A study on effect of nutrient management practices on soil microbial counts and economics in chickpea in Karnataka state

A field experiment was conducted at Basmati Export Development Foundation, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture \u0026 Technology, Meerut, U.P. during summer season of 2017. The eleven treatments viz. control, Rhizobium (20g/kg seed), PSB (20g/kg seed), 100% RDF(20:40:20 kg NPK/ha),75% RDF, 75% RDF + PSB, 75% RDF + Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha), 75% RDF + Rhizobium, 75% RDF + PSB,+Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha), 75% RDF + PSB+Rhizobium, 75% RDF + PSB + Vermicompost + Rhizobium were tested in randomized block design with three replications. The soil of the experimental field was with (pH 7.9) and sandy loam in texture. It was moderately fertile, being low in available organic carbon (0.47%), available nitrogen (182.3 kg/ha), and medium in available phosphorus (12.7 kg/ha) and medium in available potassium (180.1 kg/ha). The 20 kg/ha seed of moongbean (varieties SML-668) was sown in rows 30 x10 cm apart. Among all the treatments application of 75% RDF + PSB + 2.5 t/ha Vermicompost + Rhizobium gave maximum growth viz (Plant height, No. of branches/ plant, No. of nodules/plant, Leaf area index and Plant dry weight) and yield attributes viz (No. of pods/plant, No. of grains/pod, Test weight and Grain and straw yield) as well as maximum gross returns and net returns from moongbean. This treatment also gave the maximum Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium content and uptake by moongbean and available N, P and K in soil. The combined use of inorganic and organic fertilizer along with bio-fertilizer had a positive effect on available in Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the soil after harvest of moongbean.