Characterisation and evaluation of lignite and poultry manure-based humin on Baby corn (Zea Mays L.) Productivity in acid soils under greenhouse conditions
Chandrakant* , Kadalli, G , G., Basavaraja PK , Thimmegowda, M. N
Abstract:
A pot culture experiment under greenhouse conditions was carried out at GKVK during the summer 2018 to find out the effect of levels of lignite humin (LH) and poultry manure (PMH) based humin on growth, biomass yield and uptake of baby corn in acid soils under greenhouse condition. The results revealed that application of 100 % RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T2: POP) recorded higher growth and yield parameters viz., plant height (93 and 139 cm at 30 & 60 DAS), number of leaves plant-1 (7.93 and 13 at 30 & 60 DAS), root length (51.00 cm) and leaf area (4211 cm2 plant-1). Similarly, higher total fresh and dry biomass (53.94 and 42.90 g plant-1) of baby corn at 60 DAS were recorded in the same treatment and was found on par with treatment T7 (PMH @ 2.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1) and T3 (LH @ 2.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1) and T8 (PMH @ 5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 5 t ha-1). In all these treatments NPK nutrients were applied as per the recommended dose of fertilizers. Significantly higher N, P, and K content in baby corn plant was recorded with T2 (1.48, 0.47, and 1.13 %, respectively) followed by T7, T3, T8 and T9 treatments and found on par with each other. Significantly higher uptake of major NPK nutrients (0.64, 0.20 and 0.49 NPK g plant-1, respectively) was observed in T2 and found on par with T7 and T3 treatments. These results clearly indicate that the humin residue of poultry manure and lignite after extraction of humic acid can be used for baby corn cultivation to the tune of 5 t ha-1 and 2.5 t ha-1, respectively along with 100 % NPK + FYM (@ 5 t ha-1 with PMH or @7.5 t ha-1 with LH) without any detrimental effect on maize productivity.