Microbiology Research Journal International

A field experiment entitled was conducted during Kharif season (2024) under ongoing (All India Coordinated Research Project on Long Term Fertilizer Experiments at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh to evaluate the response of long term application of fertilizers and manure on biological properties of a Vertisol. There were eight treatments consisting with different fertility levels i.e. 50% NPK, 100% NPK, 150% NPK, 100% NP, 100% N, 100% NPK + FYM, 100% NPK-S and Control, were tested in RBD with four replications. Soil sample from each treatments were collected from 0-15 cm depth on biological properties of soil were determined. The findings indicated that the application of 100% NPK + FYM obtained highest soil microbial biomass C and N contents in both surface and sub-surface soil followed by 150% NPK and 100%NPK. However, application of only nitrogen (100% N) has resulted in lower values of microbial biomass C and N. The microbial population increased significantly with the increase in doses of fertilizers as sub optimal dose, optimal dose and super optimal dose. It was also observed that The Microbial count of Bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes was significantly higher in 100% NPK + FYM over all the remaining treatments. The enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and β-glycosidase activity) were observed maximum in treatments 100%NPK+FYM followed by 150% NPK.

Therefore, the application of balanced fertilizer either alone or integrated with manure (FYM) have helped in improving the biological properties of soil which is an indicator of soil health improvement.