Impact of PSB (Bacillus subtilis) and endomycorrhiza on growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake in maize (Zea mays L.) under temperate conditions of Kashmir

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station Wadura, Sopore (Kashmir) during kharif 2013 to assess the impact of a phosphate solubilizing bacterium (PSB) Bacillus subtilis and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) on maize cv. ‘KG-2’. The treatments comprised of 3 levels of biofertilizers (control, PSB and VAM) and 4 levels of inorganic phosphorus fertilizer [0, 25, 50 and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) i.e. 60 kg P ha⁻¹]. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with each treatment replicated thrice. Maximum plant height (166 cm), biomass production (104 q ha⁻¹), grain yield (46.0 q ha⁻¹) and crude protein (10%) were recorded in treatment VAM + PSB + 50% RDF. The use of VAM and PSB in combination with different P levels enhanced plant NPK uptake over control. Maximum uptake of N (103.0 kg ha⁻¹), P (29.1 kg ha⁻¹) and K (95.6 kg ha⁻¹) was observed in treatment combination of VAM +PSB + 50% RDF.