Effect of organics and inorganics on soil microbial population and enzymatic activity in maize-maize cropping system

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the application of organic and inorganic source of nutrients on soil microbial population and soil enzymatic activity in hybrid maize during kharif and rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the irrigated upland farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and ten treatments. The results revealed that significant increase in bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes population and enzyme (urease, dehydrogenase and phosphatase) activity were recorded with the application of 100 per cent RDF through poultry manure and it was comparable with the application of 50 per cent RDF through inorganics + 50 per cent RDF through poultry manure. The 100 per cent RDF through inorganics and control treatments registered lesser microbial population and soil enzymatic activity.