IMPACT OF THE FLY ASH, VERMICOMPOST AND INORGANIC FERTILISERS ON SOIL NUTRIENTS, CARBON POOLS, GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM FODDER (Sorghum bicolor L)

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of vermicompost and fly ash combination with inorganic fertiliser as soil amendment on soil carbon pools, growth and yield of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) in research farm of School of agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India. Different soil treatments was formulated with fly ash, vermicompost and inorganic fertilisers. Randomised block design has been used as layout with seven treatments and three replications. Treatments were evaluated for plant growth parameters stem girth, number of leaves, plant height, leaf length, plant population, and yield parameter like fresh weight, dry weight and fodder yield, quality parameter like HCN content, soil carbon fraction like labile carbon, organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon and other macronutrient analysis. Stem girth for sorghum fodder responded significantly better for the treatment T3 (100% RDF +fly ash). Leaf number found to be higher in T7 where vermicompost and fly ash were combined. Similarly the fresh weight and dry weight response recorded maximum for treatment T7; however for second cutting maximum dry weight was recorded high in treatment T2 (100% RDF only). Lowest value of HCN has been recorded for treatment T7 (0.011%) which implies that combination of vermi compost and fly ash reduce the HCN production in plant which determines the quality; however maximum fodder yield was observed in plants receiving 100% inorganic fertiliser; it is expected that long term soil amendment with vermicompost and fly ash may enhance the quality and quantity of sorghum fodder production. Application of vermicompost and fly ash in different combinations enhanced the soil organic carbon, labile carbon and microbial biomass carbon consequently soil nutrient (NPK) availability has been increased in soil.