Effect of organic components and salt tolerant bacteria on growth parameters and physio-chemical properties of sodic soil on spinach

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 at Mahtma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri to study the effect of organic components and salt tolerant bacteria on growth parameters and physio-chemical properties of sodic soil on spinach. The results revelaed that the application of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 in sodic soil recorded maximum plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves (31.58 cm, 35.15 g, 3.54 g) of spinach plants which was at par with A2 : urban compost @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 (31.17 cm, 33.67 g, 3.39 g). The results of inoculation of salt tolerant bacteria in sodic soil revealed that consortia (Pseudomonas sp. + Azotobacter sp. + Bacillus sp.) recorded maximum plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves (30.92 cm, 35.71 g, 3.42 g) and minimum was recorded in STB 2 : Azotobacter sp. (29.25 cm, 31.27 g, 3.27 g). The interaction of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 + consortia recorded maximum plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves than rest of the interaction treatments. The similar trend was reported in case of the physio-chemical properties of sodic soil 40 days after sowing. As regards the application of organic components in sodic soil, FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 significantly recorded maximum pHs reduction (8.20) than rest of treatments as compared to initial pHs (8.61) after 40 days of sowing. The results of inoculation of salt tolerant bacteria in sodic soil revealed that consortia (STB-1+STB-2+STB-3) recorded maximum reduction in pHs (8.21) significantly superior than rest of treatments. The results of interaction of application of organic components and A1 : FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ t ha-1 + consortia (8.11), A2 = urban compost @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 + STB 3 = Bacillus sp. (8.11) and 3) A3 = Leaf litter compost @ 5 t ha-1 + gypsum @ 5 t ha-1 + STB-1 = Pseudomonas sp. (8.11) recorded maximum pHs reduction among the interactions. The pHs reduction ranged from 8.11 to 8.40 among the interaction combinations as compared with initial pHs (8.61). The organic carbon was ranged from 0.28 to 0.38 per cent among the interaction combinations. The slightly increase in organic carbon was due to application of organic components and inoculation of consortia reported in sodic soil as compared to initial organic carbon.