Enrichment of vermicompost for improving soil quality and ensuring Zn and Fe bioavailability through rice grain

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted with rice (cv. IET-4786) with seven different combinations of regular and engineered vermicompost in Ghentugachhi village of Chakdah block, Nadia district, West Bengal, India (23°02'N latitude, 88°34'E longitude). Enriched vermicompost was prepared using Zn and Fe at three doses and two times of application. The application of these vermicomposted materials had been successful in creating a better soil environment for sustainability of crop production in terms of improvement in the water stable aggregates, water holding capacity, microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity of the soil. There was an increase in the rice grain yield (by 43.56%), as well as the content of zinc and iron accrued through the interventions. The antinutritional factor like phytic acid was curtailed resulting in lowering of phytic acid/Zn and phytic acid/Fe molar ratio, important from the bioavailability point of view, making the biofortification exercise for nutritional security a viable one.