Abstract

The efficacy of organic amendments (pressmud and zinc enriched pressmud) and zinc fertilisation was studied in paper factory effluent imigated soil. The results showed that available phosphorus content in soil and its uptake in plant were increased due to the application of pressmud. Application of amendments and ZnSO4 significantly increased exchangeable calcium, but decreased the exchangeable sodium. Total day matter production was significantly enhanced by the application of pressmud and soil application of ZnSO4. Enrichment of pressmud with ZnSO4 resulted in increased dry matter production. Foliar spray of zinc at 0.5 per centconcentration given at 90 and 110 days after planting significantly increased the dry matter production over soil application of zinc and control.

Keywords: Zinc enriched pressmud -paper factory effluent - irrigated soil - nutrient availability and uptake - total dry matter production.