EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS APPLICATION AT

FIELD RATES ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES ON RHIZOSPHERIC
SOIL IN MAIZE

BY
KOLHE VINAYKUMAR SHIRISH
B.Sc. (Agri.)

DISSERTATION
Submitted to
the Marathwada Agricultural University
in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE
(Agriculture)
IN
PLANT PATHOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY

MARATHWADA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY,
PARBHANI 431 402 (M.S.), INDIA.

2010
 CANDIDATES DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the entire work embodied in

this thesis or a part thereof has not been

previously submitted by me for a Degree

or Diploma of any University or

Institute

PLACE: PARBHANI
DATE: / /2010. (Kolhe V. S.)
Mrs. M. G. Patil
M. Sc (Agri.)
Junior Microbiologist,
Directorate of Weed Science
Research Centre,
MAU, Parbhani.

CERTIFICATE - I
This is to certify that Shri. KOLHE VINAYKUMAR SHIRISH
has satisfactory prosecuted his course and research for a period of
not less than four semesters and that the dissertation entitled
“EFFECTS OF CERTAIN AGROCHEMICALS
APPLICATION AT FIELD RATES ON
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
ON RHIZOSPHERIC SOIL IN MAIZE” submitted by him is
the result of original research work and is of sufficiently high
standard to warrant its presentation to the examination.
I also certify that, the thesis or a part thereof has not been

previously submitted by him for a degree of any university.

PLACE: PARBHANI
DATE: / /2010

(Mrs. M. G. Patil)
Research Guide
 CERTIFICATE - II
This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “EFFECT OF
AGROCHEMICALS APPLICATION AT FIELD RATES ON
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
ON RHIZOSPHERIC SOIL IN MAIZE” submitted by Shri.
VINAYKUMAR SHIRISH KOLHE to the Marathwada
Agricultural University, Parbhani in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE
(Agriculture) in the subject of PLANT PATHOLOGY has been
approved by the student’s advisory committee after oral
examination in collaboration with the external examiner.

( ) (Mrs. M. G. Patil)
External Examiner Research Guide

Members of Advisory Committee:

(Dr. G. D. Deshpande)

(Dr. P. V. Khalikar)

(Dr. D. N. Dhutraj)

