Response of polymers and biofertilizers on soybean (Glycine max) yield under rainfed condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to find out the response of polymers and biofertilizers on yield and quality of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) under rainfed condition at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India during 2015-16. The experiment was laid-out in split-plot design consisting three levels of polymer (Control, 5 kg/ha Nano clay-polymer composite (NCPC) and 5 kg/ha Hydrogel) in the mainplots and four levels of biofertilizer inoculation (Control, Rhizobium japonicum, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) and Mycorrhiza) were taken in sub-plots with three replications. Results indicated that the application of polymer @ 5 kg NCPC/ha improved growth parameters, yield attributes, yields, nutrient content, uptake, quality of seed in terms of protein and oil content. However, the application of 5 kg/ha Hydrogel was statically at par on all the parameters. Moreover, amongst the biofertilizers response was found significant on the growth parameters, yield attributes, yield quality parameters, nutrient content and their uptake. Their conjoint application is beneficial to farmers for sustaining the crop productivity in the rainfed condition of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.