INFLUENCE OF BIOFERTILIZER, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ON GROWTH, NODULATION AND YIELD OF LENTIL

Abstract

To investigate the influence of biofertilizer, phosphorous and potassium on growth, nodulation and yield of lentil, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, during rabi season from November 2019 to March 2020. Treatments consisted of two biofertilizer levels: (i) B 0 = control and (ii) B 1 = Biofertilizer (Rhizobium) with five combinations of phosphetic and potassic fertilizer: (i) F 0 = No use of P + K fertilizer (control), (ii) F 1 = 25% less than recommended dose of P + K, (iii) F 2

= recommended dose of P + K, (iv) F 3 = 25% higher than recommended dose of P + K and (v) F 4 = 50% higher than recommended dose of P + K. The experiment was conducted in two factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Growth and yield parameters like plant height, no. of branch plant -1 , nodule no. plant -1 , dry weight plant -1 , pods plant -1 , 1000-seed weight, grain yield, stover yield, biological yield etc. were collected from this experiment. Data were analyzed by Statistix-10 software. Result revealed that biofertilizer treated plot B 1 (Biofertilizer) was found to be superior in producing maximum plant height, branches plant -1 , dry weight plant -1 , nodule no. plant , pods plant -1 , grain yield and biological yield of lentil. On the other hand, P+K fertilizer at 50% higher than recommended dose (F 4 ) gave highest yield, plant height, branches plant -1 , dry weight plant -1 , nodules no. plant -1 , 1000-seed weight, grain yield, stover yield and biological yield. In case of interaction, B 1 F 4 was found to be superior in producing maximum yield and yield components like pods plant -1 (71.39), 1000-seed weight (24.97 g), grain yield (2773.20 kg ha -1 ), stover yield (2985.40 kg ha -1 ) and biological yield (5758.60 kg ha -1 ) which was statistically similar with B 1 F 2 and B 1 F 3 interactions. It can be concluded that the interaction of biofertilizer with 90 kg ha phosphorus fertilizer and 35 kg ha -1 potassium fertilizer (B 1 F 2 ) would be recommended for optimum yield of lentil (Binamasur-8).