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Optimizing chickpea growth: A multi-faceted approach integrating phosphorus zinc and bio-fertilizer
Phosphorus and zinc are crucial elements for plant development, and the use of organic bio-fertilizer like PSB can enhance soil fertility and crop growth, offering potential solutions for sustainable agriculture and improving crop growth. Thus, the influence of different phosphorus levels (30, 60 and 90 kg ha‑1) and zinc (5, 10 and 15 kg ha-1) with (+) and without (-) bio fertilizer (PSB) on chickpea was investigated in pot experiment at Nowshera Kalan Nowshera, Pakistan. During winter season 2020-21. The trial was laid out in a RCB design with three repeats. A total number of 10 treatments viz. T1 = (control), T2 = (30 kg P + 5 kg Zn), T3 = (60 kg P + 5 kg Zn), T4 = (90 kg P + 5 kg Zn), T5 = (30 kg P + 10 kg Zn), T6 = (60 kg P + 10 kg Zn), T7 = (90 kg P + 10 kg Zn), T8 = (30 kg P + 15 kg Zn), T9 = (60 kg P + 15 kg Zn), and T10 = (90 kg P +15 kg Zn) were studied with (+) and without (-) PSB. The volume of each pot was 3,200 cm3, containing 2.5 kg of soil. Parameters studied were plant height (cm), root length (cm), branches plant -1, leaves plant -1, roots plant -1, SDW (g plant-1), RDW (g plant-1) and TDW (g plant-1) at 30 and 60 days after emergence (DAE). The results revealed that at 30 DAE, PSB, P, and Zn levels had significant effects on plant height, root length, branches plant-1, leaves plant-1, roots plant-1, SDW, RDW, and TDW of chickpea. Application of PSB increased plant height and root length, while higher levels of P and Zn also promoted taller plants and longer roots. At 60 DAE, PSB continued to positively influence plant height, root length, branches plant-1, and leaves plant-1. The combined application of P, Zn, and PSB further enhanced these growth parameters. Interestingly, the effects of Zn and P on SDW and RDW were observed to be more pronounced at 30 DAE than at 60 DAE, while PSB affected RDW at 60 DAE. In conclusion, the trial demonstrated that the combined use of P, Zn, and PSB positively impacted the growth and development of chickpea, indicating the potential of these bio-fertilizers in sustainable agriculture for enhancing crop yields and soil fertility.
Keywords: Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, Days after Emergence, Bio-fertilizer, Shoot dry weight, Root dry weight, Total dry weight
