Abstract

In amaranthus-turmeric cropping system, turmeric (var. BSR 2) was raised after amaranthus to assess the residual effect of composts on soil fertility. The experiment was conducted without disturbing the original treatment structure. Significantly higher residual effect was observed in those plots which had received compost of banana pseudostem or sugarcane trash prepared with different starter materials viz., Cow dung and sewage sludge, accelerator ie., Microbial inoculum viz., Pseudomonas and Bacillus sp and Trichoderma viride, accelerator cum enricher materials like Urea and Poultry manure than the raw materials. In general, the performance of Poultry manure enriched microbial inoculum or Trichoderma viride compost of banana pseudostem or sugarcane trash @ 750 kg ha -1 with 75 per cent of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was quite impressive than that of no manure i.e., 100 per cent RDF alone and the absolute control in enhancing available nutrient (N, P and K) status, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity at post harvest stage of residual crop of turmeric. The residual effect of composts prepared with banana pseudostem was considerable than that with sugarcane trash. The highest available N, P, K, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity of 236 kg ha-1, 16.72 kg ha -1, 482 kg ha -1, 0.64 per cent and 20.73 cmol (P + ) kg-1 respectively was recorded with the application of poultry manure enriched microbial inoculant compost of banana pseudostem @ 750 kg ha -1 with 75 per cent of the recommended dose of fertilizer.

Keywords: Compost, Amaranthus, Turmeric, Residual effect, Soil fertility.