Influence of Green Manuring Crops on Dry Matter Production and Soil Health Improvement

The field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to evaluate the impact of different kind of green manures on soil nutrient balance through adding biomass and N,P and K accumulation. Green manuring crops were incorporated after in situ cultivation and results showed that, the biomass incorporation increased the N production in soil. The biomass from Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania aculeata and Crotalaria juncea gave the higher dry matter and nutrient status. Incorporation of Sesbania rostrata and Sesbania aculeata added more organic matter and nitrogen to the soil after green manure incorporation than the prior soil. However, the improved soil quality was recorded with S. rostrata and S. aculeata followed by C. juncea and V. unguiculata incorporation as compared to control (no green manure) and other green manuring crops. The nutrient balance of soil after incorporation of different green manuring crops specially S. rostrata, S. aculeata and C. juncea showed positive balance of nutrients than other green manures. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2019, 22(1): 39-45