Influence of rock phosphate, phosphorous solubilizing bacteria and lime on phosphorous content and dry matter yield of green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Rock phosphate (RP) is one of the cheap sources of P but it cannot be used directly as a soil amendment due to its extremely poor solubility in water (0.1%). However, the availability of Phosphorous from RP can be enhanced by applying it with lime and through the specific use of bio-inoculants. A pot experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal during the Pre-Kharif season of 2021 to study the influence of Rock Phosphate, Phosphorous Solubilizing Bacteria and lime on phosphorous content and dry matter yield of Green Gram (var. DGGS-4). Results revealed that all the P treatments showed higher accumulation of plant P concentration and plant dry weight of green gram when compared to control. Comparing among the different treatments, statistically higher accumulation of plant P concentration and dry weight were recorded in soil treated with T10 (100% RD of P2O5 from RP + PSB1 +PSB2 + Lime (18.71t ha-1) followed by T9 = 100% RD of P2O5 from RP + PSB2+ Lime (18.71t ha-1). Application of rock phosphate in combination with PSB and lime enhanced organic P mineralization thereby increasing plant P concentration and dry matter yield of green gram.