Effect of foliar application of water-soluble fertilizer (NPK) with microbial consortia seed treatment on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by blackgram in Alfisols

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, V. C. Farm, Mandya during Kharif 2022 to evaluate the effect of foliar application of 1% 19:19:19 either as single (30 or 45 DAS) or two sprays along with microbial consortia seed treatment under varied levels of recommended doses of fertilizer (100, 75 and 50%) using blackgram as a test crop. Foliar application of 2% DAP at 30 and 45 DAS with seed treatment of biofertilizers and 100% RDF was used as standard check. Application of 100% RDF + 1% 19:19:19 spray @ 30 and 45 DAS (T4) recorded the highest growth parameters viz., plant height (52.45 cm), number of leaves (45.12 plant-1), dry matter (22.82 g plant-1), number of nodules (35.88 plant-1) and yield parameters viz., number of pods (59.62 plant-1), number of seeds (7.94 pod-1). This resulted in maximum grain yield (1362 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (3624 kg ha-1). Application of 75% RDF + 1% 19:19:19 spray @ 30 and 45 DAS (T7) performed on par with T4 recording grain yield (1304 kg ha-1), haulm yield (3324 kg ha-1) and found superior over 100% RDF + 2% DAP spray @ 30 and 45 DAS (T1) indicating 25% saving of recommended dose of fertilizer.