Effect of microbial consortia enriched vermicompost on physico-chemical properties of soil and nutrient content and uptake by summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at certified organic plot, Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during summer season of 2018-19 on medium black calcareous soil. The experiment containing 8 treatments was arranged in randomized block design with 3 replications. The results revealed the content of N, P and K in seed and stalk, uptake of N, P and K by sesame, available N, P2O5 and K2O in soil at harvest were significantly higher under RDF (50-25-0 N-P2O5-K2O kg/ha) and being at par with Vermicompost (2 t/ha) + Azotobacter (2 L/ha) + PSB (2 L/ha) + KSB (2 L/ha) + Trichoderma harzianum (3 kg/ha) + Pseudomonas fluorescens (3 kg/ha) + Beauveria bassiana (3 kg/ha). While, significantly higher sulphur, organic carbon, water holding capacity and lower bulk density were recorded under the treatment of FYM (5 t/ha), followed by Vermicompost (2 t/ha) + Azotobacter (2 L/ha) + PSB (2 L/ha) + KSB (2 L/ha) + Trichoderma harzianum (3 kg/ha) + Pseudomonas fluorescens (3 kg/ha) + Beauveria bassiana (3 kg/ha).