Effect of Fly Ash and Farm Yard Manure on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice Grown on an Inceptisol

A field experiment was conducted in a fine loamy mixed hyperthermic Typic Haplustept soil during rabi, 2004–05 to study the effect of fly ash and FYM on physico-chemical properties and available nutrient status. The test crop was rice var. Tella Hamsa. The grain and straw yield of rice was significantly increased with fly ash, FYM and their interactions. The highest grain (5.84 t ha⁻¹) and straw yield (7.87 t ha⁻¹) were recorded by combined application of fly ash @ 10 t ha⁻¹ and FYM @ 10 t ha⁻¹ which was on par with fly ash @ 15 t ha⁻¹ along with FYM @10 t ha ^{1. Among the different combinations, application of fly ash @ 15 t ha−1 + FYM @ 10 t ha−1 (FA₁₅ FYM₁₀) recorded the highest available N (224.6 kg ha−1), P (24.6 kg ha−1), K (366.7 kg ha−1), S (8.80 mg kg−1), Fe (10.62 mg kg−1) and Zn (0.95 mg kg−1) contents after harvest of rice crop, which were on par with FA FYM. The available Mn content was highest in FA FYM (6.6910101010 mg kg−1). The available Cu content was not significantly influenced by fly ash levels; however, it was significantly higher in FYM treated plots. Application FA₁₀ FYM₁₀ has resulted in the build up of available nutrients (N-5.8%), (P-64.5%), (K – 103.3%), (S – 2.8%), (Fe – 22.2%), (Mn – 23.3%), (Cu – 156.9%) in post harvest soils except Zn (−10.5%) when compared to their initial status.}