Role of crop residues in improving soil fertility and succeeding crops

Abstract

Bio-degradation of crop residues viz; wheat trash, paddy trash, and cane trash employing urea and Trichoderma species have been studied under field condition. Application of 40 kg urea and 10 kg carrier based Trichoderma harzianum on these crop residues elevated assimiable nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphurcontent of the soil with increase in the organic carbon at 60 days of their incorporation on the crop residues. Decomposition of the crop residues involved narrowing down of the C:N ratio by urea nitrogen followed by microbial decomposition by the Trichoderma fungus and thus elevation in the soil accessible nutrients and its health. The higher yield of paddy after wheat trash decomposition, yield of wheat after paddy trash, and yield of ratoon cane after plant cane trash decomposition owing to 40 kg urea and 10 kg Trichoderma species usage itself delineates the better soil physico-chemical, microbial and nutritional conditions. Additionally, their in-situ incorporation in the soil makes a fruitful and easy management of the crop residues, which is a concern for the succeeding crops, apart from saving the environment being intoxicated due to residues burning hazards.