Limited information on the impact of polymer coated urea exhibiting slow release and on soil microbial N-dynamics in potato is available. The present study investigated the effect of biodegradable nano-polymer urea formulation on soil enzymatic activities and microflora involved in N-cycling in potato. The nano-chitosan-urea composite (NCUC) treatment significantly increased soil dehydrogenase activity, OC and available K compared to the conventional urea (CU) treatment. The soil ammonical-N (NH3+-N), nitrate-N (NO3-_N) contents and urease activity were significantly decreased in NCUC amended soil. This slow urea hydrolysis rate led to low concentrations of NH3+-N and NO3-_N in test potato soil. Further, these results corroborated the low cfu count of ammonia oxidizers and nitrate reducer population. Quantitative PCR (q-PCR) studies revealed that the relative abundance of eubacterial (AOB) and archaeal ammonia oxidizing (AOA) population was found less in NCUC treated soil compared to CU. The abundance of AOA was particularly less than AOB probably due to more neutral and alkaline conditions of test soil. Our results suggest that biodegradable polymer urea composite had a significant effect on microbes associated with soil-N dynamics. Therefore, this could be used for development of a slow N-release fertilizer formulation for enhancing growth and yield in potato crop.

Nano-polymer-urea composite for improved fertilizer applications: study of their effect on soil enzymatic activities and microflora dynamics in N-cycle of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

2019 Spring National Meeting

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