Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Based Liquid Bio-Fertilizers on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 159 Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Based Liquid Bio-Fertilizers on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Hemant Saini1, Rohitashv Nagar2, P. C. Choudhary3, Dr. Vineet Dheer4, Dr. Gunnjeet Kaur5 School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India 1M.Sc. Agronomy Student, Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India Email: [email protected] 2,3,4 Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India Email: [email protected]du.in 5 Associate Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season at the Agriculture Instructional farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota (Rajasthan), to evaluate the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus-based liquid bio-fertilizers on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The objective was to assess crop performance under varying fertility levels and identify economically viable nutrient management practices. The study employed four fertility levels (Control, 10 kg N + 30 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, 15 kg N + 40 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, and 20 kg N + 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and four bio-fertilizer treatments (Control, Liquid Rhizobium, Liquid PSB, and Rhizobium + PSB combination). The treatment comprising 20 kg N + 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ with dual inoculation of Rhizobium and PSB recorded the highest seed yield (2035 kg ha⁻¹), net return (₹76,641 ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (2.5). Enhanced growth parameters, yield attributes, nutrient uptake, and quality traits were observed with increased fertility levels and bio-fertilizer application. Keywords: Chickpea, Bio-fertilizers and Nitrogen Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 160 I Introduction: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is mainly a cool season crop belonging to family Leguminaceae sub family Papilionaceae. It contributes highest area and production i.e. 9.44 million ha and 10.13 million tonnes, respectively among pulses with a productivity of 1073 kg per ha at national level. More than 90 per cent production in the country has been cultivated in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharasthra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. In Rajasthan, chickpea is cultivated in 1.60 million ha area with a production of 1.76 million tonnes and productivity 1103 kg ha-1 (Govt. of India, 2018-19). Chickpea has deep root system, which make it to withstand in drought and low moisture condition. Because of this property, it is very suitable for dryland and irrigated farming. It is widely grown as rainfed crop in tropical and subtropical climate. Under the pulses, chickpea has important place so it is known as „king of pulses‟. Chickpea is grown primarily for its nutritive value. Pulses are rich source of protein (20-25%) which is almost double the protein content of wheat and thrice that of rice. Pulses are main source of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals (Pingoliya et al. 2013). They also provide nutrition, health benefits and reduce non-communicable diseases like colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases (Jukanti et al. 2012). It provides 358 calorie energy in 100 grains. Chickpea contains protein (20%), carbohydrate (52-70%), fat (4-10%), phosphorus (49-53 mg 100-1 g), crude fiber (6%), iron (7 mg 100-1 g) (Deppe, 2010), vitamin A (316 IU), vitamin C (3 mg 100-1 g), thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid and biotin etc. It is consumed as whole seed (boiled, roasted, spouted), dal flour and as a dal (decorticated cotyledons boiled or meshed to make a soup). Chickpea has many medicinal properties. Its germinated seeds are used for curing scurvy disease because of sufficient amount of vitamin C. It is also used for blood purification. Nitrogen is a primary nutrient. It is constituent of protein, nucleic acid and nucleotides chlorophyll, phospholipids, enzymes, hormones, vitamins etc. Legume crops fix the atmospheric nitrogen with the help of symbiotic association with Rhizobium. Nitrogen has an important role in the physiological processes in plants. It‟s starter dose at the time of sowing leads to rapid leaf area development and increase in overall assimilation rate. Thus, it contributes in increasing the seed yield. Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 161 Phosphorus is an integral nutrient element in the plant system. Phosphorus participates in photosynthesis, transfer of sugar and energy. It is a constituent of energy rich compounds viz. adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), nucleic acid, phytin, phospholipids, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). It stimulates early root growth, enhances the activity of rhizobia and root nodules, root length, root dry weight, pods per plants, leaf size, flowering, grain yield, test weight (Shahzad et al. 2014). It plays an important role in cell division, seed and fruit development. It improves biological nitrogen fixation and grain quality (Kumar et al. 2009). Phosphorus also helps in enhancing the uptake of nutrients and water which results in higher dry matter production in chickpea (Islam et al. 2013). Phosphorus level is low to medium in soils of most of the states in India (Pathak, 2010). Organic matter is deficient in Indian soils. Because of this, rapid fixation of phosphorus occurs and available soluble phosphorus is very low (Sarawgi et al. 2012). Bio-fertilizers especially phosphorus solubilising bacteria is used to get rid of this problem. During and after the Green revolution, due to indiscriminate use of chemical inputs, the sustainability of soil in terms of macro and micro nutrients is decreasing day by day. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers are destroying physical, chemical and biological composition of soil and also imparting a negative impact on the environment. Hence, the sustainability of agriculture has become a major global concern (Laranjo et al. 2014, Verma et al. 2014). The use of chemical fertilizers is quite expensive, so it is also necessary to know about their adequate dosage of application which would be both economically and ecologically beneficial. Soil is a complex system, where several micro-organisms survive together with affecting growth of plant. The rhizosphere of plants is harbour of several fungi, bacteria and most important being nitrogen fixation organism. Bio-fertilizers are widely used for sustainable results and good physical condition of soils in agriculture. Bio-fertilizer is a microbial inoculant, which contains live and latent cells of efficient strain of nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria or cellulytic micro-organism. Thus, it plays vital role in supply the essential plant nutrients. It is very important for eco-friendly environment and sustainable agriculture. Leguminous crops can fix nitrogen with the symbiotic micro-organisms present in their root nodules. Use of biofertilizers (Rhizobium with phosphobacteria) enhance crop yield by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen and making phosphorus available to leguminous crops (Selvakumar et al., 2012). Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 162 Rhizobium is a symbiotic micro-organism which is associated with leguminous plants. Rhizobium improves the nutrient availability. It increases nodulation with better root development and helps in increasing grain yield (Das et al. 2013). It is mainly used as a seed inoculant. In chickpea, Rhizobium improves nodulation, dry weight, plant height, pods per plant, test weight, root length and grain yield. Phosphorus solubilizing micro-organisms have specific role in solublizing the phosphorus, converting the insoluble phosphorus to soluble phosphorus, which is easily available to plants. Liquid bio-fertilizers are inoculants especially in liquid formulation which not only contain desired micro-organisms and their nutrients but also contain special protectants and amendments which promote cell survival in a package and after application to seed or soil. Additives used in liquid inoculants, improve quality of inoculants increasing the population density and shelf life (Tittabutr et al., 2007). Liquid bio-fertilizers have greater shelf life than carrier based bio-fertilizers. The shelf life of carrier based fertilizers is only up to 6 months but of liquid bio-fertilizers may be one year or more. Carrier based fertilizers have many constraints like poor survival rate, low shelf life, low water activity of inoculums and high degree of contamination. The liquid bio-fertilizers minimize the cost of cultivation by avoiding processing and sterilization of carrier-based material. They require minimum labour, energy, and space for handling and also less quantity of inoculum than carrierbased formulation. The liquid inoculants have efficient amount of population of Rhizobium sp., Azotobactor sp., Azospirillumsp and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria up to the level of 108 cells per ml (Dayamani, 2010, Velineni and Brahmaprakash et al., 2011). Liquid biofertilizers are capable of fixing, solubilizing or mobilizing plant nutrients and retain their biological activity. The appropriate application of liquid bio-fertilizer improves the soil quality and yield as compared to carrier based bio-fertilizers. Liquid formulation of biofertilizers plays a vital role in increasing the shelf life of micro-organisms (Verma et al., 2018). II Methodology: A field experiment entitled “Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus based liquid bio-fertilizers on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)‟‟ was conducted at agriculture instructional farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota (Rajasthan) India. The site is situated in Kota Region, which falls in south eastern part of Rajasthan and covers geographical area of 24.43 lakh ha and represents 7.71 per cent of the total geographical area of the state. The zone is located between 23045´ and 26033´ North latitudes and 75027´ and 77026´ East Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 163 longitudes. The area under cultivation is 18.0 lakh hectares, out of which approximately 26% is irrigated and remaining is under rainfed and dry land conditions. Climate and weather condition The Humid Southern Eastern Plain agro-climatic zone has typical subtropical weather conditions characterized by mild winters and moderate summers coupled with high relative humidity during the months of July to September. This region has mean annual rainfall 8001000 mm, much of which is contributed from July to September by south-west monsoon. These measurements showed that the maximum and minimum temperatures ranged from 21.0 to 30.2 °C and from 4.4 to 17.5 °C. Total rainfall is 15.40 mm recorded during cropping season. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Details of treatments used in experimentation Fertility Levels Control F0 10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 F1 15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 F2 20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 F3 Liquid bio-fertilizers Level Control LB0 Liquid Rhizobium inoculation alone (10 ml kg-1) LB1 Liquid PSB inoculation alone (10 ml kg-1) LB2 Liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation LB3 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Analysis of variance Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 164 The data recorded during the experiment were subjected to statistical analysis by applying appropriate techniques of analysis of variance for “Factorial RBD”. The test of significance of the experimental results was found significant at 5 percent level of significance. The CD (critical difference) for the treatment means was calculated. In “Experimental results” summary tables along with SEm and CD at 5 percent were embodied. Their analysis of variance is given in the Appendices at the end. III RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: PLANT POPULATION Fertility levels: The data indicates that plant population recorded at 15 DAS and harvest were non-significant due to different fertility levels. Liquid bio-fertilizers: The results revealed that plant population at 15 DAS and harvest were not significant effect due to different levels of liquid bio-fertilizers. GROWTH PARAMETERS The growth parameters data under the influence of different treatments are furnished and analysis of variance for respective parameters. Plant height 30 DAS Fertility levels: The maximum plant height (19.89 cm) was obtained with F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) fertility level. The minimum plant height (18.35 cm) was recorded with the treatmentF0(control). All the fertility levels failed to show any significant effect on plant height at 30 DAS. Liquid bio-fertilizers: All bio-fertilizers failed to show any significant effect on plant height at 30 DAS. 60 DAS Fertility levels: Data reported that maximum plant height (43.56 cm) was recorded with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1), which was significantly higher over F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control) and minimum (37.02 cm) was recorded with F0 (control). Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 165 Liquid bio-fertilizers: A perusal of data show that maximum plant height (41.46 cm) was recorded with the treatment LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB co-inoculation), which was at par with LB2 (liquid PSB inoculation alone) and LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation) and significantly higher over LB0 (control).The treatment LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation) recorded 2.31 and 1.31 per cent higher plant height over LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation) and LB2 (liquid PSB inoculation alone), respectively. Harvest Fertility levels: A perusal of data show that maximum plant height (54.85 cm) with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) and minimum (47.08 cm) was recorded with the treatment F0 (control). The F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) fertility level was significantly higher by7.44, 10.16 and 16.50 per cent over the F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control), respectively. Liquid bio-fertilizer: The maximum plant height (53.50 cm) was recorded with the treatmentLB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB co-inoculation) and minimum (48.96 cm) was recorded withLB0 (control).The application of LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB coinoculation) resulted significant hike in plant height by 5.83, 7.51 and 9.27 per cent over LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation), LB2 (liquid PSB inoculation alone) and LB0 (control), respectively. YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELD Number of pods plant-1 Fertility levels: The maximum numbers of pods plant-1 (91.25) was with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) and minimum number of pods plant-1 (55.17) was with F0 (control). The number of pods plant-1 atF3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) was significantly superior by 7.05, 22.97 and 65.45 per cent over F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control), respectively. Liquid bio-fertilizers: The maximum number of pods plant-1 (91.08) was recorded with the treatment of LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation), which was significantly superior 12.55, 19.71 and 57.93 per cent over LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation alone) and LB2 (PSB inoculation alone) and LB0 (control), respectively. Interaction effect of fertilizers and bio-fertilizers: The combined effect of treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) + LB3 (Liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation) recorded Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 166 maximum number of pods plant-1 (101), which was statistically at par with F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) + LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation alone) and F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1)+ LB3 (Liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation). The next best treatment in this regard were F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5ha-1) + LB1 (liquid Rhizobium inoculation alone) and F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) + LB3 (Liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation). Number of seeds pod-1 Fertility levels: The maximum number of seeds pod-1 (2.51) was recorded with treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) fertility level, which was statistically at par with F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) and significantly higher over F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control), respectively. The minimum number of seeds pod-1 (2.15) was recorded with F0 (control). Liquid bio-fertilizers: The maximum number of seeds pod-1(2.43) was recorded with LB3 (Liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation), which was statistically at par with LB1 (Rhizobium inoculation alone) and LB2 (PSB inoculation alone) and significantly higher by 24.61 per centoverLB0 (control). Seed yield Fertility levels: The reveal that maximum seed yield (1912 kg ha-1) was obtained with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1). It was recorded significantly higher by 122 kg ha-1, 199 kg ha-1and 422 kg ha-1over F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha1) and control (F0). Liquid bio-fertilizers: The maximum seed yield (1856 kg ha-1) was obtained with the treatment LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation), which was statistically at par withLB1 (Rhizobium inoculation alone) significantly higher by 138kg ha-1 and 306 kg ha1overLB2 (liquid PSB inoculation alone) andLB0 (control).However, LB3 (liquid Rhizobium + liquid PSB inoculation) recorded 4.21 per cent higher seed yield over LB1 (Rhizobium inoculation alone). Haulm yield Fertility levels: The data (Table 4.4) indicate that maximum haulm yield (2577 kg ha-1) was obtained with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1), which was significantly higher by146 kg ha-1, 168 kg ha-1 and 313 kg ha-1over F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 Career Point International Journal of Research (CPIJR) ©2022 CPIJR ǀ Volume 3 ǀ Issue 4 ǀ ISSN: 2583-1895 July-September 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17382928 167 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control), respectively. These represented that 6.05, 6.97 and 13.82 per cent higher haulm yield recorded by F3 fertility level. Liquid bio-fertilizers: The liquid bio-fertilizers failed to show any significant effect on haulm yield. NUTRIENT CONTENT AND UPTAKE Nitrogen content Seed: Fertility levels: Fertility levels did not show any significant effect on nitrogen content in seed. Liquid bio-fertilizers: Liquid bio-fertilizers failed to show any significant effect on nitrogen content in seed. Phosphorus content Seed Fertility levels: Fertility levels did not show any significant effect on phosphorus content in seed. Liquid bio-fertilizers: Liquid bio-fertilizers failed to show any significant effect on phosphorus content in seed. Haulm Fertility levels: Fertility levels did not show any significant effect on phosphorus content in haulm. Liquid bio-fertilizers: Liquid bio-fertilizers failed to show any significant effect on phosphorus content in haulm. Nitrogen uptake Seed: Fertility levels: The maximum nitrogen uptake (59.42 kg ha-1) in seed was recorded with the treatment F3 (20 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1), which was significantly superior by6.79, 13.48 and 30.59 per cent over F2 (15 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1), F1 (10 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) and F0 (control).