EVALUATION OF ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS AGAINST MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA (TASSI)

Abstract

In pot culture experiment, among the different organic soil amendments tested, FYM @ 12.5 t/ha and neem cake @ 250 kg/ha were found to be effective in reducing the inoculum levels of Macrophomina phaseolina and significantly reduced the incidence of charcoal rot to 13.3 and 15.0 percent respectively from 63.3 % in the control. The rhizosphere population of bacteria and fungi were increased in the amended soils compared to nonamended soils. Soil application of organic amendments also increased the seed germination, seedling growth and seedling vigour index of sunflower.