Influence of different tillage, cropping sequence, mulching and fertility levels on microbial population

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm BHU Varanasi during Kharif, Rabi and summer season 2012-13 and 2013-14 to evaluate the microbial population under two tillage practices (reduced tillage and conventional tillage) four cropping sequence; (rice-wheat, rice-potato-green gram, maize-mustard-green gram and DSR-maize-green gram), two mulching treatments; (mulching during rabi and no mulch) and two fertility levels (75% RDF +25% N through FYM and 100% RDF) with three replications in Split Plot Design. The results revealed that reduced tillage significantly increased the population of Bacteria ×105 CFU g-1, Actinomycetes ×105 CFU g-1 and Fungi ×105 CFU g-1 in soil over the conventional tillage. Significant increase of Bacteria ×105 CFU g-1, Actinomycetes ×105 CFU g-1 and Fungi ×105 CFU g-1 in soil under maize-mustard-green gram cropping sequence were noticed over rest of the cropping sequences. Mulching significantly increased the population of Bacteria ×105 CFU g-1, Actinomycetes ×105 CFU g-1 as well as Fungi ×105 CFU g-1 as compared to No mulch. Similarly, INM comparing 75% RDF + 25% N through FYM significantly improved the population of Bacteria ×105 CFU g-1, Actinomycetes ×105 CFU g-1 as well as Fungi ×105 CFU g-1 over 100% RDF during both the years, all these practices improved soil fertility, soil health as well soil quality.