Effect of Bio-NPK Consortia and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] in Inceptisol Soil

Abstract

India is the 4th largest producer of soybean in the world. It is also instrumental in bringing the yellow revolution to the country. Out of nine oilseeds grown, soybean alone contributes nearly 25% of domestic vegetable oil production. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of bio-NPK along with zinc on the growth and yield of soybean in kharif  2023at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhule. The field experiment consisted of eight treatments viz., T1 (Absolute control), T2 [GRDF (50:75:45 N: P2O5: K2O kg ha-1  + 10 t FYM  ha-1)], T3 (GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia), T4 (GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia), T5 (GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia), T6 (GRDF 75% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia), T7 (GRDF 75% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia), T8 (GRDF 75% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia) were replicated thrice under randomized block design.The significantly highest effective nodule count at 45 DAS (26.05), total chlorophyll content at 30 and 60 DAS (3.194 and 2.383 mg g-1 respectively), number of pods plant-1 (94.71), grain and straw yield (29.62 q ha-1 and 44.43 q ha-1, respectively) were observed in the treatment (T5) which received GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia, followed by GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia (T4). The significantly highest B: C ratio (2.92) was recorded in treatment (T5) received GRDF 100% + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia.