Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Sustainable Tasar Silk Production and Soil Health.

Tasar silk production is highly associated to natural ecosystem. Deterioration of natural ecosystem can directly affect the quality and production of tasar silk. Since regular use of chemical fertilizers reduce the fertility and total microbial biomass thus affecting soil health and productivity in tasar ecosystem. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Ranchi with an aim of improving the soil nutritional status using INM practices. The experiment was comprised 20 treatments including control which laid down in randomised block design with three replications. The soil samples were collected from each plot and analysed for different parameters. The study revealed that the pH of different experiment plots was acidic range (5.42 to 5.99). SOC was found to be higher in the treatment of 75% RDF with 25% VC + Azotobacter + PSB (1.33%) followed by 100%RDF with 2 kg/plant VC + Azotobacter + PSB (1.31%). The treatment T₁₉ (495.5 kg ha^-1) had recorded higher available nitrogen followed by T₁₇ and lower in control. In case, the available phosphorus was found to be the ranges from medium to high (12.93 to 38.33 kg ha^-1) in different treatments. In the present investigation, available potassium was observed in the range of 213.3 kg ha^-1 to 513.3 kg ha^-1 which resulted in medium to high range. All the micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) in the experiment were found to be sufficient amount. Overall, the treatment that integrated chemical fertilizers with organic manure and bio fertilizers showed greater response to increase in soil nutrients content. Hence, the treatment i.e. 75% RDF with 25% VC + Azotobacter + PSB could prove a better and viable for nutrient demand of Tasar culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]