Effect of Incorporation of Plant Extracts into the Soil on Physicochemical, Biological, and Enzymatic Properties of Soil

ABSTRACT

Soil health refers to its functionality and ecological equilibrium. Different indicators of soil health include its physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical attributes. The present study was undertaken to check the stress generated on the addition of urea in five different soils, sampled from various regions of state Haryana. The change in pH and urease activity was observed on urea treated soil, fertilized with two potential urease inhibitory plant extracts, Cassia fistula and Phyllanthus niruri. Urea incorporation raised the pH and urease activity of all soil types. Plant extracts fertilization positively regulated both attributes of all soil samples. Although Cassia fistula possessed excellent in vitro urease inhibitory potential as compared to Phyllanthus niruri, but for soil health Phyllanthus niruri and formulation Cassia fistula + Phyllanthus niruri (10:90) proved significantly better.

KEYWORDS:

• N-(n butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
• urease inhibition
• cassia fistula
• phyllanthus niruri

Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge the Haryana State Council for Science & Technology (HSCST) for financial support for the project entitled “Urease Inhibitors from Medicinal plants of Haryana in context to agricultural soil protection and therapy against clinically significant virulence factor” (Endst. No. HSCST/R&D/2015/2383).

Disclosure statement

The authors of this article have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Haryana State Council for Science & Technology (HSCST) Chandigarh, India [project entitled “Urease Inhibitors from Medicin].