Effect of enriched phosphatic sludge application on soil microbial population under field capacity (Maize) and flooded condition (Rice) of soil

The field experiment was conducted during the kharif of 2016 at “B” block, Zonal Agricultural research Station, V. C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka to evaluate the effect of enriched phosphatic sludge (EPS) application on soil microbial population under maize and rice crops. Experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with twelve treatments and replicate trice. The results revealed that application of enriched phosphatic sludge at 1000 kg ha-1 + RDF recorded higher microbial population viz., bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in maize soil than the rice soil. Significantly higher bacteria (25.30 and 8.32 X 106 cfu g-1 soil, respectively), fungi (12.30 and 6.25 X 103 cfu g-1 soil, respectively) and actinomycetes (7.00 and 2.51 X 103 cfu g-1 soil, respectively) were recorded in maize and paddy soils in treatment T7 which received 1000 kg ha-1 + RDF. Based on present investigation it can be concluded that optimum aerobic condition with good amount of organic matter are suitable for faster growth of microorganisms.