Effect of farmyard manure, phosphorus and phosphate solubilizing bacteria on nodulation, growth and yield of kabuli chickpea

A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 to study the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) (0 and 5 t/ha), phosphorus (0, 20 and 40 kg P2O5/ha) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) inoculation (uninoculated and inoculated) on the growth and grain yield of kabuli chickpea. Inoculation with PSB (Pseudomonas sp.) improved dry weight of nodules by 11.5% over no PSB. FYM improved dry weight of nodules significantly by 14.1% over no FYM application. Application of 20 kg P2O5/ha and 40 kg P2O5/ha improved nodulation significantly over no application of phosphorus however, the difference among these treatment was non-significant. The application of FYM increased the grain yield significantly in all three years of the study. The increase over no FYM application was 9.50%. Application of 20 kg P2O5/ha increased the grain yield significantly over no phosphorus application and further increase in phosphorus to 40 kg P2O5/ha was not economical. PSB inoculation improved the grain yield in one year only. The results show that applications of 5 t FYM and 20 kg P2O5/ha are essential for obtaining high grain yields as well as net returns of kabuli chickpea.