Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
Pradeep Kumar, RN Singh, AS Rajput and SS Sengar

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted between 2017-18 and 2018-19 to investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels (control-no P, 50% P, 75% P, 100% P and 150% P) and microbial inoculants [un-inoculated control, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM), phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB), and AM+PSB) in chickpea-fodder maize system. Chickpea grain yields increased significantly as the rate of P application increased, with the highest yield achieved with 150 percent of the recommended P. This was comparable to 75 and 100 percent of the recommended P dose. The total P uptake by chickpea varies from 4.34–12.36 kg/ha and 4.27–12.84 kg/ha, respectively. The highest apparent recovery (AR) in both the year was recorded when 75% P was added with AM+PSB inoculation whereas, a significant reduction in AR was recorded with increase in fertilizer P beyond 75% of recommended P. Agronomic efficiency was highest under 75% P averaged across microbial inoculants in both year (16.09 kg grain/kg P). Grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of pods per plant (0.98 and 0.99 in first and second year individually), grain weight per plant (0.91 and 0.92 in first and second year separately) and test weight (0.93 and 0.95 in first and second year separately). Grain yield was likewise positively and significantly correlated with total uptake of phosphorus (0.94 and 0.96) in both the year.