Nutritional status of organically amended soils of subtropical humid climate of Tripura

Maintenance or enhancement of soil quality is important for sustainable agricultural production. Quantitative assessment of soil quality is possible only through addition of organic amendments. A three year fertility experiment was conducted in farmers fields of three villages of Bishalgarh sub-division of West Tripura district. Surface soil samples were collected from the fields of farmers treated with vermicompost @ 5 tonnes per hectare. Comparison was made with control plot where no treatment was made. Mean values of organic carbon (OC) (0.88%) and available NPK (283.45: 35.4: 269.85 kg/ha) were found higher in the farmer fields which were very low in control plot viz 0.33 per cent, 130.67: 9.32: 87 kg/ha respectively for OC, N, P and K. Lower mean pH (4.73) was recorded in the farmer fields which was higher in the control plot (5.70). Earthworm activity reflected by earthworm castings (no/m²) was also found to be more (9.16) in vermicompost treated plots. In vermicompost treated soils the resilience was increased in the form of earthworm population.