Effect of different fertilizers on the microbial activity and productivity of soil under potato cultivation

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the application of different rates of mineral nitrogen, well rotten farmyard manure and Klebsiella planticola SL09- based microbial biofertilizer (enteroplantin) on the count of soil microorganisms (total microbial count, counts of Azotobacter, oligonitrophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes), stem height and yield of potato. The experiment was set up as a randomized block design in four replications at the experimental field of the Biotechnical Faculty, Podgorica in 2008. Potato cultivar Kennebec was used as the test plant. The trial involved six treatments: non-fertilized control; N₁ treatment with 100 kg/ha CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate, 27% N); N₂ treatment with 200 kg/ha CAN; N₃ treatment with 300 kg/ha CAN; treatment with Enteroplantin– K. planticola SL09-based biofertilizer; and treatment with 30 t/ha solid well rotten farmyard manure. The results obtained suggested that well rotten farmyard manure induced the highest increase in microbial counts, potato yield and stem height. A similar effect on all microorganisms, except actinomycetes and fungi was seen with the use of K. planticola SL09-based biofertilizer. The potato yield and stem height obtained with the use of 300 kg/ha CAN was non-significantly higher than that of 200 kg/ha CAN treatment, with the count of the soil microorganisms tested been significantly reduced.

Key words: Biofertilization, microorganisms, soil, manure, mineral nitrogen, potato, yield.