Biochar, Vermicompost and Microorganisms an Organic Soil Amendment to Build the Soil Health and Enhance the Cotton Yield in Yavatmal and Amravati Districts of Maharashtra, India

Cotton has been cultivated for over 6,000 years for various purposes, including food, fiber, and fuel. It is not only used in clothing, sheets, and towels, but also in the production of rope, paper, cooking oil, animal feed, packaging, and biofuels. Biochar has been identified as a potential tool for improving soil fertility, mitigating climate change, and serving as a long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The application of biochar to soil indirectly improves soil health. Cotton is a significant cash crop grown extensively in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. A field experiment was conducted in the Yavatmal and Amravati districts of Maharashtra to assess the impact of biochar and vermicompost, along with biofertilizers on soil properties and cotton yield. The experiment consisted of two treatments: T1, which involved the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), and T2, which involved biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with RDF. Both treatments received the recommended dose of fertilizers for cotton (100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1). The field experiment was conducted using a paired t-test and was replicated with 20 farmers, with each treatment applied to an area of 0.2 ha on each farmer's land.

The results indicated that the application of biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizers @ 100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1, significantly enhances the soil's water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium content compared to the RDF treatment. Additionally, this treatment slightly decreases the soil's bulk density and increases its pH and electrical conductivity, although these effects were not statistically significant. Moreover, the application of biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizers @ 100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1 significantly boosts the yield of cotton. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the combined application of biochar, vermicompost, and biofertilizers to cotton crops is crucial during the Kharif season to enhance soil health and maximize yield compared to the RDF treatment.