Abstract

                                The absolute and apparent specific gravity values were appreciably influenced by the incorporation of mushroom spent rice straw compost whereas the water holding capacity, porosity and volume expansion on wetting were markedly improved by farmyard manure closely followed by composted coirpith and mushroom spent compost in an alluvial soil. However, in laterite soil, all the physical properties investigated were found to be influenced by the application of manures in the order of farmyard manure > mushroom spent compost > composted coir pith > NPK whereas the soil reaction and the total soluable salts of post harvest soil samples of both the soils were not influenced due to the application of organic manures in combination with NPK fertilizers.

Key words : Organic manures, alluvial soil, laterite soil, soil physical properties, soil reaction, total soluble salts