Soil Microbial Population and Yield of Rainfed Maize (Zea mays L.) influenced by Application Farmyard Manure and Biodigester Liquid Manure

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2010 under rainfed condition on red sandy loam soil to study the "Effect of farmyard manure and Biodigester liquid manure on soil microbial population and yield of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.)" at Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore), Bhavikere, Tarikere taluk. The experiment was laid out in randomised complete block design with three replications. There were totally 13 treatment combinations comprasing of different levels farmyard manure (7.5, 10 and 12.5 t ha(-1)) and Biodigester liquid manure equivalent (75, 100, 125 and 150 kg N ha(-1)) compared with control (FYM 7.5 t ha(-1) + RDF: 100:50:25 kg NPK ha(-1)). Application of 12.5 t ha(-1) FYM + biodegester liquid manure equivalent at 150 kg N ha(-1) recorded significantly higher microbial population in soil after the crop harvest (50.5 x 10(6) CFU g, 26.0 x 10(4) CFU g(-1), 23.8 x 10(3) CFU g(-1) of total bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, respectively), grain yield (56.2 q ha(-1)) and straw yield (108.9 q ha(-1)) compared with remaining treatments and recorded lower microbial population with application of FYM @ 7.5 t ha(-1) + biodigester liquid manure equivalent @ 75 kg N ha(-1) (32.3 x 10(6) CFU g(-1), 13.8 x 10(4) CFU g(-1), 9.5 x 10(3) CFU g(-1), of total bacteria; fungi and actinomycetes, respectively), grain yield (42.2 q ha(-1)) and straw yield (85.4 q ha(-1)).