EFFECT OF FLY ASH AND FARM YARD MANURE ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND YIELD OF RICE GROWN ON AN INCEPTISOL

A field experiment was conducted in a fine loamy mixed hyperthermic Typic Haplustept soil during rabi, 2004-05 to study the effect of fly ash and FYM on physico-chemical properties and available nutrient status. The test crop was rice var. Tella Hamsa. The grain and straw yield of rice was significantly increased with fly ash, FYM and their interactions. The highest grain (5.84 t ha-1) and straw yield (7.87 t ha-1) were recorded by combined application of fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 which was on par with fly ash @ 15 t ha-1 along with FYM @10 t ha-1. Among the different combinations, application of fly ash @ 15 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (FA15 FYM10) recorded the highest available N (224.6 kg ha-1), P (24.6 kg ha-1), K (366.7 kg ha-1), S (8.80 mg kg-1), Fe (10.62 mg kg-1) and Zn (0.95 mg kg-1) contents after harvest of rice crop, which were on par with FA10 FYM10. The available Mn content was highest in FA10 FYM10 (6.69 mg kg-1). The available Cu content was not significantly influenced by fly ash levels; however, it was significantly higher in FYM treated plots. Application FA10 FYM10 has resulted in the build up of available nutrients (N-5.8 %), (P-64.5 %), (K – 103.3 %), (S – 2.8 %), (Fe – 22.2 %), (Mn – 23.3%), (Cu – 156.9 %) in post harvest soils except Zn (-10.5%) when compared to their initial status.