Microbial respiration and nitrogen mineralization in soil amended with different proportions of vermicompost and coir dust

Abstract

The effect of different combinations of vermicompost and coir dust on microbial respiration and nitrogen mineralization in soil was studied under laboratory conditions. Treatment with 75% vermicompost and 25% coir dust (T₂) demonstrated the highest carbon mineralization and NH⁺_4-N contents followed by treatment T₁ (100% vermicompost) and T₃ (50% vermicompost and 50% coir dust). Despite the varied NO_3-N contents at the initial stages of incubation, the NO_3-N content steadily increased for all the treatments at day 49 onwards. The highest NO_3-N content was observed in T₁ followed by that in T₂ and T₃. Such studies need be conducted under field conditions to reach a definite conclusion.

Key Words: Vermicompost; coir dust; mineralization.

DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i4.5830

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(4) : 537-543, December 2009