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Investigations related to application of crop residues in benefit of soil fertility improvement, microbial diversity enhancement and agricultural productivity are scare. Therefore, impact of rice husk biochar (RHB) and microbial bio-formulation (CSR-BIO) on nitrogen (N) transformations and methanotrophs (CH4 consuming bacteria) population and soil properties were examined in paddy field condition during the year 2016. In this experiment, three treatment plots (in triplicates) i.e. (a) control, (b) RHB, (c) CSR-BIO, and (d) RHB+CSR-BIO were established in completely randomized block design (RBD). Across treatments, the average N-mineralization (1.83±0.05 μg g -1dry soil) and methanotrophs community (73.33 ± 9.50 × 105 MPN cells g-1 dry soil) was highest in RHB+CSR-BIO treated plots. ANOVA showed significant differences in soil properties (EC, pH, soil moisture, bulk density and WHC) due to treatments in faddy field condition. Results suggested that the application of RHB and CSR-BIO singly or in combination significantly enhance the rate of soil N-mineralization and number of CH4 consuming bacteria as well as soil properties improvement in paddy field.
Key words: CSR-BIO, Methanotrophs, Nitrogen mineralization, Rice husk biochar, Soil.