Effect of Integrated use of Biofertilizers, Chemical Fertilizers and Farmyard Manure on Soil Health Parameters of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Soil fertility level influenced by bio fertilizers, which play an important role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilizing insoluble form of phosphorous and potash and mobilizes the immobile nutrients in soil. These processes enhance the nutrient status of soil. A pot culture experiment was conducted during the year 2016-17 at Agriculture Research Station, Amravati. In this study, microbial consortium consisting of bio fertilizers viz. nitrogen fixers, P solubilize, K releasing bacteria and nutrients mobilizers were used. There were two microbial consortia (MC1 and MC2) consisting of nitrogen fixers Azospirillum and Azotobacter were applied alone and with recommended dose of FYM to the soil treated with different doses of chemical fertilizers. The soil health parameters like soil available N, P, K were found to be maximum in the treatments with microbial consortia MC1 along with recommended dose of FYM and 75% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers compared to other treatments. Maximum yield parameters like seed yield and straw yield of Bajra were recorded in the treatments applied with microbial consortia MC1 along with recommended dose of FYM and 75% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers compared to other treatments. This study clearly showed that the increased nutrient status of soil when the bio-fertilizers are applied along with recommended dose of FYM. This experiment shows that possibility of reduced use of chemical fertilizers with application of bio fertilizers.