Response of Soybean to Organic Manure and Potash

Soybean is considered a miracle crop because of its dual qualities, viz., high protein content and oil in seed. In India, the average area under soybean cultivation is 7.71 m ha and the productivity of crop is 1073 kg/ha with total production of 8.27 m t. Even though it is the cheapest high quality vegetable protein, we are yet to exploit its full potential. The excess use of chemical fertilizer spoils the structure of the soil. Therefore, use of chemical fertilizer alone may not keep pace with time in maintenance of soil health for sustaining the crop productivity. Farmyard manure (FYM) and vermicompost are the most important and widely used bulky organic manures, supply plant nutrients including micronutrients, improve soil physical properties and increase availability of nutrients. The importance of potassium in Indian agriculture is increasing with the passage of time. The crop response to application of potassium is becoming more frequent and pronounced. The effect of organic manures and potash on growth yield of soybean under rainfed condition has not yet been tested for this area. To bridge the research gaps highlighted above, the present experiment was carried out.