Ecoenzymes as Indicators of Compost to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani

Reports of disease suppression by compost are inconsistent likely because there are no established standards for feedstock material, maturity age for application, and application rate. The overall goal of the study was to evaluate a suite of biological indicators for their ability to predict disease suppression. Indicators included both commercial available methods for compost stability (Solvita™, respiration) and metrics of soil ecology not yet adopted by the compost industry (e.g., ecoenzymes, nematode community index). Damping-off by Rhizoctonia solani on radish was chosen as a model system given its global importance, competitiveness affected by carbon quality, and lack of disease management options for organic production. Biological indicators were evaluated for their ability to consistently differentiate among curing process, maturity, and feedstock material as a function of disease severity of a seedling bioassay and a compost extract assay to test competition with R. solani growth. Compost processed as vermicompost and anaerobic digestate were more suppressive against R. solani than windrow or aerated static pile. Mature composts were more suppressive than immature components. Feedstocks containing dairy manure and/or hardwood bark tended to have suppressive qualities. In contrast, poultry manure-based components were conducive to disease. Microbial ecoenzymes active on chitin and cellulose and nematode community indices were better predictors of disease suppressiveness than microbial respiration. These indicators are quicker than plant bioassays and could be adopted as tools to certify commercial products

Organic amendment increases arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in primary coastal dunes

Plastic pots were inserted beneath seedlings of a shallow-rooted C4 grass species, Ischaemum indicum, with and without a root-impenetrable nylon sachet filled with organic matter (OM) amendment, at seven stations along an interrupted belt transect in which plant community and soil chemistry had been previously surveyed. The transect was perpendicular to mean high-water mark (MH-WM) across a primary coastal dune system in Goa, India, where summer monsoon is the predominant weather feature. The Quadrat survey of plant frequency was made in stations when the above-ground biomass was estimated to be highest. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal (AMF) spore density and diversity were determined morphologically in amended and control pots soils, and in OM sachet residues, after host-plant desiccation when monsoon rains had ceased. Twenty-seven AM fungal spore morphotypes were isolated from the pots containing OM amended rhizosphere soils, 19 from controls and 14 from OM residues in the sachets. Gigaspora margarita proved to be the dominant spore in all treatments. Eight morphotypes recovered from amended pots were not recovered from the controls. There was an increasing trend in species diversity in amended pots away from MH-WM. Spore recovery from the three regimes showed variable distribution that indicated differing AMF species strategies

Fungal population and diversity in organically amended agricultural soils of Meghalaya, India

The effect of different organic fertilisers (farm yard manure [FYM]; vermicompost [VC]; plant compost [PC] and integrated compost [INT], i.e. a combination of FYM, VC and PC in a 1:1:1 ratio) on the population and diversity of soil fungi was investigated in a maize-French bean trial. Fungal populations were much higher in organically fertilised plots as compared to the control (CTRL) and showed a decreasing trend in the order FYM>PC>INT>VC>CTRL. Altogether, 122 fungal species and two sterile mycelia were isolated from all the plots of which 25 fungal genera belonged to Deuteromycotina, seven to Ascomycotina, four to Zygomycotina and one to Mastigomycotina. The most common genera isolated from all the plots include Penicillium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Fusarium, Mortierella, Mucor, Paecilomyces, Talaromyces, Trichoderma and Verticillium. Significant positive correlations between fungal populations and Corg were observed in all the organic amended plots. The organic matter level in the organically managed soil systems can play a pivotal role in fungal growth, sporulation and diversity

Integrated Agribusiness Model- A Public Sector Success Story of Instructional Dairy Farm

Agribusiness is the buzzword these days and is the main force behind the commercialization of the agriculture. Contract farming, One stop shop, Opening of the retail stores, starting of the terminal markets, establishment of processing units etc. has proved that agribusiness is very much happening in India. It has not only helped strengthen the forward and backward linkages but has also created opportunities for employment. With the advent of corporate players, many successful agribusiness models have been developed. Even Co-operatives like Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation has developed a model that has become a successful case study (Amul). Many agribusiness projects are being undertaken by both public and private parties on Public Private Partnership mode. State Governments are also trying to develop agribusiness models with the help of their agricultural universities. G B Pant University, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, is one of the universities that have created milestones not only in academics but also in agribusiness. The university started commercial seed production on 10000 acre farm in 1960; launched a seed company in 1969 has now launched agribusiness model on its Instructional Dairy Farm. The farm has 13 units that are closely interrelated to each other. Out of these 13 units two units vermicompost and fodder bank have been recently developed and making good commercial impact on IDF. The unit is conducting all the livestock farming activities on commercial lines. The case study aimed at evaluating this agribusiness model. The model is found working very well and is worth replicating. The model also showcases the successful establishment of agribusiness unit on public private and NGO relationship mode.Integrated Agribusiness Model, Public Sector Sucess Story, Agribusiness, Dairy, Business Administration

