Effect of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Fodder Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the varying organic and inorganic nutrient sources on fodder cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in the kharif of 2017 at ICAR- NDRI, Karnal. The result revealed that application of 100% RDF (N,P,K) along with biofertilizers (rhizobium, PSB, potassium and zinc solubilizer bacteria) (T6) gave significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in plant height (204.6 cm), primary branches (6.1), root length (24.47 cm), green matter yield (334.5 q ha-1), CGR (8.13 g m-2 day-1), RGR (4.68 g g-1 day-1), K content (1.45%) in plant, P uptake (23.01 kg ha-1) and K uptake (86.04 kg ha-1) and available Zn status (0.465 ppm) in soil, after harvesting of the crop. However, N content (2.93%) in plant, N uptake (172.51 kg ha-1) and Zn uptake (192.03 g ha-1) was maximum with the application of 66.67% RDF along with biofertilizers consortium (T7). Application of 100% RDF along with PSB (T3) recorded highest number of nodule (33), P content in plant (0.389%) and available P status (24.76 g ha-1) in soil, after harvest. Further studies that, available N status (208.03 kg h-1), K status (221.27 kg ha-1) in soil, after harvest and Zn content (33.31 ppm) in plant were significantly higher with these treatments like T8 -15 N, 60 P2O5, 40 K2O kg ha-1 along with rhizobium, T4 -100% RDF along with K solubilizer and T11 -FYM 5 t ha -1 with biofertilizers, respectively. In context of the economics of fodder cowpea production, highest gross return (Rs. 53525 ha-1) was obtained from T6 while maximum net return (Rs. 31351 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.45) were worked out maximum with the treatment T7.

[1]  J. Addo,et al.  Response of cowpea (Vigna anguiculata [L.] walp) varieties following application of nitrogen fertilizers and inoculation , 2017 .

[2]  André Trochmann,et al.  Rhizobia inoculation and liming increase cowpea productivity in Maranhão State , 2016 .

[3]  P. Jeyakumar,et al.  Elucidating the role of biostimulants on seedling characters of cowpea , 2016 .

[4]  J. Meena,et al.  Effect of fertility levels and biofertilizers on growth and yield of cowpea on Sandy loam soil of Rajasthan. , 2015 .

[5]  Sanjeev Kumar,et al.  Yield and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system as influenced by integrated potassium management , 2015 .

[6]  O. Olusegun.  Influence of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and pig manure on nutrient dynamics and production of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp , 2014 .

[7]  M. Onuh,et al.  Effects of organic manure and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (l.) Walp) varieties on the chemical properties of the soil and root nodulation , 2010 .

[8]  H. Kushwaha,et al.  Productivity and profitability of pigeonpea under different sources of nutrients in rainfed condition of central India , 2009 .

[9]  H. Rahmani,et al.  Growth Promotion and Enhanced Nutrient Uptake of Maize (Zea maysL.) by Application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Arid Region of Iran , 2008 .

[10]  A. Negi,et al.  Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) legume grains as protein source in the ration of growing sheep , 2006 .

[11]  V. Sharma,et al.  EFFECf OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SOURCE OF NITROGEN ON GROWfH, YIElD AND NUTRIENTS UPTAKE UNDER COWPEA-UNSEED CROPPING SYSTEM , 2005 .

[12]  S. Natesan,et al.  Improving zinc efficiency of cereals under zinc deficiency , 2005 .

[13]  Y. Bashan,et al.  Microbial populations and activities in the rhizoplane of rock-weathering desert plants. I. Root colonization and weathering of igneous rocks. , 2004, Plant biology.

[14]  J. Mciver,et al.  Root morphogenesis in legumes and cereals and the effect of bacterial inoculation on root development , 1997, Plant and Soil.

[15]  D. Binkley,et al.  A new method for estimating gross phosphorus mineralization and immobilization rates in soils , 1992, Plant and Soil.

[16]  N. Terry,et al.  Rhizosphere bacteria mobilize Zn for hyperaccumulation by Thlaspi caerulescens. , 2001, Environmental science & technology.

[17]  G. Gadd,et al.  Solubilization of zinc phosphate by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from a forest soil , 1998, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[18]  David L. Kirchman,et al.  Laboratory evidence for microbially mediated silicate mineral dissolution in nature , 1996 .

[19]  W. Lindsay,et al.  Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper , 1978 .

[20]  G. Bouyoucos.  Hydrometer Method Improved for Making Particle Size Analyses of Soils1 , 1962 .

[21]  D. Lewis.  Methods in Chemical Analysis , 1962, Nature.

[22]  C. I. Rich.  Soil Chemical Analysis , 1958 .

[23]  S. R. Olsen,et al.  Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate , 1954 .

[24]  A. Walkley,et al.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE DEGTJAREFF METHOD FOR DETERMINING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER, AND A PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF THE CHROMIC ACID TITRATION METHOD , 1934 .