Abstract

Three tillage treatments viz, country ploughing, mammutty digging upto 30 cm and iron rod digging upto 45 cm and five amendments such as gypsum at 200 and 400 Kg/ha, saw dust, groundnut shell powder, coir dust and farm yard manure each at 2.5 and 5.0 tons/ha, besides control were tested for their effect on the nutrient availability in the soil and on th physical properties of red soil with characteristic surface hard pan. The trials were conducted during summer 1984 and 1985 and Kharif 1985. The results showed an increase in the available NPK status of soil due to application of amendments like coir dust, FYM and groundnut shell powder. The above organic amendments improved the soil physical characteristics like infiltration rate, total porosity and hydraulic conductivity of redsoil with hard pan.

Keywords: Soil properties, Tillage practices, soil amendments.