Author(s):

VK Verma, RN Meena and A Kumar

Abstract: A field experiment was carried out during rabi season of two consecutive years, 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University- Varanasi (UP) to study the effect of crop geometry and nutrient management practices on chemical and biological properties of the soil in winter maize (Zea mays L.) + potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) intercropping system. Results revealed that among the chemical properties of the soil, viz., soil pH and EC were affected non-significantly during both the years of experimentations with crop geometry as well as with nutrient management practices. The changes in organic carbon (%) in the soil were found non-significant with crop geometry but under nutrient management practices, were found significantly superior with the application of 100% RDF + 25% N through poultry manure, on par with the application of 100% RDF+ 25% N through vermicompost, as compared to rest of the treatments. In sole crops, maximum pH and EC was recorded with sole maize than sole potato however sole potato was recorded maximum organic carbon (%) than sole maize. In case of biological properties of the soil, viz., bacteria (cfu), fungi (cfu) and actinomycetes (cfu) were recorded non-significant during both the years of experimentation with crop geometry. Under nutrient management practices the biological properties were affected significantly superior with the application of 100% RDF + 25% N through poultry manure but on par with 100% RDF + 25% N through vermicompost, over rest of the treatments. In case of soil microbial biomass carbon (µg C g^-1 soil) in the soil, the effect was found not significant during both the years of experimentation with crop geometry as well as nutrient management practices. In sole crops, maximum bacteria (cfu), fungi (cfu) and actinomycetes (cfu) as well as soil microbial biomass carbon (µg C g^-1 soil) were recorded with sole potato than sole maize during both the years of experimentation. Thus, the results suggest that the 1:2 row ratio (crop geometry) in additive series along with 100% RDF + 25% N trough poultry manure (nutrient management practices) followed by 100% RDF + 25% N through vermicompost was found feasible and viable during both the years of experimentation.

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