Field experiments were carried out at the Annamalai University, Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu to study the Influence of organic compost and inorganic fertilizer on nutrient uptake and soil health in sunflower (helianthus annuus L.) for two season during Feb – May (2010) and July – Sep (2010). The experiment was laid out in a randomized black design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. The treatments were T1- control (no fertilizer and no organic manure), T2- recommended dose of nitrogen, T3- 75% RDN +FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1, T4 - 75%RDN + pressmud @ 10 t ha-1, T5 - 75% RDN + sewage sludge @ 2.5t ha-1, T6 – 75% RDN + sugarcane trash compost @ t ha-1, T7 – 75% RDN + FYM vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T8 – 75% RDN + pressmud vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T9 – 75% RDN + sewage sludge vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T10 – 75% RDN + sugarcane trash vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1. The results revealed that crop raised with pressmud vermicompost in two season had significant influence on the N, P2O5 and K2O uptake. Plots receives with pressmud vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 along with 75 % RDN increase the soil organic carbon of post harvest soil after experimentation. Also the same treatment recorded significantly higher soil available N, P2O5 and K2O after the harvest of the crop. The least values were recorded in absolute control (no organic and chemical fertilizers). From the results of the field trials, it can be concluded that application of pressmud vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 along with 75 % RDN to sunflower was significantly registered higher soil available N, P and K and organic carbon after harvest of sunflower in tail end area of cauvery deltaic zone of Tamil Nadu.
