DefinePK

Abstract

Phosphorus availability and deficiency poses a major challenge to soil health and national food security in Pakistan, as it directly influences the productivity of pulse crops. Effectively addressing this issue requires the adoption of appropriate phosphorus sources, along with the integration of beneficial microbes such as phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), to improve soil fertility and meet the increasing demands of agriculture. The growth and yield of chickpea through phosphorus sources and beneficial microbes were assessed in field experiments conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, over two consecutive years (2020-21 and 2021-22). The experiment was designed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, involving two factors: poultry manure, rock phosphate, and PSB strains. Chickpea variety Karak-1 with a seed rate of 75 kg ha-1 was sown in the field. The plot size was kept at 3.6 m x 3 m with 12 rows. Poultry manure was applied three weeks before sowing and analyzed, while rock phosphate was applied at the time of sowing. The PSB strains were grown and prepared at the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad. The phosphorus solubilization bacteria were used in the form of consortia, labeled as Consortia-I, Consortia-II, Consortia-III, Consortia-IV and Consortia-V. The grown bacterial strains were inoculated on the seeds at a rate of 100 ml kg-1 before sowing in the field. The PSB had significantly affected the growth and yield of chickpea. Among the PSB treatments, Consortia-V which contained all bacteria species had significantly influenced nodules plant-1 (7.1), number of pods plant-1(46.1), early (165) days to maturity, higher plant height (54.6 cm), biological yield (5634.7 kg ha-1), and grain yield (1785.6 kg ha-1), as compared to untreated plots. Poultry manure as a phosphorus source had played its role by improving nodules plant-1(5.5), number of pods plant-1(43.), early (167) days to maturity, maximum plant height (51.5 cm) biological yield (5090.5 kg ha-1), and grain yield (1546.9 kg ha-1) as compared to control plots. Interaction between the PSB and phosphorus sources were also achieved significantly.Based on the above findings, it is concluded that the integrated application of PSB (Consortia-V) with poultry manure represents a cost-effective and sustainable approach for improving chickpea yield and overall productivity.