International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences Volume 3, Issue 5, May 2016, PP 37-41 ISSN 2394-5885 (Print) & ISSN 2394-5893 (Online) Optimizing Yield and Nutrients Content in Peas by Integrated Use of Bio-Organic and Chemical Fertilizers ABSTRACT Syed Ishtiaq Hyder*, Tariq Sultan, Shahbaz Ahmad, Tausif Tabssam, Arshad Ali Muhammad Arhad Ullah National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan Excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers may pose devastating effect on soil fertility and sustainable productivity. Bio-organic amendments improve soil fertility and sustainable crop productivity. Therefore a field experiment was conducted at NARC, Islamabad, to evaluate the integrated effects of rhizobium, vermicompost [having C/N range=19-16 and 14 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)] and chemical fertilizers on nodulation, root-shoot growth, yield and nutrients content in peas seed during kharif 2015 using Randomized Complete Block Design. The results registered significant (p 0.5) on nodules number, root, shoot length, yield, nutrients and protein content of peas. The maximum pea yield (3.9 t/ha) was recorded with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t/ha+ 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) followed by 3.6 t/ha where 100% RDF was applied alone. It was 8 % more than yield of 100% RDF and in addition saved 25% chemical fertilizer. The maximum content of N (3.6%), P (0.39%), K (2.4%) and protein (22.5%) in peas seed were registered with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 tha -1 + 75% RDF and these were 13%, 15%, 14% and 13% more than N, P, K and protein content of 100% RDF alone respectively. NPK as a source of chemical fertilizer integrated with vermicompost and biofertilizers were found to be superior with regards to yield and nutrients content over control and sole application of 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers. This study confirms that biofertilizer and vermicompost have a tremendous potential of plant nutrients supply for sustainable crop production. Keywords: Vermizote, Biozote, Protein contents and organic matter INTRODUCTION Pea (Pisum sativum) belongs to family leguminous is a well known vegetable of the world. Pea is commonly used in human diet throughout the world and it is rich in protein (21-25 %), carbohydrates, vitamin A and C, Ca, phosphorous and has high levels of amino acids lysine and tryptophan (Bhat et al., 2013). Its cultivation maintains soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation in association with symbiotic rhizobium prevalent in its root nodules and thus plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agriculture (Negi et al., 2006). Application of excessive chemical fertilizers may affect soil health and sustainable productivity. They have not only left soils degraded, polluted and less productive but have also posed severe health and environmental hazards. Organic farming methods (such as the use of biofertilizers and vermicompost) would solve these issues and make the ecosystem healthier. Biofertilizers on the other hand are cost-effective and renewable source of plant nutrients to supplement chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizers are known to play an important role in increasing biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and enhance phosphorus availability to crop (Bhat et al., 2013). Similarly humus derived from vermicompost is most commonly used for sustainable production (Premsekhar and Rajashree 2009) due to its beneficial effects on nutrient uptake and retention, pest control and productivity (Barrios et al., 2011). Use of vermicompost in horticulture at large scale can solve the management and disposal problem associated with macrophytes and also resolves the deficiency of organic matter in such soils in addition to nutrient depletion (Najar et al., 2013). A judicious use of organic manures and biofertilizers may be effective not only sustaining crop productivity and in soil health, but also in supplementing chemical fertilizers for crop (Jaipaul et al., 2011). Sustainability in agriculture refers to *Address for correspondence hyder292002@yahoo.com International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences V3 I5 May 2016 37
the capacity to remain productive while maintaining the soil fertility but without effecting soil biodiversity. It is imperative to use bio-organic fertilizer in conjunction to chemical fertilizers for sustainable soil health and crop production this study aimed to evaluate optimizing yield and nutrients content in peas by integrated use of bio-organic and chemical fertilizers. MATERIALS AND METHOD A field experiment was conducted in the farm area of the Vegetable Programme (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pea (CV. Meteor) were sown in Nov. 2014.The plots were assigned according to their respective treatments and arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) under three factors (biofertilizer, vermicompost and chemical fertilizers ). Randomized Complete Block Design had seven treatments: control, 100% RDF (N: P = 40:60 kg ha -1 ), 75% RDF, Biozote+75% RDF, Vermizote1 tha -1 +75% RDF, Biozote+Vermizote 1 t/ha and Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t/ha+ 75% RDF. The vermicompost was incorporated into the top 15 cm of soil in the rhizosphere. All the necessary cultural practices and plant protection measures were followed uniformly for all the treatments during the entire period of experimentation Soil and vermicompost samples were analyzed for various physico-chemical properties using standard methods using ICARDA manual A Rashid and J Ryan (2001) (Table 1-2). Table1. Physico-chemical analysis of soil Soil characters Unit Values ph - 8.4 EC (1:1) ds m -1 0.38 NO 3 -N mg kg -1 1.2 K mg kg -1 70 Available P mg kg -1 2.4 Textural Class - Loam Table2. Physico-chemical analysis of vermicompost Soil characters Unit Values ph - 7.8 EC (1:1) ds m -1 2.4 Total N % 1.8 K % 2.1 Total P % 0.28 C/N - 19-16 Organic matter % 28 PGPR strains - 14 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Peas Yield as Affected by Integrated use of Bio-Organic and Chemical Fertilizers Fig1. Bio-organic and chemical fertilizers effect on peas yield 38 International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences V3 I5 May 2016
