An investigation on the conversion of infertile soil into fertile soil using crop waste as a remedial (compost) approach and its influence on Vigna mungo biometric and biomolecule profile.

ABSTRACT

The sustainable management of huge volume of agricultural waste in India can be resolved through composting and used as soil amendment. Agriculture waste compost amendments can optimistically alter the physicochemical (pH, C, N, & P) as well as biological nature (microbial activity/biomass and enzymatic activity) of infertile soil. Hence this study, the agriculture wastes such as sugarcane trash, corn stover, and pearl millet stalks were converted to composite through decomposition pit. Interestingly, test crops residues individual composites and their mixed form contained considerable quantity of vital elements like TC, TN, TP, TK, and CN ratio and can effectively convert infertile soil to fertile soil. These test crop composites also had a significant impact on MBN (42.3 µg g-1), MBC (198.4 µg g-1), and MBP (196.4 µg g-1) in test soil, as well as dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity. However, the mixed composite effects are significantly greater than the individual test crop composite effects. Furthermore, it effectively remediates/converts infertile soil to fertile soil, and it ultimately demonstrated positive effects on Vigna mungo biometric (SH, RH, WB, and DB) and biomolecule (total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, and total proteins) profiles, followed by individual test crop composites. According to the findings of this study, the incorporation of crop residue-based mixed composite significantly transforms infertile soil into fertile soil and promotes the growth of V. mungo.