Evaluation of biofertilizer in combination with organic amendments and rock phosphate enriched compost for improving productivity of chickpea and maize

Abstract

Chickpea has the potential to increase nitrogen nutrition of subsequent cereal crop in chickpea-maize cropping system. As a legume, chickpea takes much of its required nitrogen from atmosphere through symbiotic association with Rhizobium (soil bacteria), and thus least dependent on chemical N fertilizer. After harvesting, N captured in chickpea roots stays in soil for following cereal crop. Maize and chickpea are major crops of Pakistan and important dietary products people. Biofertilizers are products of living microorganisms with potential to improve productivity of crops through a number of direct and indirect mechanisms in environment friendly and sustainable manner. Therefore, a biofertilizer with specific bacterial strains for chickpea and maize, rock phosphate (RP) enriched compost and biogas slurry was acquired and analyzed for various physicochemical properties in laboratory. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the biofertilizer, RP-compost and biogas slurry for improving growth and yield of chickpea. Afterwards, maize was planted in the same pots containing chickpea roots. Same treatment combinations were applied to both crops. Growth, physiology, yield and chemical parameters were recorded for chickpea and maize crops. Application of biofertilizer gave significantly better results and improved grain yield in chickpea (40%) and in maize (14%) crop as compared to control. The use of biofertilizer in combination with biogas slurry can be suggested as economically effective and sustainable approach for improving soil health and productivity of chickpea and maize crops.

Keywords

• biofertilizer
• biogas slurry
• productivity
• sustainability