Effect of biofertilizer and fertility levels on growth and yield of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]
Dekhane, S. S.; Khafi, H. R.; Raj, A. D.; Parmar, R. M.; Shekh, M. A.
Research on Crops 12(2): 429-431
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0972-3226
Accession: 070656926
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2008 at Instructional Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) on clayey soil to study the effect of bio-fertilizer and fertility levels on growth and yield of cowpea. Sixteen treatments comprising all possible combinations of four levels of biofertilizers viz., without inoculation, with PSB (Phosphate solubilizing bacteria) inoculation, with liquid PSB inoculation and with Rhizobium inoculation and four levels of chemical fertilizers viz., 0, 50, 75 and 100% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer) were tried in factorial randomized block design with four replications. The results of the experiment indicated that application of 100% RDF and seeds inoculated with Rhizobium significantly increased the growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant as well as yield attributes like number of pods per plant, grain yield per plant, stover yield per plant and test weight. Significantly highest grain (1441 kg/ha) and stover (1716 kg/ha) yields were also recorded by seed inoculation with Rhizobium. The highest grain (1439 kg/ha) and stover (1678 kg/ha) yields were reported with 100 % RDF but found statistically at par with 75% RDF.