Reviving soils with leaf litter composts for enhanced yields in Amaranthus

Leaf litters are potential organic nutrient inputs and assume prime importance in the present era of ecofriendly farming. An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani to evaluate the efficacy of composted litter as nutrient source in Amaranthus and the changes elicited in soil properties. The treatments included litter composts of jack and coconut leaves prepared with different enhancers of decomposition and enriched with PGPR Mix I biofertilizers and were laid out in RBD replicated thrice. Litter compost application was found to have favourable influences on soil available nutrient status and microbial population. Vegetable yields (20.20 Mg/ha) and economic returns (B:C ratio- 1.92. were significantly higher in the substitution of 50% RDN with coconut leaf litter compost [composting inoculum (liquid) + earthworms]. The increase in yields ranged from 3 to 46 per cent with compost application over the control. Hence, it was concluded that conversion of leaf litter to valuable organic manures through composting and inclusion in production package of amaranthus ensures reduction of chemical nitrogen input usage by 50 per cent, triggers microbial activity and sustains fertility in soil.