Vol. 7, Issue 3 (2019)

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2015-16 at Post Graduate Institute Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, to study the “Effect of Seed Inoculation of Zinc and Iron Solubilizing Microorganisms on Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Wheat in Inceptisol’’.

The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and seven treatments. There were various levels of zinc sulphate and iron sulphate and recommended dose of fertilizer (GRDF) with FYM, seed inoculation of zinc and iron solubilizers.

The soil pH, EC and organic carbon at panicle initiation stage of wheatwas not influenced by different treatments. However a decrease in CaCO₃ of soil was observed in the treatment with seed coating of iron and zinc solubilizers and doses of FeSO4 and ZnSO₄. The lowest CaCO₃ content was observed in treatment T₇.

The decrease in CaCO₃ content may be attributed to the synthesis of organic acids by bacteria, fungi and formation of carbonic acid due to release of CO2 by microbes and formation of mineral acid (H2SO₄) due to dissociation of sulphate (SO4^2-).

The same trend of pH, EC, organic carbon and calcium carbonatestatus was observed at harvest stage with a slight decrease in pH, EC, organic carbon and calcium carbonate.