Effect of sugar industry solid waste pressmud and bio compost on soil physical and chemical properties at different intervals during finger millet crop

Abstract

Integrated nutrient management has paid rich dividends in management of soil fertility thus ensuring good productivity and maintaining soil health. Pressmud biocompost (made of pressmud + spentwash) and well decomposed farm yard manure in various combinations with inorganic nutrients were evaluated on the performance of finger millet. The experiment consisted of eight treatments and was laid out with randomized complete block design and replicated thrice was carried out at M/s Sri Chamundeshwari Sugars Ltd., Bharathinagar, Maddur taluk, Mandya District located in Southern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The results indicated that significantly lower bulk density and increased MWHC was recorded in T2 (RDF + pressmud@ 10 t ha-1) (1.39, 2.61 Mg m-3 and 37.46% respectively). Soil pH ranged from 7.50 to 8.07 30 DAT to harvest and later decreased, EC ranged from 0.33 to 0.51 dS m-1. Higher organic carbon content and Higher CEC was recorded in treatment T3 (RDF + bio compost 10 t ha-1). The yield of finger millet was high in treatment containing RDF + bio compost 10 t ha-1.