Effect of distillery effluent under pre- and post-sown irrigation on soil health and yield of rice (Oryuc sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

To assess the optimum dilution of post-methanation distillery effluent, a rich source of organic potassium nutrient, 2 sets of fixed plot experiments were conducted for 2 consecutive years during 2001-2003 with rice (Olyza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) as test crop grown in sequence. Dilutions of distillery effluent with irrigation water significantly affected the grain yield as well as biomass production. The highest yield recorded in plots treated with pre-sown distillery effluent @ 20 m3ha along with 60 kg N/ha in 2 split doses. The status of electrical conductivity (0.26-0.33 dS/m), organic carbon (0.27-0.32%), N (138-172 kgha) and K (117-202 kgha) was significantly increased in effluent treated soils over the control. The pre-sown application of diluted distillery effluent @ 20 m3iha was optimum for building up soil fertility and increasing the yield of rice and wheat in sandy loam soil. Nevertheless the crop performance and yield with distillery effluent alone were overall less than that produced by distillery effluent with chemical fertilizers probably on account of failure of the effluent to supply balanced nutrition to the plants for achieving their potential growth capacity.