Effect of biofertilizers and phosphorus levels on growth and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in rainfed area under bundelkhand conditions

Field experiment was conducted during Rabi season 2004-05 to find out the performance of biofertilizers for Bundelkhand conditions and also their phosphorus requirements. Three biofertilizers viz., PSB, Rhizobium and VAM were tested in five doses of phosphorus viz.; 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80kg/ha. Result showed that VAM produced significantly better growth attributes, yield attributes and yield over rest of the biofertilizers. On margin basis, VAM gave 7.32g and 3.58g more dry matter, 5.70 and 4.43 higher seeds per plant and 1.64 q/ha (9.58%) and 1.42 q/ha (8.19%) higher grain yield than PSB and Rhizobium, respectively. The application of 60 kg P2O5/ha produced significantly better growth and yield attributes and yield. The use of 60kg P2O5/ ha enhanced the grain yield by a margin of 9.94 q (92.8%),4.34 q (36.53%) and 1.77 q/ha (9.93%) over control and use of 20 and 40 kg P2O5/ha, respectively.