Impact of Different Fertility Levels and Liquid Biofertilizers on Biological Properties and Nutrient Content of Soil under Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Crop

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2019 at the Instructional Farm of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The treatments comprised of four levels of fertility i.e. control, 75, 100 and 125% RDF and four levels of liquid biofertilizers i.e. control, Azotobacter, PSB and Azotobacter + PSB. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design replicated thrice taking wheat var. Raj.-4238 as test crop. The Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was 100:60:40 kg ha-1 of N: P2O5: K2O. The results of the study demonstrated a significant increase in several important soil parameters in the post-harvest wheat fields. This increase was observed as we applied higher levels of fertilizers and liquid biofertilizers, specifically up to the point where we used 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and a combination of Azotobacter and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB). The application of increased fertility levels and the use of Azotobacter + PSB as liquid biofertilizers led to significant improvements in soil microbial biomass, microbial populations and enzyme activities, enhancing the overall health and fertility of the post-harvest wheat soil. Additionally, significant increases in sulphur and micronutrients (Zn, Cu Fe and Mn) in soil with the application of 100% RDF.