Effect of organic amendments of soil on growth and productivity of three common crops viz. Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Abelmoschus esculentus

The study was aimed at understanding the effect of different amendments to soil on the plant growth and productivity. The paddy straw and Ageratum conyzoides residues were used as direct mulch, compost, and vermicompost in different plots planted with Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Abelmoschus esculentus, separately in three experimental plots. The different treatments affected the seed germination of the three test crops significantly. Plant height, basal area, productivity and biomass allocation in above ground parts were highest in vermicompost treated plots and lowest either in control or in mulched plots. The significant positive correlation between biomass accumulation and nutrient mineralization pattern but negative correlation between productivity and available nitrogen was observed. The study revealed that different amendments affected crops differently and the pre-treatment of crop/plant residues like vermicomposting are invariably beneficial and contributed to crop growth and available N in soil. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.