Impact of rice straw composts on microbial population, plant growth, nutrient uptake and root-knot nematode under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

The effect of adding various rice straw composts on the rhizosphere soil microorganisms, some physicochemical properties, plant growth and nutrient uptake as well as plant parasitic root-knot nematode was evaluated. All the five types of compost showed a high fertilizer value when applied at the rate of 5% (w/w) as indicated by ameliorating the soil microbial population, chemical properties, plant growth response and subsequently the productivity of sandy soil comparing to the mineral fertilizer. Increasing compost application rate resulted in parallel significant enhancement. Addition of composts at 5% in mishmash with half dose of mineral fertilizer significantly improved all the tested criteria. Composts at rates of   5, 7.5% resulted in reducing root-knot nematode population by 79, 84%, respectively and actualized prodigious depletion in egg production. The most prominent composts which surpassed all treatments including the mineral fertilizer were those contained vinasse.   Key words: Rice straw compost, nutrient uptake, plant growth, physicochemical properties, root-knot nematode.