Enhancing soybean seed yield through biopriming with liquid biofertilizers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v70.i3.5621Keywords:
Soybean, Seed yield, Seed quality, Seed vigor, Biopriming, EconomicsAbstract
Liquid biofertilizers, which contain beneficial microorganisms, present a sustainable solution by improving nutrient availability and soil health. A field study was conducted to assess the effects of liquid biofertilizers on soybean seed yield, quality, and soil nutrient status. The experiment followed a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including recommended rate of fertilizer (RRF: 30:80:37 NPK kg/ha) and seed treatment with various liquid biofertilizers such as effective microorganisms (EM) culture, Potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB), Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Azospirillum, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium. The liquid biofertilizers were treated at 20 ml/kg of seed. Liquid biofertilizer seed treatments were carried out in addition to the RRF. In the control treatment, no liquid biofertilizer seed treatment was used; only recommended rate of fertilizers were applied. Results indicated that biopriming with liquid biofertilizers significantly enhanced yield parameters such as the number of pods/plant, seed yield/plant, and overall seed yield/hectare. The highest seed yield (2,651 kg/ha) and net returns (`82,614) were achieved with the EM culture seed-priming followed by PSB (2,633 kg/ha) and Rhizobium (2,628 kg/ha). Seed quality metrics, including germination % and vigor indices, were markedly higher in biofertilizer-treated seed plots compared to the control. Post-harvest soil analysis revealed increased levels of available nutrients, microbial biomass carbon and microbial count in plots with seeds treated with biofertilizers, signifying improved soil fertility. Economically, all biofertilizer treatments out performed only RRF treatment in terms of net returns and benefit-cost ratios. The study concludes that biopriming with liquid biofertilizers is an sustainable and economically viable option for boosting soybean productivity.
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