Nutrient release rate of Crotolaria juncea degradation with incorporation of ligno-cellulolytic bioinoculant under dry and flooded conditions

The application of green manure in the field needs fallow period of 20-30 days so as to allow decomposition, the application of bacterial culture that can enhance the degradation rate can decrease the fallow period and allow early sowing of next crop thereby saving time. The present study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient release during decomposition of Crotolaria juncea with application of efficient lignin-cellulose degrading bacterial consortium in laboratory under dry and flooded conditions. The study reported 15 times higher decomposition during first eight days of incubation under aerobic conditions with application of bacterial consortium. Application of consortium culture was more effective in degradation as compared to control and single culture application. Significant increase in NO₃^--N content was observed during incubation period whereas, NH₄⁺-N content showed peak increase at 45 days of incubation. Aerobic conditions supported rapid release of both NH₄⁺ -N and NO₃^- -N content during initial days of incubation. In flooded water regimes nitrogen release (NH₄⁺ -N + NO₃^- -N) was low owing to more denitrification activity in water logged conditions. The phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content showed positive relation with decomposition of green manure. The application of bacterial consortium has further enhanced the release of P and K as compared to control treatment. This might be due to enhanced degradation that led to release of these nutrients. There was significant impact of water regimes on phosphorous release, as remarkable increase was in P value under flooded conditions. The study showed that application of ligno-cellulolytic consortium bioinoculant enhanced the decomposition as well as nutrient release form Crotolaria juncea.