Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176062.
Present address:1 Department of Microbiology, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palmnpur, 176062.
The effect of inoculation with Azotobacter and addition of varying levels of rock phosphate was studied on Nand P transformations during composting. Inoculation with Azotobacter at 30 and 60 days of composting increased NH4+, N03, and total N contents and decreased water soluble P and C:N ratio, whereas the inoculation done at the start of composting had no effect. Rock phosphate enrichment accelerated decompositiori, conserved N and improved N mineralization. Phosphorus from rock phosphate was solubilized during composting and transformed into available forms.
Azotobacter inoculation, enriched compost, release of P and rock phosphate
