Effect of different sources of organic matter on the yield of rice and soil health in red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Field experiment was conducted to study effect of different sources of organic matter on the yield of rice and soil at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal, India during kharif season of 2009, 2010 and 2011. Average of three years data revealed that inclusion of vermi-compost in the fertilizers schedule of rice cultivation [variety: Swarna (MTU 7029)] increased the grain yield (30.26%) as well as straw yield (32.70%). However higher pH was observed in treatments receiving paddy straw application and organic carbon (%) was also higher in the respective plots where vermi-compost and paddy straw was applied. Regarding available P2O5, there was an increasing trend up to 13-20 kg ha-1 in vermi-compost and green manure applied plots. In case of available K2O, there was a decrease value in all treatments were observed. So there was a positive balance of P and negative balance of K