Implication of phosphate solubilizing microbial formulations on biomass and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

A field experiment on “Implication of microbial formulations on biomass and yield of chickpea” was carried out during Kharif 2023 under the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Navile, Shivamogga, KSNUAHS, Shivamogga, and Karnataka. The experiment was laid out under randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications consisted of 9 treatments viz.,T1 = RDF, T2 = 100% N & K + 100% P as RP, T3 = 100% N & K + 75% P as RP, T4 = 100% N & K + 100% P as RP + Biophos + , T5 = 100% N & K + 75% P as RP + Biophos + , T6 = 100% N & K + 100% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3, T7 = 100% N & K + 75% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3, T8 = 100% N & K + 100% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3 + Biophos + and T9 = 100% N & K + 75% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3 + Biophos + comprising beneficial microorganisms of Biophos + and UAHS PSB - 3 applied as seed treatments. Results revealed that the significant improvement was noticed in plant growth and yield attributes. Among the different phosphate solubilizing microbial cultures treated, treatment received 100% N & K + 75% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3 + Biophos + recorded significantly higher (2157.4 kg ha-1) and it was on par with the treatment receiving 100% N & K + 100% P as RP + UAHS PSB – 3 + Biophos + (2141.9 kg ha-1), similar trend was noticed in terms of yield parameters. Scale of studies and further required to evaluate the efficient liquid formulation of the efficient phosphate solubilizing microbial consortia (UAHS PSB – 3 and Biophos +) along with other PGPRs like Azotobacter, Potassium solubilizing microorganisms, biocontrol agents for sustainable crop production in multilocation farm trials using farmers participatory approach.