Abstract

Trials were conducted for ameliorating the red lateritic soils of Vamban with organic and inorganic amendments under maize black gram cropping sequence. The results revealed that application of pressmud (5 t/ha) significantly increased the grain yield of maize. While soil pH was significantly increased due to pressmud (5 Uha) and lime (2 t and 4 t/ha), soil hardness was only marginally influenced. Application of amendments did not influence soil available nitrogen and phosphorus, but FYM (5 tha) significantly increased the soil available potassium. There was indications of the residual effect of amendments on the subsequent crop.

Keywords: Amendments, Soils, Surface Crusting, Soil Properties Yield