Form of Soil Phosphorus Release as Influenced by Rock Phosphate Enriched Vermicompost and Chemical P

A 90-day incubation experiment in the laboratory with five treatments was used to assess the rate of dissolution of various forms of Phosphorus (P) sources in alluvial soil. viz. 0% RDP (Recommended Dose of Phosphorus); 100% of RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer) NPK; VC (Vermicompost) @ 100% of the RDP; REVC (Rock phosphate Enriched Vermicompost) @ 100% of the RDP and 50% RDP+REVC @ 50% of the RDP. The phosphorus release pattern was determined for every treatment at 30 days interval. The integrated treatment of a 50:50 combination of EVC and P-fertilizer performed better than the other treatments. In soil, this combination produced more labile P (16.05 mg kg(-1)), whereas Fe-Al-bound P (53.86 mg kg(-1)), Ca-bound P (163.06 mg kg(-1)), and residual-P (169.78 mg kg(-1)) in 100% rock phosphate enriched vermicompost. It may be inferred that enriched vermicompost (50%) combined with reduced inorganic P fertilizer treatment (50%) could be highly beneficial in supplementing plant P requirements by boosting P release and availability under naturally P deficient situations.