Abstract

Soil enzymes, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil biochemical properties were assessed to understand the influence of different growing media on black centered gerbera varieties under naturally ventilated greenhouse during 2012–13 to 2013–14. Three varieties viz., Batavia, Faith and Antibes were grown on five different growing media i. e. partially decomposed rice husk, vermicompost, enriched compost, soil-based biofertilizer and control. The experimental design was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The soil enzymes fluorescein di-acetate (FDA), phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) and dehydrogenase (DH) involved in energy flow and nutrient cycling showed significant higher activities under different growing media. Enriched compost demonstrated clear increase in FDA (7.42 μg fluorescein/g soil/h), PMEase (362.46 μg p-nitrophenol/g soil/h), DH (270.70 μg TPF/g soil/24 h) and MBC (226.39 μg/g soil) in gerbera. Maximum organic carbon (0.67%) accumulation was observed in enriched compost. Available N, P2O5 and K2O in soil were also increased in application of enriched compost.