INFLUENCE OF BIOFERTILIZER CONSORTIA ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum L.)
Loading...
Files
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
A pot experiment was carried out to study the effect of biofertilizer consortia in
combinations with recommended dose of FYM and different doses of inorganic
fertilizers on growth and yield of pearl millet with an objective of enhancing growth,
yield and nutrient uptake in pearl millet and to improve soil health. The significantly
more plant height at 50DAS, 75DAS and at the time crop harvesting was recorded in
the treatment MC1 + 75% RDF + with recommended dose of FYM and least in case of
treatment applied with the consortium MC1 alone. There were no significant differences
in number of leaves per plant between different treatments was noticed up to 50DAS
however, the highest number of leaves after 75 days of sowing was recorded in
treatments T3 (MC1 + FYM) and T11 (MC1 +75% RDF + FYM). The root length
(28.833 cm), root weight (3.294 g) and yield parameters like earhead length (20.733
cm), earhead weight (9.987 g), the number of seeds per earhead (1440.00), test weight
(0.894 g), seed yield (4807.948 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5977.00 kg ha-1) were
significantly more in treatment having biofertilizer consortium MC1 with recommended
dose of FYM and 75 per cent chemical fertilizers.
The maximum soil pH at flowering was recorded in treatment applied with
biofertilizer consortium MC2 with 50 per cent RDF, MC2 + 75%RDF, 100% RDF and
at harvesting, it was observed to be maximum in treatment having inorganic fertilizers
alone whereas, higher electrical conductivity and organic carbon at flowering and
harvesting were recorded in the treatment having biofertilizer consortium MC1 with
recommended dose of FYM. The highest soil available N, P and K at flowering and
harvesting was recorded in the treatment having biofertilizer consortium MC1 with
recommended dose of FYM and 75% chemical fertilizers.
The highest dehydrogenase activity at flowering and harvesting was recorded in
the treatment having microbial consortium MC1 with recommended dose of FYM. Acid
and alkaline phosphatase activity were observed to be maximum in the treatment having
microbial consortium MC1 with recommended dose of FYM at flowering and acid
phosphatase activity was observed to be maximum in the treatment having biofertilizer
consortium MC1 with recommended dose of FYM and 50% chemical fertilizers,
alkaline phosphatase activity significantly more in the treatment having biofertilizer
consortium MC1 with recommended dose of FYM and 75% chemical fertilizers at the
time of crop harvest.
NPK uptake by the plants was significantly more in the treatment with MC1 +
75% RDF + FYM. The highest microbial population (Bacteria, Fungi, Actinomycetes,
Azospirillum, Azotobacter and PSB) was recorded at flowering compared to other
growth stages. Microbial population at flowering and harvesting was more in the
treatments having bifertilizer consortium with recommended dose of FYM and
chemical fertilizers as compared to application of 100 per cent RDF alone. Among the
different stages of crop growth the maximum AM fungal spore count and percent root
colonization were at harvesting compared to other stages. Further, the maximum AM
fungal spore count and percent root colonization were recorded in the treatment which
is inoculated with biofertilizer consortium MC1 along FYM and chemical fertilizers
than treatment applied with chemical fertilizers at harvesting. The results of this study
clearly shows that pearl millet growth and yield can be enhanced by inoculating soil
with biofertilizer consortium MC1 along with recommended dose of FYM and 75 per
cent RDF over only with 100 per cent RDF. Further, from this study it is also concluded
that, soil fertility and health can be improved with the inoculation of soil with
biofertilizer consortium along with recommended dose of FYM.
Description
D5542
Keywords
null