Impact of Biofertilizers and Phosphorus Application on Growth of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023–24 at FASAI, Rama University Agricultural Farm, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh). The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam, neutral in reaction (pH 7.40), low in organic carbon (0.45%), low in available nitrogen (163.02 kg ha⁻¹), medium in phosphorus (21.3 kg ha⁻¹), and low in potassium (130.6 kg ha⁻¹). The study comprised 10 treatment combinations: T1 (Control), T2 (Rhizobium + 15 kg P/ha), T3 (PSB + 15 kg P/ha), T4 (Rhizobium + PSB + 15 kg P/ha), T5 (Rhizobium + 30 kg P/ha), T6 (PSB + 30 kg P/ha), T7 (Rhizobium + PSB + 30 kg P/ha), T8 (Rhizobium + 45 kg P/ha), T9 (PSB + 45 kg P/ha), and T10 (Rhizobium + PSB + 45 kg P/ha), laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The chickpea variety KPG-59 (Uday) was sown manually using a kudal. Weather conditions during the crop season included a maximum temperature of 40.51°C, a minimum of 6.74°C, and total rainfall of 9.73 mm across 10 rainy days. Results indicated that while plant population did not differ significantly among treatments, plant height, dry matter accumulation, and branching were significantly enhanced with combined applications of Rhizobium, PSB, and 45 kg P/ha (T10). T10 also recorded the highest nodulation, biomass, and delayed flowering.