Influence of on-farm liquid organic manures on soil health and crop production

Abstract

A study on "Influence of on-farm liquid organic manures on soil health and crop production" was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2014-2017. The experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of soil and foliar applications of on-farm liquid organic manures on soil health and crop nutrition using Okra as a test crop. The treatments included were 75 per cent N as enriched vermicompost along with diluted liquid organic manures separately as soil and foliar applications. The post-harvest analysis of soil revealed that pH, EC, organic carbon and labile carbon contents varied significantly among the treatments. The highest organic carbon content of the soil was recorded by T 4 and T 12. The maximum labile carbon was recorded by T 8. T 5 was rich in available N. T 5 registered the highest plant uptake of major nutrients. The treatment T 3 registered the highest plant uptake of secondary nutrients. The highest value of Fe and Zn uptake was noticed in T 11. The highest value of Cu uptake was noticed in T 1. The highest value of Mn uptake was noticed in T 3. The lowest plant uptake of all nutrients was recorded by T 13 (Absolute control). Economics of cultivation of okra indicated that the cost-benefit ratio was found higher for treatment T 5 , 75 per cent N as EVC + Panchagavya 3 per cent foliar application (2.83) followed by T 7, 75 per cent N as EVC + cow urine 10 per cent foliar spray (2.09).