Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers can improve crop productivity and sustain soil fertility. Based on this fact, present research was conducted to evaluate the impact of long-term integrated application of sewage sludge, compost and fertilizer nitrogen on microbial activity and soil Health in rice rhizoshere of rice-wheat cropping system. Data revealed that combined application of sewage sludge and inorganic nitrogen significantly increased the population of fungi (46 ×103 cfu g-1 soil) and actinomycetes (84 ×104 cfu g-1soil) whereas compost along with inorganic nitrogen significantly raised bacterial population (162 ×108 cfu g-1soil), diazotrophic count (58×105 cfu g-1soil) and phosphate solubilizer’s population (13 ×102 cfu g-1soil). Moreover, the integrated application of compost and fertilizer nitrogen recorded significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity (221.40 μg pNP/g of soil/min) and dehydrogenase activity (8.61 μg TPF/g of soil/hour) but sewage sludge induced maximum urease activity (553.60 μg / g of soil/hour) in rice. Maximum decrease in soil pH was observed by nitrogenous fertilizers alone. Soil microbiological and chemical properties were found to be significantly correlated with each other. Present results demonstrated that integrated application of organic and inorganic sources proved effective alternative source for improving soil health in rice rhizosphere.

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