Effect of phosphorus and biofertilizers on productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in North Western Rajasthan, India

A field experiment was conducted on chickpea during Rabi, 2009–10 at Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Bikaner. The treatment comprised of four levels of phosphorus (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha⁻¹) and four biofertilizers [Control (B₀,) Rhizobium (B₁), PSB (B₂) and Rhizobium + PSB (B₃)]. The 16 treatments combinations were laid out in randomized block design and replicated three times. Application of 30 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ significantly enhanced plant height, number of branches per plant, number of nodules per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, test weight, seed yield (1263 kg ha⁻¹) straw yield (3336 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (4734 kg ha⁻¹), harvest index, N and P content in seed and straw and uptake and total uptake of N and protein content in seed over control and 15 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ respectively. The combined inoculation of Rhizobium and PSB significantly enhanced growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient content and their uptake in seed and straw of chickpea.