Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during 2009 (August to December) in the Research and Development farm of M/s. Bannari Amman Sugars Distillery Division Ltd., Ealur, Erode to find out the optimum dosage of biomethanated distillery spentwash (BDS) and its effect on soil fertility and yield of maize. Different doses of BDS along with inorganic chemical fertilizers were assessed in maize (cultivar COH (M) 5). The soil nutrient parameters viz., pH, EC, organic carbon, exchangeable cations and macro nutrients were estimated at vegetative, flowering and post harvest stages along with and dry matter production, cob, grain and stover yields of maize. The results of the field experiment revealed that the application of BDS @ 100 kilo l per ha with recommended dose of NPK significantly increased the soil nutrient availability and yield parameters of the maize crop over recommended dose of fertilizer control.

Keywords: Distillery Spentwash, Entisol, Maize, Yield, Soil fertility