Effect of Biofertilizers and Phosphorus Levels on Soil Fertility, Yield and Nodulation in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers and phosphorus (P) levels on soil fertility, yield and nodulation in chickpea at Instructional Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India during rabi season 2015–16. The nine treatments comprised of biofertilizers (0, PSB and AM) and three P levels (0, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha−1) were tested in randomized block design replicated as thrice. The experimental soil having silty loam in texture, pH (1: 2.5) 8.24, EC 0.34 dS m−1, organic carbon 3.5 g kg−1, available nitrogen (N) 180, P 18.2 and potassium (K) 226 kg ha−1. The plant spacing was row to row 30 cm and plant to plant 10 cm. The variety PG-186 was taken as a test crop. The yield, dry matter accumulation, number, fresh and dry weight of nodule and availability of N, P and K were increased with the increasing levels of P and with inoculation of biofertilizers. The maximum was received with the application of 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 followed by 40 kg P2O5 ha−1. Among the application of biofertilizers (PSB and AM), the maximum were recorded with the application of AM which was statistically at par with PSB and significantly superior over the without inoculation.