Effect of Various INM Practices on Yield, Urease and Dehydrogenase activity in Safflower

Author Name(s): *B Raju, P Chandrasekhar Rao, A Pratap Kumar Reddy, P Padmavathi
Author Email: raju.bairi134@gmail.com

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic manures in combination with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on activity of urease and dehydrogenase and yield on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) during rabi season 2009-10 at Students’ Farm of College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University. Among the different combinations tried, application of 50 % N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 % N through vermicompost (T7) resulted in highest seed and stalk yield (1239 kg ha-1 and 3026kg ha-1, respectively). Similarly, the maximum activity of enzymes viz. Urease (31.54 μg of NH4+-N released g-1soil h-1), dehydrogenase (154.83 mg of TPF produced g-1soil d-1) at flowering stage and Urease (6.97 μg of NH4+-N released g-1soil h-1), dehydrogenase (12.29 mg of TPF produced g-1soil d-1) at harvest were observed with 50 % N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 % N through vermicompost (T7).

Keywords

Safflower, INM, Urease, Dehydrogenase and Yield.

Introduction

Safflower (carthamus tinctorius L.) is a unique feature of salt as well as drought tolerance due to partially xerophytic nature, in addition to deep and extensive root system making efficient use of reserved soil moisture. It can safely be grown as a potential rabi crop in unirrigated areas. The average productivity of safflower in Andhra Pradesh is less than that of country’s average productivity. The area under safflower crop is increasing but the productivity is not keeping pace with its yield potential. Among several reasons attributable to low productivity, the inadequate and imbalanced nutrition including almost all the essential nutrients can be considered as major one. Fertilizer is the major input through which the productivity can be increased by exploiting the varietal potential, since the cost of inputs of major nutrients through chemical fertilizers is increasing, the inherent fertility of soil has to be increased to make the soil more sustainable, and the use of organic manure in manurial schedules is suggested. Hence, integrated nutrient management is more emphasized, not only to boost the production but also to preserve the ecosystem. Integrated nutrient management (INM) envisaging the use of organic manures, crop residues and other organic wastes, biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. Soil organic matter plays a vital role in keeping the soil productivity high. The conjunctive use of organics with the nitrogen fertilizer increased the efficiency of nitrogen, improves the soil health and controls soil pollution. Hence, the present paper deals with the Effect of various INM practices at flowering and at harvesting stage of safflower on yield, Urease and Dehydrogenase activity.

Conclusion

Among the different combinations tried, application of 50 % N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 % N through vermicompost (T7) resulted in highest seed and stalk yield (1239 kg ha-1 and 3026kg ha-1, respectively).The enzyme activity at flowering stage and at harvest showed increase with increase in the organic levels. The highest activity of urease (31.54μg of NH4+-N released g-1soil h-1), dehydrogenase (154.83 mg of TPF produced g-1soil d-1) at flowering stage and urease (6.97 μg of NH4+-N released g-1soil h-1), dehydrogenase (12.29 mg of TPF produced g-1soil d-1) at harvest were observed with the application of 50 % N through inorganic fertilizer + 50 % N through vermicompost (T7).

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