Soil Health in Response to Bio-Augmented Paddy Straw Compost

The present investigation is an account of soil quality parameters and wheat (Triticum aestivum HD-2285) yield as influenced by insitu incorporation of paddy straw and its subsequent inoculation with two cellulolytic and one lignolytic fungi. Such information may prove useful to farmers as it may provide them with an option to use the undesired crop waste as partial replacements for synthetic fertilizers. The insitu incorporation of paddy straw amended with N P resulted in dehydrogenase, 60 60 alkaline phosphatase, cellulase, cellobiase and urease activity, statistically at par with N P fertilized or fungal 120 60 inoculated paddy straw treatments. The N P treatment also showed highest soil microbial biomass. 60 60 However, the chemical properties (organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus and humus content) of wheat soil were highest in paddy straw + N P + Aspergillus awamori + Trichoderma reesei + Phanerochaete 60 60 chrysosporium fertilized soil closely followed by paddy straw + N P treatment. Higher wheat yield in this 60 60 treatment, compared to recommended dose of chemical fertilizers made the use of natural resources a profitable option.