Aim: A field experiment was conducted during rabi season to determine the effect of biofertilizers and split application of vermicompost on biological properties (microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, microbial populations and enzyme activities) in rhizosphere of wheat. Methodology: The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications consisting of twenty treatment combinations. Soil samples were collected from the plots at 0-15 cm depth after harvest of wheat crop and soil biological properties analyzed using standard analytical procedure. Results: The experiment results indicated that among biofertilizers treatments, seed inoculation with Azotobacter + PSB + KMB + ZnSB (B5) resulted in a significant higher soil microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase enzyme activity in comparison to control. Similarly, application of vermicompost as 50 % VC at sowing + 50 % VC at tillering (V3) were obtained improved microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, microbial population, dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase enzyme activity while remaining at par with 75 % VC at sowing + 25 % VC at tillering (V4) proved superior in comparison to rest of the treatments due to continuous supply of nutrients throughout the crop cycle. Grain and straw yield of wheat also increased due to the application of biofertilizers and vermicompost over the control. Interpretation: Biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB, KMB and ZnSB) and split application of vermicompost enhanced the soil microbial population and enzymatic activities which sustained the soil health for better wheat production.
A pot experiment was laid out at Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Jobner in 2015 during kharif season using cowpea as a test crop to study the influence of soil salinity, phosphorus sources and biofertilizers on yield and total nutrient uptake by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). The experiment was tested in completely randomized design in which three levels of each salinity (EC 1.22, 4.0 and 6.0 dS/m), phosphorus (single super phosphate, di ammonium phosphate and phosphorus rich organic manure) and biofertilizers (control, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria + vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) were used with three replications. The experimental data showed that soil salinity (EC 1.22 dS/m) recorded significantly higher yield and total nutrient uptake by cowpea in comparison to other treatments. But nitrogen content lowest recorded at EC 1.22 dS/m. Result further revealed that phosphorus source phosphorus rich organic manure recorded significantly maximum yield and total nutrient uptake by cowpea over rest of the treatments. Furthermore, seed inoculation with phosphorus solubilizing bacteria + vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza recorded the maximum yield and nutrient uptake by cowpea over rest of the treatments. It’s concluded that combination of EC 1.22 dS/m + phosphorus rich organic manure + Biofertilizers (phosphorus solubilizing bacteria + vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) found superior in all these parameters over the control.
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