Effect of Cowdung, NPK and Rhizobium Inocula on Growth and Soil Status of Summer Mungbean (Vigna radiata) in Acid Soil

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of cowdung, NPK and Rhizobium inocula on growth and soil status of summer mungbean (Vigna radiata) on acid soil of Khadim Nagar, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Seven treatments; Control (without Rhizobium inocula and fertilizers), Cowdung (CD), CD+RI, NPK, NPK+RI, ½(NPK)+RI and Rhizobium inocula (RI) were built into a randomized complete block design with three replications. The rate of Urea-N, TSP-P and MoP-K were 14, 14 and 17.5 kg ha-1, respectively. Cowdung was 8 tons hectare and RI used @ 45 g kg-1 seed. The randomly selected 5 plants were uprooted at 30, 45, 60 and 90 days after sowing for growth characters analyses. The initial and post-harvest soils were collected and analyzed for pH, organic matter, total N, exchangeable K, available P, available S and available B. Cowdung, NPK and Rhizobium inocula had significant effects on growth characters of Mungbean. Sole application of cowdung @ 8 tons hectare produced longer root with taller plants, higher number of branches plant-1 along with longer and wider trifoliate leaves which highly influenced the biomass of Mungbean. NPK fertilizers and Rhizobium application alone or in combined form did not significantly affect the plant growth over sole application of cowdung. The heavy rainfall also limits the NPK and Rhizobiumactivity that affects the plant growth. The post-harvest soils status was not significantly influenced due to treatments application. It may be concluded that cowdung nutrients supply were more efficient than that of NPK and Rhizobium fertilizers in acid soils.