Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Amit Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Rajat Singh, Veena Chaudhary, Amit Kumar, Satvaan Singh and Vishal Srivastava

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Effect of different sources of nutrients and mulching on nutrients availability in post harvested soil of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)” was carried out at the Horticultural Research Centre (HRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology Meerut, (UP) during 2018-19 and 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprising of eleven treatment viz. T₁ (Control), T₂ (100% RDF + Black mulch (2.5mm), T₃ (100% RDF + Paddy straw mulch), T₄ (100% RDF+ 5 t/ha VC +Black mulch (2.5mm), T₅ (100% RDF + 10 t/ha FYM + Paddy straw mulch), T₆ (75% RDF + 10 t/ha VC + Black mulch (2.5mm), T₇ (75% RDF + 10 t/ha VC + Paddy straw mulch), T₈ (50% RDF + 15 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha) + Black mulch (2.5mm), T₉ (50% RDF + 15 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + Paddy Straw mulch), T₁₀ (25% RDF + 20 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (6kg/ha) + Black mulch (2.5mm), T₁₁(25%RDF + 20 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (7kg/ha) + Paddy Straw mulch). The results showed that plants treated with T₈(50% RDF + 15 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha) + Black mulch (2.5mm) significantly increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) as well as available nutrients (N, P, K,) as compared to control and other treatments. Thus, practice of integrated sources of nutrients and mulching could be the better option for improving the nutrient status in soil.