2020, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A

Open cast coal mines produces underground soils that contains are devoid of organic humus and high degree of salts that make it unsuitable for vegetation. The physic-chemical characteristics, bacterial population and heterotrophic respiration of coal mine soil with and without organic manure of FYM and Poultry litter (PFM) supplemented with earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) inoculation have been studied over the incubation period of 30 days. Amended soil indicated enhanced pH, % carbon, amount of N, K and P with respect to Control. FYM and earthworm treated soil indicated highest (53.74 18.14 103 cfu/g) bacterial count and heterotrophic respiration (21.7 0.13 mg/ha/hr) followed by poultry farm litter with earthworm amended soil. The least values were obtained in unamended soil. Earthworm amended soil enhanced bacterial load and heterotrophic respiration in both FYM and PFL amended coal mine spoiled soil.