Studies on Phosphorus and Zinc Economy with Phosphate and Zinc Solubilizing Microbes in Lentil

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is an important winter pulse crop grown in Indian subcontinent. Lentil like other pulse crops is given secondary importance as far as its growing environment is concerned. Lentil is sown as a cool-season crop and is highly susceptible to rising temperatures. It needs low temperatures at the time of vegetative growth, while maturity requires warm temperatures; the best temperature for its optimum growth has been found to be 18-30°C. It is grown on marginal lands with low fertility and receives sub-optimal fertilizer application. Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria help to increase the availability of soil nitrogen and phosphorus and effect of zinc solubilizing microbes in lentil has not been studied earlier.

An experiment was conducted during Rabi 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the effect of phosphate and zinc solubilizing microbes on growth, yield and economy of lentil at research farm area of Pulses Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eleven treatments replicated thrice.

Growth as well as yield parameters were significantly affected by different treatments and were significantly higher with application of 50% recommended phosphorus dose application + 12.5 kg ZnSO₄ + Biophos + Biozinc. The soil pH did not differ significantly under different treatment. The soil EC under different treatment differed significantly with control. The soil organic carbon was found maximum in T₁₀ (50% recommended phosphorus dose application + 12.5 kg ZnSO₄ + Biophos + Biozinc) and it was closely followed by T₁₁ (recommended phosphorus dose application + nutrient mobilizer {LNm 43a}). Similarly, maximum net return and BC ratio was obtained in T₁₀ treatment followed by T₉ (50% recommended phosphorus dose application + Biophos + Biozinc).