Influence of Biofertilizers and NPK Levels on Yield, Quality, Economics and Nutrient Uptake by Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.) and Soil Health

Abstract

The integrated application of chemical fertilisers in conjunction with biofertilisers plays a critical role in maintaining soil health and enhancing the quality of agricultural produce. Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.), commonly referred to as guar, is a multipurpose leguminous crop widely cultivated across the arid and semi-arid regions of the country. A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2021 at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, to evaluate the effects of biofertilisers and varying levels of NPK fertilisation on the yield, quality, and nutrient uptake of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.), as well as their influence on soil properties. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design comprising ten treatment combinations, each replicated three times. The data revealed significant improvement in growth, yield, nutrient content and available nutrient status of soil at harvest with the sole and combined application of nutrients through chemical fertilisers and biofertilizers. It was observed that the growth, yield, and nutrient content were maximum with the application of 40:60:60 NPK kg ha-1 + Biofertilizers. In the post-harvest status of soil, a significant increase was observed in the enrichment of soil fertility with the application of 40:60:60 NPK kg ha-1 + Biofertilizers. The study concludes that the application of 40:60:60 NPK kg ha-1 + Biofertilizers has a beneficial effect for obtaining higher pod yield, soil fertility status, economic return, net profit and B: C ratio.