Influence of phosphorus and biofertilizers on the productivity and profitability of summer black gram (Phaseolus mungo L.) under sub-tropical conditions of Nagaland

Abstract

To study the influence of phosphorus and bio-fertilizers on the productivity and profitability of summer black gram under sub-tropical conditions of Nagaland a field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University during the summer season of 2022. The experiment was conducted by taking two factors i,e phosphorus levels viz., Control, 15 kg P ha^-1, 30 kg P ha^-1 and 45 kg P ha^-1 along with bio-fertilizers i,e (Control), Rhizobium (20 g kg ^-1 seed), Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (20 g kg^-1 seed) and Rhizobium (20 g kg^-1 seed) + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (20 g kg^-1 seed) in factorial randomized block design which were replicated thrice. The black gram variety “Pusa 1” was uniformly fertilized by 20 kg N/ha through Urea. However, phosphorus and bio-fertilizers were applied as per the requirement of the treatments. The experimental study revealed that among the phosphorus levels, the application of 45 kg P/ha recorded significantly highest yield attributes and seed yield (724.17 kg ha^{- 1}). However, among the bio-fertilizers, application of Rhizobium (20 g kg^-1 seed) + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (20 g kg^-1 seed) resulted in highest yield attributes and yield of black gram. Among the economic analysis, application of 45 kg ha^-1 phosphorus and combine treatment of Rhizobium + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria incurred the highest cost of cultivation, highest gross return, net return and Benefit cost ratio. Therefore, for summer black gram cultivation, application of 45 kg ha^-1 phosphorus and treatment of Rhizobium + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria was proved to be profitable.