Comparative Effectiveness of Bio-inoculant and Enriched Compost on Lentil (Lens culnaris Medik.) Yield under Acid Soil

Background: The advancement of pulse crops, especially lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in acid soils is very challenging due to poor nodulation efficiency and nitrogen fixation. The build-up of Rhizobium population near the germinating seeds (spermosphere) in acid soils with seed inoculation alone is not sufficient, thus limiting its survivability, multiplication and poor Rhizobium-legume interactions. The present investigation aimed at effectiveness of native Rhizobium strain tolerant to acid soil through seed inoculation and through enriched compost fortified with Rhizobium. Methods: For this a field experiment on lentil crop (variety PL-8) was conducted in acid soil with 9 treatments combination: T1: 100% RDF (@20:60:20 kg N-P-K ha-1 ), T2: 50% RDF, T3: seed inoculation (SI) with NR2+EC 1+50% RDF, T4: SI with ER (CK1)+EC 1+50% RDF, T5: SI with NR2+EC 2+50% RDF, T6: SI with ER (CK1)+EC 2+50% RDF, T7: SI with NR2+EC 4+ 50% RDF, T8: SI with ER (CK1)+EC 5+50% RDF, T9: SI with NR2+ EC 3+50% RDF. Result: The nodulation efficiency, pod and seed yield and the soil parameters after the harvest of crop were significantly higher in treatments receiving enriched compost amended with Rhizobium, PSB and RP. Thus, seed inoculation along with enriched compost amended with native Rhizobium, PSB and RP had showed great potential in supporting higher nodulation efficiency and yield of lentil crop grown under acid soil.