Effect of vermicompost and biofertilizer on symbiotic efficiency and yield of cowpea in arid zone of Rajasthan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2012 on loamy sand soil to study the effect of vermicompost and\rbiofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of cowpea. The experiment consisted of four treatments of vermicompost (control, 2.0,\r4.0 and 6.0 t/ha) and four treatments of biofertilizer (control, Rhizobium, PSB and Rhizobium+PSB) thereby making sixteen\rtreatment combinations tested in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The results indicated the application of\rvermicompost 4.0 t/ha gave maximum and significantly higher the net returns over other treatments and remained at par with 6.0\rt/ha of vermicompost. Whereas, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, total root nodules and leghaemoglobin content significantly\rincreased upto 6.0 t/ha and remained at par with 4.0 t/ha of vermicompost over other treatments. But, protein content in seed and\reffective root nodules significantly higher upto 6.0 t/ha of vermicompost over other treatments. The nitrogen fixation capacity\runchanged under different levels of vermicompost. Results further indicated that combined seed inoculation with the Rhizobium\r+ PSB significantly increased the seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, protein content in seed, total root nodules, effective root\rnodule, leghaemoglobin content, nitrogen capacity and net returns over control and other treatments.