Author(s): P.C. RAO, C. S. R. LAKSHMI, A. SIREESHA, M. MAD HA VI AND G. SW APNA

Abstract: During both the seasons, application of FYM (10 t ha-1) resulted in significantly higher level of activity of urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase enzymes in the soil growing spinach. Adoption of weed management options at different crop growth stages significantly influenced the activity of all these enzymes. While application of herbicide oxadiargyl at a lower dose of 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1stimulated the activity of these enzymes. Comparable level of activity of these enzymes under the influence of different applied treatments at harvest stage of spinach crop signified progressive decrease in the influence of the applied herbicide in time. Changes in microbial activities occurred only at herbicide concentration much higher than what is normally applied infield. Thus, at the doses of herbicides applied in the field may not pose very serious threat to the soil ecological balance.

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