Effect of Biofertilizer and Fertility Levels on Growth Characters of Mungbean under Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Biofertilizers are tiny living organisms that can enrich the quality of the soil. These organisms positively imapact, making them healthier and more productive. One of the great things about biofertilizers is that they are environmentally friendly. Unlike some chemical fertilizers, they do not harm the environment. This makes them a good choice for sustainable farming practices. Another advantage of using biofertilizers is that they are cost-effective. One of their most important roles is maintaining the soil’s long-term fertility. Over time, chemical fertilizers can deplete the soil of its natural nutrients. Biofertilizers, on the other hand, work in harmony with the soil, helping to keep it healthy and productive for years to come. So, if you want to increase your soil's productivity and do so in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way, using biofertilizers is smart and intelligent. The present investigation, titled Effect of Biofertilizer and Fertility Levels on Growth Characters of Mungbean under Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh was conducted during the kharif season of 2022 at the Chamelti Agriculture Farm, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction with EC in a safe range, medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen, and potassium and high in available phosphorus. The field experiment was laid out in randomized block design comprising ten treatments viz. (T₁) control, (T2) 100% RDF, (T3) 75% RDF + seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer, (T4) 100% RDF + seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer, (T5) 75% RDF + seed treatment with solid biofertilizer, (T6) 100% RDF + seed treatment with solid biofertilizer, (T7) 75% RDF + soil application with liquid biofertilizer, (T8) 100% RDF + soil application with liquid biofertilizer, (T9) 75% RDF + soil application with solid biofertilizer and (T10) 100% RDF + soil application with solid biofertilizer with three replications. The recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (20:40:20 kg ha-1) through urea, SSP and MOP at the sowing. Biofertilizers applied for seed are 10 ml kg-1 of seed, and for the soil application, take 10 g of solid biofertilizer for 1 kg-1 of ha-1of seed and mix with 100 kg of FYM. Pusa Baisakhi variety of mungbean was used for sowing. Other crop management practices were followed as per the recommendation of the area. Significantly higher growth characteristics (plant height, no. of branches, no. of trifoliate leaves and dry matter accumulation) were observed with (T8) 100% RDF + soil application of liquid biofertilizer. They were on par with (T10) 100% RDF + soil application of solid biofertilizer over the rest of the treatments. The treatments (T6) 100% RDF + seed treatment with solid biofertilizer were statistically similar to (T4) 100% RDF + seed treatment with liquid biofertilizer, followed by treatments T7, T3 and T2. Thus, the study suggests that mungbean can be successfully grown under the Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh on (T8) 100% RDF + soil application of liquid biofertilizer.