kg ha-1, respectively along with Azotobacter. The organic carbon content was recorded at three stages, immediately after flowering (Oct-Nov), during vegetative growth stages in (Feb- March) and (April-May), respectively. The pooled data indicated that at stage I, there was a significant increase in the organic carbon in the soil with the application of maximum amount of FYM and nitrogen. The mean organic carbon content of the soil increased from 9.22 g kg-1 to 15.34 g kg-1 when FYM was applied in conjugation with inorganic nitrogen. However, the highest and significant organic carbon (17.50 g kg-1) was observed in the treatment in which nitrogen was applied at 90 kg ha-1 and FYM at 60 t ha-1 an increase of 156.9 per cent over the control (6.81 g ha-1). Similar trends were also observed at stage II and III, respectively. However, the effect of Azotobacter was found significant only at stage-III.