Biofertilizers assessment for rice production under alkali soils
Krishnakumar S, Chelvi Ramessh, Krishna Surendar K, Balaji T, Selvi J, Arul Arasu P and Jegadeesan M
The growing and turning of green manure crops i.e Dhaincha enriches soil organic matter vis-à-vis additional nutrients to the soil besides reclamation of sodic soils. When incorporated into the soil, these plants break down, eventually releasing important nutrients which are necessary for adequate plant growth and development. In addition to the supply of nutrients, green manuring crops can help to scavenge the leftover nutrients from the preceding crop. It also increases soil drainage and water retention capacities that help to prevent leaching losses, soil erosion, and weed problems too as these are also incorporated. The different biofertilizers (FP: Pre season fallow+ Rice cv. Atchaya, TO1: Pre rice GM + Application of CSR bio through seed treatment and soil application + Rice cv. TRY 3, TO2: Pre rice GM + Application of Arka microbial consortium through seed treatment and soil application+ Rice cv. TRY 3) were used to manage the sodic soil. Technology option 1 (Pre rice GM + Application of CSR bio through seed treatment and soil application + Rice cv. TRY 3), resulted in higher yield (30%) followed by technology option 2 (Pre rice GM + Application of Arka microbial consortium through seed treatment and soil application + Rice cv. TRY 3) and the least was recorded by farmers practice (Pre season fallow+ Rice cv. Atchaya). Apart from this TRY 3 is highly salt tolerant variety which was known to the farmers. Hence Pre rice GM + Application of CSR bio through seed treatment and soil application + Rice cv. TRY 3 will be a suitable alternative practices for getting higher yield in sodic condition. The technology will promotes growth and yield of rice in sodic soil of pH 9.3 and also protects against soil borne disease. The farmers were willing to take up the seed treatment, soil application of biofertilizer. TRY 3 is medium duration and salinity tolerant variety. This variety is resistant to leaf folder, stem borer, brown plant hopper, blast, brown spot, sheath rot and sheath blight.
