Augmenting phosphorus acquisition through PSB inoculation for improved yield and soil quality under chickpea + coriander intercropping
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Date
2019-02
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out during the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Norman E. Borlogue Crop Research Centre of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to study the effect of PSB and P - levels on the growth, yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)(var. PG-186) and to find out the effect of intercropping of coriander (var. Pant Haritima-1) on chickpea yield. The experimental design used were split plot design in which the main plots represented the planting pattern and sub plots represented the P – level. The experiment comprising16 treatments in combinations of 4 planting pattern and 4 levels of phosphorous.crop were raised by following standard agronomic practices and 30 cm. row spacing was maintained. Main plot comprises four cropping pattern (Chickpea sole, Coriander sole, Chickpea + co riander (3:1) in replacement series and Chickpea + coriander (4:2) in replacement series) and sub plots (Control, 30 kg P2O5/ha alone, 30 kg P2O5/ha + PSB and 45 kg P2O5/ha) were the split plot design used to observed the effect of intercropping of coriander on chickpea yield and to find the effect of PSB for phosphorus acquisition, soil quality and improved yield of chickpea. It was observed that treatments P30+PSB and P30 were statistically at par in nodule number, nodule dry weight and plant dry weight and significantly more over P0 and P45 treatments. Similarly
P30+PSB and P30 treatments were at par in grain, straw and biological yield and significantly more over P0 and P45 treatments and in cropping patterns whereas sole chickpea were significantly more than chickpea intercropping with coriander in 3:1 and 4:2 cropping pattern ratio. Both the sole crops (chickpea and coriander) gave significantly higher seed yield (2406 kg/ha in 2013-14 and 2488 kg/ha in 2014-15, respectively by chickpea) as compared to all other intercropping systems. The 4:2 cropping ratio, recorded significantly higher chickpea equivalent yield (39.07 q/ha in 2013-14 and 39.68 q/ha in 2014-15). In post harvest soil samples significant maximum available nitrogen per hectare was obtained
under 3:1 ratio of chickpea+ coriander plots followed by chickpea+ coriander 4: 2 ratio and sole chickpea plots. While comparing different P levels indicated that significant maximum available nitrogen per hectare was obtained in P0 treatment followed by P30, P45 and P30+PSB treatment respectively. It was revealed that number of bacteria observed more in 3:1 cropping pattern ratio plots as compared to other cropping pattern during both the crops. Soil sample collected at harvest from the treatments P30+PSB and P30 treatments were at par in number of bacteria and significantly more as compare to other treatments. Phosphatase activity and PSB counts of chickpea intercropping with
coriander in 3:1 were found significantly more than other cropping pattern ratio during both the years. The P30+PSB and P45 treatments were at par in phosphatase activity and significantly more over P0 and P30 treatments, respectively during both the years. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by grain and straw of sole chickpea were significantly more than chickpea intercropping with coriander in 3:1 and 4:2 cropping pattern ratio during both the years. The benefit cost ratio of chickpea intercropping with coriander in 4:2 were significantly more (4.94 in 2013-14 and 5.03 in 2014-15) than chickpea intercropping with coriander in 3:1 cropping pattern ratio and sole cropping during both the years. The P30+PSB and P45 treatments were at par in benefit cost ratio and significantly more (6.02 in 2013-14 and 6.13 in 2014-15) over P0 and P30 treatments, respectively during both the years.