Effect of microbial consortia on yield and economics of groundnut in Alfisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Regional agricultural research station, Palem, during the Rabi season of 2024-25, to study the effect of microbial consortia on yield and economics of groundnut in Alfisols. The experimental design was executed in a Randomized Block Design comprised of eight treatments and three replications. The current study focused on the groundnut cultivar K6. The investigation includes the assessment of microbial consortia and inorganic fertilizers effect on, yield components, economics. Application of microbial consortia along with inorganic fertilizers significantly enhanced the growth and yield attributes also pod and haulm yield of groundnut. Among various treatments, T7 (100% RDF+ Rhizobium seed treatment 10 g kg-1 seed + Soil application 5 kg ha-1) + soil application of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) + Potassium Releasing Bacteria (KRB) + Sulphur Oxidizing bacteria (SOB) each 5 kg ha-1 was the best treatment as it recorded significantly higher number of nodules plant-1 (39.65), pods plant-1 (18.63), test weight (51.67 g), pod yield (2605 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (3515 kg ha-1). From the economics point of view, this treatment also achieved the highest gross returns (₹192770 ha-1), net returns (₹133346 ha-1), and BC ratio (2.24) In contrast, the control resulted in the lower number of nodules plant-1 (27.71), pods plant-1 (8.82), test weight (42.88 g), pod yield (1356 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (2262 kg ha-1)., also gross returns (₹100344 ha-1), net returns (₹ 51034 ha-1), and BC ratio (1.03).