Title: Amelioration of organic carbon and physical health of structurally disturbed soil through microbe-manure amalgam

Abstract

Less precipitation, high temperature, and minimal natural vegetation are characteristic of regions having arid climate. The harsh environment massively destructs the soil structure of that area by burning soil organic carbon, leading to deteriorated soil nutritional quality, creating a huge threat to agricultural production and food security. Direct application of organic wastes not only substitutes lost organic carbon but also restores soil structure and fertility. Organic amendments i.e., farm manure (FM), poultry manure (PM), molasses (MO) and Exo-Poly Saccharides (EPS) producing rhizobacterial strains i.e., M2, M19, M22 amalgams were used as treatments. To assess the impact of treatments on soil carbon and structure restoration to hold more water and nutrients, a 42-day incubation experiment using completely randomized design (CRD) under the two-factor factorial arrangement was conducted. Macro aggregation (0.25 to >1 mm), carbon retention in macroaggregates, active carbon (dissolved organic carbon, a mineral associated organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon), total organic carbon, the carbon mineralization activities, and water retention capacities were observed highest in soils that were treated with (FM+M2, FM+M22, PM+M19, and MO+M19). Finally concluded that organics mineralization by microbial actions release organic glues that not only imparts particle aggregation but also conserve organics as aggregate entrapped carbon. Amalgamated application of microbe-manure combinations directly impacts soil structure and organic carbon contents, but in an indirect scenario it improves fertility and productivity of soil.