Journal Article

Effect of application of bioorganic nutrients on soil health and pea productivity in Entisols of North-western Himalayas

Thakur, M., Ojaswini, MS, Sharma, V., Sharma, S., Sharma, R., Sharma, A., Jasrotia, K.

2025

Overview

Aim: To evaluate the impact of integrating organic manures and fermented bio-formulations on soil health and pea (Pisum sativum L.) productivity as a sustainable alternative to inorganic fertilisers. Methodology: The experiment evaluated nine treatments, which consisted of various combinations of fermented bio-formulations (jeevamrit, beejamrit, and ghanjeevamrit) and organic manures (FYM and vermicompost). The treatments were laid out in a randomised block design with three replications, using Pea (variety Punjab-89) as the test crop during the years 2021 and 2022. Results: The results showed that integrating organic manures with bio-formulations significantly improved the soil properties and pea yield. Specifically, treatment T3 enhanced the soil organic carbon, microbial count, and nutrient availability significantly. However, treatment T6 achieved the highest pea yield of 14.78 t ha-1, representing a 20.5% increase compared to the conventional NPK treatment (T2), with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.22. T6 treatment also demonstrated comparable improvements in the microbiological and biochemical activity to T2. Interpretation: The study concludes that the conjoint use of organic manure (FYM or vermicompost) with fermented nutrient sources (beejamrit and jeevamrit) offer a sustainable approach in enhancing the pea productivity and soil health, reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers. Key words: Bioformulation, Entisols, Nutrient management, Organic manure, Pisum sativum