Effect of bio-fertilizer and phosphorus on growth and yield of cowpea

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season 2023, at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, (U.P.) to determine the “Effect of Bio-fertilizers and Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Cowpea”. The results revealed that application of Rhizobium + Phosphorus 60kg/ha (Treatment 3) recorded significantly higher plant height (59.27 cm), maximum number of branches/plant (8.87), maximum number of nodules/plant (16.53), higher plant dry weight (65.87g), higher crop growth rate (8.28 g/m2/day), higher relative growth rate (0.005 g/g/day), maximum number of pods/plant (34.33), maximum number of seeds/pod (10.73), higher test weight (g) (34.48), higher grain yield (1.55 t/ha), higher stover yield (2.97 t/ha) higher harvest index (34.27%) were recorded in treatment 3 (Rhizobium + Phosphorus 60 kg/ha). The maximum gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio were also recorded with application of Rhizobium + Phosphorus 60 kg/ha (treatment 3) was found to be productive as well as economically feasible.