Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF RATES OF CASTOR CAKE AND BANANA PSEUDOSTEM SAP ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL IN ORGANICALLY GROWN GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) (CV GG-2).

T.D. Patil, D.P. Patel, Sonal Tripathi and B.N. Kolambe

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at Organic Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during the rabi season of 2010-2011and 2011-12 to study “ the Effect of rates of castor cake and banana pseudostem sap on yield and chemical properties of soil in organically grown garlic (Allium sativum L.) (cv GG-2)”. From the results it was observed that the treatment 100% castor cake +2000L. sap was at par with 100% castor cake +1500 L sap, 100% castor cake +1000 L sap, and 75 % castor cake +2000 L sap and highly significantly superior over rest of the treatments in respect of bulb yield during first years of experimentation. However, during second year, the treatment T12-100% castor cake +2000 L sap was at par with T11-100% castor cake +1500 L sap, T10-100% castor cake +1000 L sap and highly significantly superior over rest of the treatments in respect of bulb yield. The treatment T12-100% castor cake +2000 L sap was at par with T11-100% castor cake +1500 L sap, 100% castor cake +1000 L sap, and 75% castor cake + 2000 L sap and significantly superior over rest of treatments in respect of leaves yield during first year. In the second year, the treatment 100% castor cake +2000 L sap was significantly superior over rest of all treatments except 100% castor cake +1500 L sap, 100% castor cake +1000 L sap, and in pooled mean treatment 100% castor cake + 2000 L sap was highly significantly superior over rest of treatments. The data on soil pH during both years of the experiments and pooled mean was non significant. The higher values of EC and Organic carbon was recorded under the treatment 100% castor cake +2000 L. sap followed by 100% castor cake +1500 L sap. Increase in organic manures level increase the organic carbon content in soil. The available status of macro and micronutrients (N, P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) after harvest of garlic was significantly improved due to various organic manures. The maximum availability of these nutrients was recorded with treatment 100% castor cake +2000 lit. sap during pooled mean as compared to treatment of recommended dose of chemical fertilizer.