Abstract

Laboratory studies were carriedcut with five soils amended with press mud at 0, 5 and 10 tons per hectare and incubated for a period of 60 days. The analysis of the incubated soils showed that press mud at 10 tons/ha improved the stability index and aggregate stability of the black (wetland) and acid soils significantly. Press mud application resulted in progressive increase in available nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic carbon contents of all the soils studied. Press mud at 10 tons/ha increased the cation exchange capacity of all the soils, while it increased the exchangeable calcium in the red. acid and black (gardenland) soils. The biological activity of soil as indicated by the CO evolution recorded a significant increase with press mud application in the red. alkali and acid soils. Press mud application resulted in increase in bacterial population of red soil and fungal population of black (wetland) soil.

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