Associate Dean (P.G.),

College of Agriculture,
MAU, Parbhani
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the few pages I take the opportunity to acknowledge the kindness
shown by various people I had the pleasure of being associated with during the
conduct of experiment.
First of all, my sincere, humble indebtedness and whole-hearted sense
of gratitude to my honourable guide Mrs. M. G. Patil, Junior Microbiologist,
Directorate of Weed Science Research Centre, MAU, Parbhani, who
conceived, detailed and shaped the research problem and provided adept
guidance. Her valuable suggestion, sympathetic behaviour and co-operative
nature during the course of present investigation would remain encouraging
me forever in my life.
I sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness to the
advisory committee members, Dr. G. D. Deshpande, Head of Department of
Plant Pathology, Dr. P. V. Khalikar, Associate Professor, Dr. D. N. Dhutraj,
Head of Department, Department of Plant Pathology, Latur.
I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to Dr. K. T. Apet, Dr. G. P.
Jagtap. Dr. K. S. Kulthe, Dr. F. S. Patil, Dr. O. D. Kohire, Dr. Gholve, Dr. K.
D. Navgire, Department of Plant Pathology. Thanks to non-teaching staff of
Department of Plant Pathology for their kind co-operation during completion
of my PG education.
I owe high esteemed respect to Dr. P. R. Shivpuje, Dean, Faculty of
Agriculture, Parbhani and Dr. S. S. Kadam, Vice- Chansellor, MAU, Parbhani
for providing necessary facilities during the present investigation.
“If we could sell our experience far for what they are worth, then we
would be millionaires” was aptly said. It was indeed a unique experience to
conduct my experiment at Derectorate of Weed Science Research Center,
MAU, Parbhani, in field and lab and it was a pleasure to be associated with all
the sincere staff members of the place. I extent my special thanks to Mr.
Girish Sonawane, Mr. Santosh, Mr. Irfan Sayeed and all the employees who
have helped me whole-heartedly.
Words are not enough to express my thanks to sincere friends at all
measure junctures in life to bear strains and fatigue cheerfully. I have been
very lucky in this respect. I would record my sense of gratitude towards my
friends Pravin, Sagar, Pramod, Ajay, Bramhanand, Suhas, Amarchand, Arjun,
Kum. Smita, Kum. Lenmem Dai for moral support and every possible help
during research work.
I am lucky enough to receive constant inspiration from my hostel
friends Prashant Kamle, Amol Jadhav, Santosh Adat, Sagar More, Mahesh
Khamkar, Vishal Dhasal, Amol Naiknaware, Atul Gedam, Laxman Salgar,
Vijay Pawar, Amol Bharti, Padmakar Ghule, Palve, and my senior friend,
Manoj Hinge, Aniket Kalhapure, Kum. Yogita Dhumal, Sagar Khairnar,
Yogesh Pachorkar, Dnyaneshwar Nathe, Ranjeet Deshmukh, Mangesh Muluk,
Amol Jangam, Kum. Avipreet Janjal, Gulam Jamir and Parmeshwar Gade.
Also to mention the sense of gratitude to my Ph. D seniors Mr. Santosh Pawar,
Mr. Shrikrishna Zagade, Mr. Abhishek Pawar.
One needs sincere friends at all measure junctures in life to bear strains
and fatigue cheerfully. I have been more than lucky in this respect and would
like to record my cardiac sense of gratitude towards my all friend circle,
Abhay Gaikwad, Prasad Gore, Rahul Gade, Geetanjali Bhujbal, Roopali
Gulve, Poonam Karale, Gauri Joshi, Swapnali Kadam and Neeta Patil. Their
substantial help in one way or the other, valuable discussion, constant
encouragement, refreshing company made this work enjoyable.
I am especially and cordially thanks to my dearest friend Raju Rashid
Tamboli who contributed lion share in completion of my research work. I am
especially thanks to my friend Amol Jagtap, Navnath Dhawale, Nanasaheb
Agale who inspired me on every step of my research work.
It’s my great honour to dedicate my work to my father (Bhau) Shri.
Shirish Kolhe, mother (Mummy), Sou. Pournima Kolhe, paternal grandpa
(Dada) Shri. Vithal Kolhe, Grandma (Aai), Sou. Shantabai Kolhe, maternal
grandpa (Dada) Shri. Raghunath Tilekar and Late. Umaji Batwal, and
grandma (Aai) Sou. Ashabai Tilekar and Smt. Sushila Batwal, Uncles Shri.
Satish Kolhe and Shri. Nitin Kolhe and Aunts Sou. Sangeeta Kolhe and Sou.
Vaishali Kolhe who left no stone unturned to enable me to complete the
undertaken task with dignity and pride. Bhau always offered great moral
boosting support, guidance and encouragement to achieve my huge goal.

I am Lucky to have sweet and cute, my younger sister Aarti Kolhe,

Madhugandha Kolhe, Vaijayanti Kolhe, and younger brother Mayur Kolhe,
Suhas Kolhe and Sadanand Kolhe who developed me to think in scientific
way.
 No words of gratitude can equate the tremendous encouragement and
love that have been bestowed on me by my Kolhe family. I think, words with
me are insufficient to express the feelings of my heart to acknowledge them
for their difficult job of educating me and keeping me in all comforts.

No bounds remain for one of my closest friend who shared their huge
helping hand whenever I felt the tremendous need. This compliment goes to
Mr. Aditya Bakle (Adidada) who admired and examined my technical work on
computer and made necessary corrections wherever needed.

I sincerely apologize to all those who have extended their good will
and moral support during the tenure of my experiment whose names have not
been mentioned here, Though not mentioned, your help will always be
cheerful.

Thank you !

Vinaykumar S. Kolhe

CONTENTS

Sr. No. Title Page No.