Comparison of the physical properties of vermicompost from paper mill sludge and green compost as substitutes for peat-based potting media

The properties of vermicompost, green compost, and their mixes as substitutes for peat were evaluated regarding their recommendation for potting media. The mixes with a maximum of 50% of vermicompost or green compost had acceptable air filled porosity (AFP) and easily available water (EAW). In the vermicompost the level of organic matter (OM), dry bulk density (DBD) and shrinkage were acceptable; however, the AFP and EAW together were not at the recommended level in the different batches; as a consequence, vermicompost should not be used alone for potting media. In the green compost, the level of OM was low which increased the DBD and consequently the AFP was diminished. The particle size distribution (PSD) was different among peat, vermicompost and green compost. The coarse peat had the lower proportion of particles from 0.25 to 2.00 mm (41%) whereas the green compost had the lower coarseness index (CI: percentage by weight of particles larger than 0.5 mm in diameter), 48.4%. The direct effect of the PSD, OM and DBD in the water and air availability was confirmed. Moreover, there were high correlations between the OM, DBD, shrinkage, pore volume and PSD with the water release curve. Those properties should be considered in order to increase the level of substitution of vermicompost in peat-based potting media

THE EFFECT OF COMBINATIONS OF ORGANIC MATERIALS AND BIOFERTILISERS ON PRODUCTIVITY, GRAIN QUALITY, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ECONOMICS IN ORGANIC FARMING OF WHEAT

Organic farming often has to deal with a scarcity of readily available nutrients, and this is in contrast to chemical farming which relies on soluble fertilisers. The present study was conducted to ascertain the effect of different combinations of organic manures, rice residues and biofertilisers in organic farming of wheat. The field experiments were carried out on the research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Treatments consisted of a control (no fertiliser) and six fertiliser treatments, namely, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), FYM + rice residue (RR), VC + RR, FYM + RR + biofertilisers (B), and VC + RR + B. FYM and VC were applied on nitrogen basis (60 kg ha-1), whereas RR was applied at 6 t ha-1. For biofertilisers, Azotobacter, cellulolytic culture (CC) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) were used. The combinations of FYM + RR + B and VC + RR + B resulted in the highest increased growth and yield attributing characters of wheat and increased grain yield of wheat over the control by 81% and 89% (Year 1 & Year 2), and net return by 82% and 73%. These combinations were significantly superior to all other combinations for all the growth and yield parameters, yield, net profit and grain quality of wheat. The results of this study show that VC + RR + B was the most productive treatment, while FYM + RR + B was the most economical treatment with respect to increasing net profit. This was because of the higher price of vermicompost compared with FYM. Both of these combinations resulted in improved grain quality and nutrient uptake by grain. The present study thus indicates that a combination of FYM + RR + biofertilisers or VC + RR + biofertilisers hold promise for organic wheat farming

Preparatoirs for potatoes in organic farming

The aim of this experiment was to try alternative methods of regulation of Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) and late blight (Phytophthora infestans) (the biggest harmfull organisms of potatoes) and production of the good-class of the biopotatoes. Preparation Neem-Azal showed trend of the lower larvae occurence. Combination of the cupric fungicide with preparation PRP-EBV and vermicompost decreased tops-attack by late blight. The statistically lowest production was under the scaffold net. There were not found significant differences in production by using vitality- strengthening preparation

Compost and digestate: sustainability, benefits, impacts for the environment and for plant production

This proceedings volume contains the papers presented at the CODIS 2008 congress held on 27 - 29 February 2008 in Solothurn (Switzerland).The composting and digestion of biogenic waste materials and the subsequent application of compost and digestate to soil contributes to nutrient recycling and renewable energy production. Moreover, compost and digestate can improve soil fertility and suppress plant diseases. On the other hand, compost and digestate may also contain a variety of pollutants hazardous to soil, such as heavy metals and organic contaminants.Compost and digestate have been thoroughly investigated in the framework of two associated projects entitled Organic Pollutants in Compost and Digestate in Switzerland and Effects of Composts and Digestate on the Environment, Soil Fertility and Plant Health. These projects yielded new insights into the properties of compost and digestate, mainly with regard to biological parameters and the occurrence of both classic and emerging organic pollutants.The CODIS 2008 congress was the final event of these two projects