Author : D.Jawahar and S. Suresh.

Address : (Unit of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agriculturar College and Research Institute. Killikalam, Vallanad – 628 252, Tamil Nadu, India).

Abstract : Effect of Biofertilizers and Enriched FYM on the Yield of Cotton Under Dry Farming in Vertisol.

Journal : Ad. Plant Sci.

Volume No. : 20(II)

Publish Year : 2007

Page No. : 473 - 475.

Main Data : Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of biofertilizers and enriched FYM (EFYM) on the yield of cotton in a vertisol under dry farming. The result revealed that the seed otton yield was maximum in the treatment with the application of 20 kg P₂O₅/ha as enriched farm yard manure + 75 per cent N along with Azospirillum and Phorphobacteria in both the two years. This was followed by the treatment of application of 20 kg P₂O₅/ha as EFYM + 100% N application along with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria. The application of 20 kg P₂O₅/ha as EFYM + 75% N along with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria recorded significantly higher plant height (72.4 cm), number of symbodial branches/plant (6.3) and number of bolls/plant (7.9). The uptake of N.P and K were also the highest with the above treatment. This treatment recorded significantly higher yield than the application of 100% recommended N and inorganic fertilizer. The residual soil available N and P did not follow a definite trend. But the residual soil organic carbon and available K were not significantly influenced by the different treatments tried. A nitrogen dose of 30 kg/ha (I;e., 75 per cent of therecommended dosage of 40 kg/ha) along with 20 kg P₂O₅/ha as enriched farm yard manure can be recommended for cotton to produce maximum yields and sustaining the productivity. A saving of 10 kg N ha^-1 was observed over the normal recommended dose of inorganic N fertilizer when biofertilizers and enriched FYM were applied. Keywords: Biofertilizers, Enriched Farm Yard Manure, Rainfed cotton, Vertisol.