cow dung

faba bean

fertilizer

manure

significantly increased

organic fertilizers

compost

biogas slurry

use efficiency

The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences

An investigation was carried out during the winter and summer seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 at New Delhi, to evaluate the effect of vermicompost, biofertilizers (Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria), and phosphorus on 'Pusa 256' gram or chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and their residual effect on succeeding fodder maize (Zea mays L.). Application of vermicompost at 3 tonnes/ha resulted in higher dry matter (19.78 g/plant), leaf-area index (1.57), pods/ plant (27.38), seed (2.35 tonnes/ha) and straw yields (3.81 tonnes/ha) of chickpea. Dry fodder yield (7.51 tonnes/ha) of maize and total N (171.67 kg/ha) and P (28.61 kg/ha) uptake by the chickpea-maize cropping system also increased significantly with the application of vermicompost to chickpea only. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria markedly enhanced growth and yield attributes, seed (2.40 tonnes/ha) and straw (3.80 tonnes/ha) yield of chickpea, fodder yield (7.61 tonnes/ha) of succeeding maize and total N (179.48 kg/ha) and P (29.06 kg/ha) uptake by the chickpea-maize cropping system over the uninoculated control. Phosphorus fertilization up to 26.4 kg P/ha to chickpea also improved growth; seed (2.46 tonnes/ha) and straw (3.92 tonnes/ha) yields of chickpea, and increased the fodder yield (7.91 tonnes/ha) of succeeding maize. The magnitude of increase in chickpea yield with vermicompost was greater when no biofertilizer was applied. Vermicompost along with 13.2 kg P/ha recorded similar yield as obtained with 26.4 kg P/ha, indicating an economy of 13.2 kg P/ha.

Effect of vermicompost, biofertilizer and phosphorus on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by gram (Cicer arietinum) and their residual effect on fodder maize (Zea mays)