• S. Ramesh
• S. Manimaran

Field investigations were carried out in rice - cotton cropping system at the Annamalai University, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai Nagar during September 2006 to June 2007 to study the microbial biomass and soil health as influenced by INM practices in rice - cotton cropping system. The whole research consist of two experiments, first experiment include rice and second experiment was raised with cotton. First experiment (rice) comprised of eight treatments with recommended dose of nitrogen and graded dose of nitrogen along with different organic manures. The experiment laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) and replicated thrice. With regard second experiment (cotton), all the main plots of rice (experiment-I) were divided in to three equal sub plots in which rice fallow cotton was raised without and with fertilizer at different levels (0, 75 per cent and 100 per cent RDF). Performance of the cropping system as a whole was reflected by available soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and microbial population and organic carbon status in rice cotton cropping system. From the results of field trails in rice - cotton cropping system, available soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and microbial population and organic carbon status gain at end of the experiment were significantly influenced by 100% RDN + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 applied to rice followed by 100% RDF to cotton.

Rice, cotton, available soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and microbial population and organic carbon

"Microbial biomass and soil health as influenced by INM practices in rice - cotton cropping system", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 1, page no.400-407, January-2016, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701100.pdf

"Microbial biomass and soil health as influenced by INM practices in rice - cotton cropping system", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.3, Issue 1, page no. pp400-407, January-2016, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701100.pdf