1. EFFECT OF BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION AND MOISTURE LEVELS ON SOIL DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY UNDER SUGARCANE CROPPING SYSTEM by R. SELASTIN ANTONY1, S. SATHIYARAJ2 AND S. KARTHIKEYAN1

Abstract

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of biofertilizer application and moisture levels on dehydrogenase activity under sugarcane cropping system by imposing different levels of irrigation(75%, 100%, 125% Recommended dose of irrigation) and fertigation (75% and 100% Recommended dose of fertilizers with different formulations of fertilizers and with or without biofertiliers). Based on the results obtained from the field trial, dehydrogenase activity increased upto 150 days after planting from the initial dehydrogenase activity and there after showed a decreasing trend until harvest. Irrigation regime of 125 percent (I₃) with fertigation level of 75 percent RDF as 50 percent commercial and 50 percent water soluble fertilizer + LBF (F3) recorded the highest dehydrogenase activity (I₃F₃). It is evidently clear that the application of biofertilizers were greatly involved in the accumulation of soil enzymes, which directly reflects the soil fertility index. Soil moisture content may also be played a major role on dehydrogenase activity.