International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

An attempt was made to investigate the effect of castor transplanting and different organic manures on content, uptake and soil fertility status after harvest of castor (Ricinus communis L.) under North Gujarat agro climatic conditions. The field experiment comprised of four levels of age of seedling (A₁: Two weeks old seedling, A₂: Three weeks old seedling, A₃: Four weeks old seedling and A₄: Normal sowing) and four levels of source of manures (S₁: No compost, S₂: Vermicompost, S₃: FYM and S₄: Castor shell compost) laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept with three replication. Castor variety GCH 8 was used as a test crop. The result indicated that Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur content in castor seed did not differed significantly due to different age of seedling and different source of manures. But uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur were significantly higher under treatment A₄ (Normal sowing) and S₄ (Castor shell compost). The available nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur in soil were unaffected due to age of seedling and source of manures. However, organic carbon was found significantly higher (0.204%) with treatment S₄ (Castor shell compost). Interaction effect of age of seedling and source of manures exhibited significant effect on content of sulphur and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium as well as sulphur.