Impact of FYM, PSB and phosphorus on sustainable productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rainfed condition

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2004-05 and 2005-06 at Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, India, to assess the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB; Pseudomonas striata [Pseudomonas putida]), and to determine the appropriate dose of P. The treatments comprised FYM (0 and 10 t/ha), PSB (uninoculated and inoculated at 400 g/10 kg seed), and P (0, 30, and 60 kg/ha). Data were recorded for plant height, trifoliate leaves, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, root length, root width, nodules per plant, nodules dry weight per plant, branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, seeds per plant, 1000 seed weight, seed weight per plant, seed yield, straw yield, harvest index, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return, returns per rupee invested. Overall, FYM at 10 t/ha did not show the best source of nutrient supplement for rabi season chickpea under rainfed condition while, inoculation of PSB with 30 kg P/ha was the most appropriate treatment for chickpea production in rainfed areas of Chitrakoot region