EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION ON THE GROWTH, NODULATION AND YIELD OF GARDEN PEA (PISUM SATIVUM L.) CV. "MATTAR AGETA-6"

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi (winter) season of 1999-2000 on sandy loam soil to study the effect of Rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus on growth, nodulation and yield of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) cv. "Mattar Ageta-6". The results revealed that the application of 120 kg P(2)O(5)/ha with Rhizobium inoculation significantly increased the plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of nodules per plant, fresh weight of nodules per plant and dry weight of nodules per plant followed by 100 kg/ha phosphorus application with Rhizobium inoculation of pea seeds. However, minimum days to first flowering and marketable maturity took with the application of phosphorus @ 120 kg/ha with un-inoculated control. The number of pods per plant, length of the pod (cm), number of seeds per pod and yield of mature green pods (q/ha) was significantly increased by the application of 120 kg P(2)O(5)/ha and Rhizobium inoculation.