Maximum peas yield (3.9 t ha -1 ) as shown in fig- 1 was obtained with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t ha -1 + 75% RDF followed by 3.6 t/ha where 100% RDF was applied alone. It was 8 % more than yield of 100% RDF and in addition saved 25% chemical fertilizers. The increase in yield may be due to integrated application of inorganic (100% or 75% RDF), organic (vermicompost) and biological sources (biofertilizers) which significantly increased the green pod yield per plant over the control and sole application of inorganic fertilizers. This might be attributed to the gradual and steady release of both macro and micro nutrients from vermicompost and biofertilizers, which might have helped in the plant metabolic activity, resulting in early vegetative growth. The increased vegetative growth of plant and balanced carbon to nitrogen ratio of soil in turn increased the crop yield. Similar results have been reported by Negi et al., 2006, Ganie et al., 2009, El-Shaikh et al., 2010, Jaipaul et al., 2011 in pea. Peas Root, Shoot and Nodulation as Affected by Integrated use of Bio-Organic and Chemical Fertilizers Maximum peas root (35 cm), shoot length (70 cm) and no of nodules (8) as shown in fig- 2 and fig-3 were obtained with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t ha -1 + 75% RDF followed by 32 and 66 cm root and shoot length respectively where 100% RDF was applied alone. It was 9 % and 6% more than root and shoot length of 100% RDF treatment and in addition saved 25% chemical fertilizers. No. of nodules for Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t ha -1 + 75% RDF were statistically at par with 100% RDF treatment. The significant increase in root, shoot length and nodulation may be due to integrated application of inorganic (100% or 75% RDF), organic (vermicompost) and biological sources (biofertilizers). This might be attributed to the gradual and steady release of both macro and micro nutrients from vermicompost and biofertilizers, which might have helped in the plant metabolic activity, resulting in increased vegetative growth and nodulation. The increased nodulation and rootshoot length of peas and balanced carbon to nitrogen ratio of soil in turn increased vegetative growth. Similar results have been reported by Negi et al., 2006, Ganie et al., 2009, El-Shaikh et al., 2010, Jaipaul et al., 2011 in peas. Fig2. Bio-organic and chemical fertilizers effect on peas root and shoot length Fig3. Bio-organic and chemical fertilizers effect on peas nodulation International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences V3 I5 May 2016 39
Nutrients Concentration and Protein Content in Peas as Affected by Integrated Use of Bio- Organic and Chemical Fertilizers The effect of bio-organic and chemical fertilizers on N, P and K contents of peas seed were presented in fig-4. It was evident from the data that integrated use of bio-organic and chemical fertilizers significantly improved N, P and K contents in peas seed as compared to control. The maximum content of N (3.6%), P (0.39%), K (2.4%) and protein (22.5%) in peas seed were registered with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t ha -1 + 75% RDF and these were 13%, 15%, 14% and 13% more than N, P, K and protein contents of 100% RDF alone respectively. The increase in N, P and K concentration might be due to Rhizobium nitrogen fixation, the enhancement of plant growth by mycrorrhizal colonization and enhanced uptake of phosphorous. Vermicompost contains most nutrients in plant available forms such as phosphates, exchangeable calcium, soluble potassium and other macronutrients with huge quantity of beneficial microorganisms, vitamins and hormones which influence growth and yield of plants (Theunissen et al., 2010). Similar observations were also reported by Achakzai and Bangulzai (2006) for peas. The synergistic effect of phosphorus and organics which cause availability of more phosphorus, increasing root growth and nodulation resulting in increase in nitrogen and protein content in green pod. Fig4. Bio-organic and chemical fertilizers effect on peas N, P and K content CONCLUSION Fig5. Bio-organic and chemical fertilizers effect on peas protein Maximum peas yield (3.9 t/ha) was recorded with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 t/ha+ 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) followed by 3.6 t/ha where 100% RDF was applied alone. It was 8 % more than yield of 100% RDF and in addition saved 25% chemical fertilizer. The maximum content of N (3.6%), P (0.39%), K (2.4%) and protein (22.5%) in peas seed were registered with application of Biozote+ Vermizote 1 tha -1 + 75% RDF and these were 13%, 15%, 14% and 13% more than N, P, K and protein content of 100% RDF alone respectively. NPK as a source of chemical fertilizer integrated with vermicompost and biofertilizers were found to be superior with regards to yield and nutrients content over control and sole application of 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers. This study confirms that biofertilizer and vermicompost have a tremendous potential of plant nutrients supply for sustainable crop production. 40 International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences V3 I5 May 2016
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