Effect of Foliar Application of Liquid Biofertilizer of Buffalo Dung and Gram Bran with Combinations of Biopesticides on the Growth, Flowering and Productivity of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Crop

Abstract

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural field for the huge production of agricultural products causes adverse effect on environment as well as on human health. Animal dungs and agricultural wastes are serious problem for society so it needs to be managed properly. Vermicomposting is the best process for the management of these wastes with the help of earthworm Eisenia fetida and the by-products released from these vermicompost are used in enhancing the agricultural productivity. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a short season leguminous crop which has been recognised as pulse-oil seed. It is a highly nutritive crop which contains 43% of protein and 20% of oil approximately but due to various reasons its production rate is decreasing day by day. The vermiwash and neem, garlic and tobacco based biopesticides are being used as an alternative for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The aim of present study was to observe the growth, flowering and productivity of soybean plant after foliar spray of vermiwash obtained from gram bran (GB) and buffalo dung (BD) with combinations of aqueous extracts of garlic, neem and tobacco leaves. The significant growth (cm) and productivity (g/m2) were observed after the foliar spray of vermiwash (GB+BD) and aqueous extracts of biopesticides (garlic, neem and tobacco leaves). The highest growth of soybean (49.2±2.6 cm) was observed after foliar application of vermiwash (GB+BD) with aqueous extract of neem leaves in ratio of 10:1 whereas, the maximum significant early flowering period (32.3±2.5 days) and productivity (423±14 g/m2) were obtained after treatment of vermiwash (GB+BD) with aqueous extract of neem, garlic and tobacco leaves in ratio of 10:1:1:1. The use of vermiwash with biopesticides in increasing agricultural product is a boon for crops as it is environmentally beneficial and costeffective alternative to chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides.