PHOSPHORUS SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA (PSB) IN COMBINATION WITH DIFFERENT FERTILIZER SOURCES ENHANCE YIELD PERFORM ANCE OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Abstract

A two-year (2018-19 and 2019-20) field trial was conducted at research area of Cereals and Pulses section, Agronomic Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan to appraise the effect of seed treatment and nutrient sources on yield and yield components of chickpea. Trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated thrice. Treatments as included were (T1 ) NPK @ 32:85:0 kg/ha (recommended), (T2 ) seed treatment with PSB + recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer, (T3 ) farm yard manure @ 3.58 t/ha, (T4 ) seed treatment with PSB + farm yard manure @ 3.5 t/ha, (T5 ) FYM @ 3.5 t/ ha remaining P from SSP. Data regarding yield and yield contributing factors were recorded by using standard procedures and were analyzed statistically using fisher’s technique of analysis of variance and treatment means were compared by using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of probability. The results revealed that seed inoculation in T2 significantly enhanced the yield by 17.55% (average of both years) over recommended NPK. Seed inoculation with PSB + FYM @ 3.5 t/ha (T3 ) enhanced the yield by 16.97% (average of both years). Seed treatment with PSB + recommended NPK resulted in significant increase in number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod and 100- seed weight by 11.58, 12.35 and 10.15%, respectively over recommended NPK. While seed treatment with PSB+FYM @ 3.5 t/ha resulted in 10.58, 13.36 and 7.87% increase in number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod and 100- seed weight, respectively over FYM @ 3.5 t/ha alone. However, application of FYM @ 3.5 t/ha and remaining P from SSP did not shown response as much as did PSB with synthetic and organic fertilizer source. It was found that seed treatment using PSB along with application of synthetic fertilizer or FYM at the time of sowing enhances yield and yield contributing factors of chickpea.