Relative field responsiveness and dependency of chickpea to combined inoculation of Mesorhizobium Ciceri, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, phosphobacteria and phosphorus under inceptisol

The relative field responsiveness of chickpea due to the synergistic inte raction o f Mesorhizobium ciceri, phosphobacteria (PSB-Bacillus megaterium), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF-Glomus sp.) and phosphorus and its relative field dependency to the bioinoculats and phosphorus were studied in slightly alkaline inceptisol condition. The combined inoculation of Mesorhizobium ciceri, PSB, AMF exhibits highest nodule number, AMF colonization and biomass production in chickpea under slightly alkaline inceptisol condition. The bioinoculants either PSB or AM fungi enhanced the plant P uptake and AM fungi exhibits relatively better P responsiveness and recorded maximum Relative Field Inoculation Dependency (RFID) value (based on P uptake) of 42.34 percent at 40 Kg P₂O₅ ha-1 application under slightly alkaline inceptisol condition. The combined inoculation of Mesorhizobium ciceri, PSB, AMF and phosphorus at 40 Kg P2O5 ha-1 exhibits highest Relative Field Inoculation Responsiveness (RFIR) value of 21.66 per cent (based on yield response). From the view point of nodulation, dry matter production, root colonization, Relative Field Inoculation Dependency (RFID), Relative Field Inoculation Responsiveness (RFIR) and yield enhancement, inoculating Mesorhizobium ciceri, phosphobacteria (PSB - Bacillus megeterium) and AM fungi (AMF - Glomussp) in the presence of P (40 Kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) to be considered as balanced combination for sustainable chickpea production in the slightly alkaline inceptisol conditions.