Abstract
The study was conducted at the farmers’ field of Karbi Anglong district of Assam to determine the effect of seed treatment with Azotobacter and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) on growth and yield of Toria (var. TS-36). The effect of biofertilizers was observed in combination with various levels of chemical fertilizers and FYM. Seed inoculation with Azotobacter and PSB @40g kg-1 seed + 75% NPK recorded maximum grain yield (11.15 qha-1) due to the higher plant height (88.52 cm), branches plant-1 (4.96), siliqua plant-1 (164.76), root growth (2.30g plant-1), seeds siliqua-1(10.97) and 1000-seed weight (4.82 g). The seed treatment with biofertilizers in combination with different levels of chemical fertilizers was found to be superior over recommended dose of NPK. Economics of cultivation in terms of net return of Rs.17605 & Rs. 17205 and B: C of 2.07 & 2.11 were considerably higher in treatment of Azotobacter + PSB + 50% NPK + FYM and Azotobacter + PSB + 75% NPK + FYM In which biofertilizer seed treatment was done as compared to recommended NPK (Rs. 14160 and 1.93, respectively). Application of Azotobacter and PSB in combination with 75 and 50% NPK and FYM @2 t ha-1 were found as viable and feasible option for getting higher yield and economic return from cultivation of toria in hill zone of Assam.
Highlights
India accounted for 19% of oilseeds area, and 2.7% of oilseeds production in the world, (FAOSTAT, 2013)
The highest plant height (88.52 cm), number of branches plant-1 (4.93), root dry weight (2.30g) was recorded in T4 (Azotobacter + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + 75 % of recommended NPK + farm yard manure (FYM)), which was significantly higher than T1 (Recommended NPK) and T2 (Recommended NPK + FYM)
Improved plant growth by Azotobacter sp. and PSB may be attributed to several mechanisms especially growth hormone production, improving the efficiency of roots, by supplying combined nitrogen and increasing phosphorus availibilty.[15]
Summary
India accounted for 19% of oilseeds area, and 2.7% of oilseeds production in the world, (FAOSTAT, 2013). Rapeseed and mustard is the second most important oilseed crop in India after ground nut. Oilseeds occupy 14.1 per cent, rape seed and mustard alone occupies 3 per cent of the total cropped area in the country.[1] Rapeseed and mustard is cultivated on 6.32 million hectares in India with an annual production and productivity of 7.39 million tones and 1170 kgha-1 (Anonymous, 2016).[2]. India occupies second place in rapeseed and mustard production after China, yet its productivity is far below compared to the world average.[3] The low productivity of rapeseed and mustard in India is due to sub-optimal application of fertilizers and cultivation under rainfed conditions.[4] There is ample opportunity to bridge this yield gap of these crops in the country through use of organic manures and biofertilizers along with chemical fertilizers
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