R.K. Bairwa, H.S. Purohit, R.H. Meena and H.K. Jain
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2011-12 at Rajasthan to study the effect of phosphorus levels and phosphatic biofertilizers on growth, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and soil fertility under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The treatments consisted of 4 levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) and 4 treatments of phosphatic biofertilizers (no inoculation, Aspergillus awamori, VAM and Aspergillus awamori + VAM). The plant height, yield, yield attributes like, test weight and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake were significantly improved with application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Similarly, all these parameters significantly increased owing to combined inoculation with Aspergillus awamori + VAM over individual and no inoculation. Nitrogen phosphorus and potassium uptake of wheat crop increased significantly only up to 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Though increasing levels of phosphorus (up to 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) left the soil rich significantly in respect of post- harvest status of phosphorus. However, successive higher levels of phosphorus declined the available soil nitrogen status, though deletion was observed only up to 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Inoculation with phosphatic biofertilizers also reduced the post- harvest status of available soil nitrogen. Highest decline was observed due to combined inoculation with Aspergillus awamori + VAM.