1. INTRODUCTION 01 – 04
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 05 – 15
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 16 – 27
4. RESULTS 28 – 48
5. DISCUSSION 49 – 54
6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 55 – 57
LITERATURE CITED
APPENDIX
GLOSSARY
ABSTRACT
 LIST OF TABLES

Table.
Title Page No.
No.
Details of different agrochemicals/
1. 23
bioinoculant used in experiment
2. Total fungal count 29
3. Total bacterial count 31
4. Soil pH and E.C. 33
5. Organic carbon of soil 35
6. Nitrogen mineralization of soil 37
7. Microbial biomass carbon 39
8. Basal soil respiration 41
9. Disease incidence in Maize 43
10. Disease index in Maize 45
11. Grain weight and yield in Maize 47
 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
Figure
. No. No.
Process of collection of representative soil samples and
1. randomly selected five plants per plot for 19 – 20
experimentation
Estimation of total fungal and total bacterial count from
2. 28 – 29
rhizospheric soil in Maize
Estimation of effects of agrochemicals on static
physicochemical properties of rhizospheric soil in Maize
3. a. Estimation of pH from rhizospheric soil of Maize 32 – 33
b. Estimation of E.C. from rhizospheric soil of
Maize
Estimation of effect of agrochemicals on dynamic
physicochemical properties of rhizospheric soil in Maize
a. Estimation of organic carbon from rhizospheric
4. 34 – 35
soil of Maize
b. Estimation of nitrogen mineralization from
36 – 37
rhizospheric soil of Maize
Estimation of Microbial Biomass Carbon from
Rhizospheric soil in Maize crop
5. a. Placing of soil samples in the dessicator 38 – 39
b. Fumigation process of soil samples in vacuum
dessicator
Figure showing the significance of Azospirillum
6. treatment in comparison with other treatments followed 34 – 35
in Maize field
The root from Azospirillum treated plot showing
7. 46 – 47
significant results as compared to other treatments
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

% - Per cent
@ - at the rate of
/ - per
CD - Critical difference
cfu - colony forming unit
cm - Centimetre (s)
E.C. - Electrical conductivity
et al - And associates
etc. - etcetera
fb - followed by
Fig. - Figure (s)
g - Gram
ha - Hectare(s)
hr - Hour
HW - Hand weeding
i.e. - That is
mm - Millimetre (s)
MW - Mechanical weeding
No. - Number
0
C - Degree centigrade
ppm - Parts per million
CRD - Completely randomized design
S.E. - Standard error
Spp. - Species
Temp. - Temperature
Var. - Variety
Viz. - Namely
 APPENDIX

Constituents of Nutrients agar media

Beef extract 3g
Peptone 5g
Glucose 5g
Sodium chloride 5g
Agar agar 5g
Distilled water 1000 ml

Constituents of Martins Rose Bengal Agar

Dextrose 10 g
Peptone 5g
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate 1g
Magnesium sulphate 0.5 g
Rose bengal 0.3 ml
Agar agar 20 g
Distilled water 1000 ml
 GLOSSARY

Aerobic: A microorganism that lives, or a process that occurs, in the

presence of molecular oxygen.
Agar: A gelatine-like material obtained from seaweed and used to
prepare culture media on which microorganisms are grown
and studied.
Alternate host: One of two kinds of plants on which a parasitic fungus
(e.g., rust) must develop to complete its life cycle.
Disinfectant: An agent that kills or inactivates pathogens in the
environment or on the surface of a plant or plant organ before
infection takes place.
Fungicide: A compound toxic to fungi.
Incubation period: The period of time between penetration of a host by
a pathogen and the first appearance of symptoms on the host.
Pathogen: An entity that can incite disease.
Pathogenicity: The capability of a pathogen to cause disease.
Rhizosphere: The soil near a living root.
Sterilization: The elimination of pathogens and other living organisms
from soil, containers, etc., by means of heat or chemicals.
Symbiosis: A mutually beneficial association of two or more different
kinds of organisms.
Symptom: The external and internal reactions or alterations of a plant as
a result of a disease.
Toxicity: The capacity of a compound to produce injury.