Symbiotic parameters, growth, nutrient accumulation, productivity and profitability as influenced by integrated nutrient management in lentil (Lens culinaris)

ABSTRACT

Field experiments evaluated the effects of integrated nutrient management on symbiotic parameters, growth, nutrient accumulation, productivity and profitability of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Application of recommended dose of nutrients (RDN, 12.5 kg N ha⁻¹ + 40 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) + 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + seed inoculation with biofertilizers [Rhizobium + phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)] + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg⁻¹ seed recorded the highest number & dry weight of nodules, leghaemoglobin content, root & shoot dry weight, plant height, number of pods plant⁻¹ and 100-seed weight. The next best treatment was RDN + seed inoculation with biofertilizers + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg⁻¹ seed. On the basis of mean of three-year data, the treatment of RDN + 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + seed inoculation with biofertilizers + 1.0 g ammonium molybdate kg⁻¹ seed proved the best in realizing the highest grain yield (34.0%), gross returns (34.0%) and net returns (54.8% higher over control). Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the grains and straw were significantly improved where RDN was applied in combination with seed inoculation, basal application of ZnSO₄ and seed treatment with 1 g ammonium molybdate than their single applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Biofertilizers
• economics
• lentil
• nodulation
• nutrient accumulation
• symbiotic parameters

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India [ICAR-8];