Potato, Fluchloralin residue, FYM, Microbial population

Soil microbial population in soil was suppressed due to application of metribuzin 0.35 kg/ha and fluchloralin 1.0 kg/ha, but simultaneous application of FYM (10 t/ha) supported the proliferation of microbial population. Bacterial population was significantly declined due to application of herbicides at 1st and 7th day of spraying, while fungal and actinomycetes population were significantly declined at 1st, 7th and 15th day of spraying. No significant change was observed in soil pH, electrical conductivity, available phosphorus and available potassium due to application of fluchloralin or metribuzin alone or with 10 t FYM/ha at harvest while nitrogen content was significantly changed. Total nitrogen content of the soil was significantly the highest in application of fluchloralin with FYM. Fluchloralin residues were gradually reduced with time. FYM application supported the fluchloralin decomposition.