Influence of fluchloralin on growth of Rhizobium and PSB, symbiotic parameters and grain yield in mungbean

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of fluchloralin on growth of Rhizobium (MAI) and PSB (Pseudomonas striata), symbiotic parameters and yield in mungbean variety SML 668. In vitro experiment revealed that growth of Rhizobium (R) and PSB was unaffected by fluchloralin (0.675 kg/ha or 20.25 x 10⁴ ppm). The results of field experiment exhibited that synergistic effect exists when co-inoculation of mungbean was done with Rhizobium and PSB. Maximum values for number and dry weight of nodules, leghaemoglobin content were recorded with treatment R+PSB+ fluchloralin 0.675 kg/ha, followed by R+fluchloralin 0.675 kg/ha. Use of biofertilizers (Rhizobium and PSB) proved superior over the control for grain yield, but maximum increase of 16% was recorded with R+PSB+fluchloralin and R+fluchloralin treatment over R+PSB and Rhizobium treatments. Minimum dry weight of weeds was obtained with treatment R+PSB+fluchloralin, which proved its positive correlation with grain yield. It therefore appears that the herbicide fluchloralin @ 0.675 kg/ha is safe on microbial biofertilizers and together their use exerts a favourable effect on symbiotic parameters and grain yield in mungbean.