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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of amount of forest litter and its time of incorporation on soil fertility status. The study revealed that with the exception of soil available N, the difference in the time of incorporation of forest litter i.e., at 45 and 30 DBS (Days Before Sowing) did not have any significant effect on soil pH, organic carbon, CEC, available P and available K. Application of forest litter @ 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased soil pH and organic carbon content at a rate of 2.52 and 4.91 %; and 5.18 and 11.75%, respectively as compared to control. The CEC, soil available N, P and K increased significantly with each increase in the dose of forest litter application. The addition of forest litter @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased the CEC at the rate of 9.05, 14.32 and 22.03 %, respectively over control. Forest litter application @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased the available N, P and K at the rate of 4.48, 10.26 and 22.89 %; 7.59, 12.50 and 14.87 %; and 6.15, 11.77 and 25.92 %, respectively as compared to control. The results from the study substantiate the importance of forest litter as a viable source of organic matter for cultivated lands. It is also seen that incorporation of litter into the soil prior to sowing had a promising effect on soil health.