INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Volume 14, No. 07, Month DECEMBER, Year 2018, Pages 1777 - 1786

Production and yield attributes of biofertilizers on pulse crops

Ravikumar, L. and Subramanian, N.

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Biofertilizers are becoming increasingly popular in many countries and for many crops. Biofertilizers are fertilizers containing living microorganisms, which increase microbial activity in the soil. Biofertilizers are low cost renewable source of nutrient that supplements the chemical fertilizer. Biofertilizers gained importance due to its low cost amongst small and marginal farmer. Inoculation of nitrogen fixing bacteria with bifertilizer increases the phosphorus level. The application of biofertilizer containing beneficial microbes showed a promoting effect on the growth of Vigna radiata (green gram) and Vigna unguiculata (cow pea) plants and improvement of soil properties through a 45 days greenhouse study. Among the various microbes, treated with Pseudomonas the plant height, fresh weight and dry weight were higher in V. radiata plant compared to V. unguiculata. The highest chlorophyll ‘a’ content (1.757 mg/g ) was observed in combined microbes Bacillus + Pseudomonas + Trichoderma treated on V. unguiculata plant than V. radiata. Chlorophyll ‘b’ and carotenoid contents were also higher in the treatment of combined microbes Bacillus + Pseudomonas + Trichoderma treated on V. unguiculata plant compared to V. radiata and untreated control plants. In conclusion, efficient plant nutrition management should ensure both enhanced and sustainable agricultural production and safeguard the environment.

Keywords

Biofertilizer, Mass multiplication, Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)

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