Use of N and P biofertilizers reduces inorganic phosphorus application and increases nutrient uptake, yield, and seed quality of chickpea

Authors : Moin UDDIN, Sajad HUSSAIN, Mohammad Masroor Akhtar KHAN, Nadeem HASHMI, Mohammad IDREES, Mohammad NAEEM, Tariq Ahmad DAR

Pages : 47-54

Doi:10.3906/sag-1211-1

View : 14 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2014-02-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Leguminous crops suffer severely in soils poor in phosphorus. A 2-factor factorial experiment was conducted in a net-house to explore the effect of graded levels of P fertilizer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0, 30, and 60 kg P ha-1 or P0, P30, and P60, respectively); together with rhizobium insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(biological nitrogen fertilizer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(BNF);); and/or phosphate-solubilizing bacteria insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(biological phosphorus fertilizer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(BPF);); in terms of nutrient uptake, yield, and quality of chickpea insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Cicer arietinum L.);. Phosphorus was applied as basal dose, while seeds were treated with respective biofertilizerinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(s); before sowing according to the treatments [BF0 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(control);, BNF, BPF, and BNF+BPF]. Concerning the main effects, P60 proved superior or equivalent to P30, while among the biofertilizer treatments, BNF+BPF gave the greatest values for nutrient uptake as well as for yield and quality parameters. The interaction between P levels and biofertilizer treatments was generally significant. 30 kg P ha-1 applied with N and P biofertilizers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P30 × BNF+BPF); was the most profitable interaction for N uptake as well as for yield and quality characteristics. Compared to P60 applied alone insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P60 × BF0);, P30 × BNF+BPF resulted in greater N uptake insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(27.3%);, seed yield insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(21.1%);, and the content of seed protein insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.9%); and carbohydrate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.6%);. Furthermore, P30 × BNF+BPF was statistically equal to P60 × BNF+BPF with regard to N uptake, seed yield, and protein content as well as for most yield components. Thus, P30 × BNF+BPF saved 30 kg P ha-1 of the costly inorganic P fertilizer to achieve the greatest crop yield and quality.
Keywords : Key words Cicer arietinum, nutrient uptake, phosphorus levels, Pseudomonas striata, Rhizobium ciceri, seed quality, yield attributes