Effect of Water-Soluble Fertilizers and PGPR on Soil Microbial Population, Nodule Count and Economics of Black Gram

Field experiment was conducted on effect of water-soluble fertilizers and PGPR application on soil microbial population, nodule count and economics were studied under rainfed condition during Kharif-2019 at the College ofAgriculture, Shivamogga. The field experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated thrice with thirteen treatments consisting of different combinations of 19:19:19 and monopotassium phosphate with or without PGPR application. Treatments significantly differ through foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers and PGPR application. The foliar application of 19:19:19 and monopotassium phosphate (0:52:34) @ 1% each at 30 and 45 days after sowing + PGPR along with a package of practice recorded significantly higher number of nodule count (16 and 31 at 30 and 45 DAS). The higher microbial count such as N fixers (53.73, 57.31 and 47.02), P-solubilizers (35.25, 40.32 and 35.58) and K-solubilizers (25.03, 31.18 and 26.30) × 10⁵ colony forming units (CFU) g^-1 soil at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest respectively over the package of practice.