Effectiveness of multi-strain biofertilizer in combination with organic sources for improving the productivity of Chickpea in Drought Ecology
Maqshoof Ahamd1, Azhar Hussain*1, Muhammad Fakhar-U-Zaman Akhtar1,
Muhammad Zafar-Ul-Hye2, Zafar Iqbal1, Tayyaba Naz3, Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal4
1Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
2Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan
3Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
4Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research, Chiniot, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab-Pakistan.
Abstract
The present study was conducted in Bahawalpur, which is characterized by extremely dry and harsh desert conditions with very little rainfall and water availability. Due to less availability of water, the production of food crops is unpredictable that is not enough to feed the local population. To cope with the shortage of cereal grains and water, it is need of the hour to arrange some alternate food sources that can be produced with limited water. Chickpea can be successfully grown under water limited conditions. Biofertilizers have the ability to improve the growth and nodulation of chickpea enables it to withstand the periods of drought. The study was involved evaluation of multi-strain biofertilizer (developed from novel strains of Mesorhizobium cicri, Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp.) effectiveness in combination with organic sources for improving the productivity of chickpea in Cholistan desert area of Bahawalpur. Four field trials were conducted in different villages of Bahawalpur. Biofertilizer along with enriched compost and farmyard manure were applied under field conditions with three replications. The combined application of farm yard manure and biofertilizer improved nodules formation, plant growth, yield and chemical parameters as compared to control. It can be concluded that the use of biofertilizer in combination with farm yard manure is significantly effective in improving the productivity and profitability of chickpea. So, the farmers of Cholistan area should be recommended to adopt the biofertilizer technology along with organic manures that will not only enhance the grain yield but also rejuvenate the soil health.
Keywords: Biofertilizer, ACC-deaminase activity, Water scarcity, Food security
