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Effect of Biofertilizer, Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizers on Cowpea (2019–2020)

F. Alam
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M.E. Ali
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M.F.A. Anik
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. Rahman
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

S. Akhter
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted at Central Farm, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Hathazari, Chattogram during the rabi season of 2019-2020 with the objectives to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium biofertilizer, vermicompost and chemical fertilizers on cowpea. The crop variety was cowpea (BARI Fellon-1) and Rhizobium strain was BARI RVu-602. There were nine treatments viz. T₁: Control, T₂: Vermicompost (VC) @ 2.5 t ha^-1, T₃: VC @ 5 t ha^-1, T₄: VC @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) based NPKSZnB, T₅: VC @ 5 t ha^-1 + IPNS based NPKSZnB, T₆: VC @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + Rhizobium + IPNS based PKSZnB, T₇: VC @ 5 t ha^-1 + Rhizobium + IPNS based PKSZnB, T₈: 100% NPKSZnB, T₉: Rhizobium + 100% PKSZnB which were replicated four times. The peat-based rhizobial inoculum was used at the rate of 1.5 kg ha^-1 as seed inoculant. Rhizobium inoculated cowpea with vermicompost @ 5 t ha^-1 and IPNS based PKSZnB increased nodule number (21.8 plant^-1), nodule weight (0.26 g plant^-1), root weight (0.63 g plant^-1), shoot weight (6.23 g plant^-1) and plant height (56.3 cm). It was observed that the same treatment produced the highest seed yield (1.46 t ha^-1, 82.5% higher over control) of cowpea which differed with all other treatments except T_4, T₅ and T₆ treatments. This indicates that the application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha^-1 plus Rhizobium inoculant can reduce a considerable amount of chemical fertilizers. Vermicompost exhibited better performance in cowpea. To improve soil health and to maintain it as well as to improve crop production, we have to reduce chemical fertilizer. From the trial, it can be concluded that vermicompost @ 5 t ha^-1 plus Rhizobium inoculant along with IPNS based chemical fertilizers except N may be recommended for cowpea cultivation in Chattogram Coastal flood plain soil (AEZ 23).

Keywords: Bio-fertilizer; Vermicompost; Yield; Cowpea; Nutrient; Chemical fertilizer

Location: Central Farm, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Hathazari, Chattogram

Start Date: 00-00-2019

End Date: 00-00-2020

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer and manures, Cowpea, Bio fertilizer

Objectives:

To study the effect of bio-fertilizer and vermicompost on yield of cowpea, and find out nutrient uptake and reduce the chemical fertilizer in cowpea cultivation.

Methodology:

A field experiment was carried out at Central Farm, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Hathazari, Chattogram (22.31^o N latitude, 91.48^o E longitude) on 08 December 2019 during rabi season. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. There were nine treatments viz. T₁: Control (non-inoculated and non-fertilized), T₂: Vermicompost (VC) @ 2.5 t ha^-1, T₃: VC @ 5 t ha^-1, T₄: VC @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + IPNS based NPKSZnB, T₅: VC @ 5 t ha^-1 + IPNS based NPKSZnB, T₆: VC @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + inoculant + IPNS based PKSZnB, T₇: VC @ 5 t ha^-1 + Rhizobium inoculant + IPNS based PKSZnB, T₈: 100% NPKSZnB, T₉: Rhizobium inoculant + 100% PKSZnB. The tested crop was cowpea (cv. BARI fellon-1). Peat-based rhizobial inoculum (Rhizobium strain BARI RVu-602) was used containing 10⁸ cells g^-1 inoculum was used at the rate of 1.5 kg ha^-1. Cowpea seeds were mixed thoroughly with the inoculum before sowing. The unit plots measured 2 m × 3 m. Seeds were used at the rate of 75 kg ha^-1. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, zinc and boron (N₁₀₀P2₂₂K₄₂S₄₀Zn₅B₁ kg ha^-1) were used in the form of urea, TSP, MoP, gypsum, zinc sulphate and boric acid, respectively. All P, K, S, Zn, B, vermicompost and ¹/₃^rd urea-N were applied at the time of final land preparation and the remaining ²/₃^rd urea-N was applied in two equal installments at 30 and 50 days of sowing. All the intercultural operations such as irrigation, weeding, insect control etc. were done as and when necessary. Vermicompost was prepared in the net house of the Soil Science Division and used in the plot mixed with soil. Nodules were collected by carefully uprooting five sample plants selected randomly from each unit plot at the 50% flowering stage. Nodules were separated from the roots, counted and then oven-dried and weighed. Data on yield and yield components were recorded at maturity. The crop was harvested on 15 March 2020. The initial soil samples at a depth of 0-15 cm from the experimental fields were collected and analyzed following standard methods. The vermicompost used in this experiment was also analyzed. Data on yield and yield contributing characters were recorded and statistical analyses were conducted using standard statistical procedures (Gomez and Gomez 1984) implemented in Statistix 10. The data were examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differences between the treatments were determined by ANOVA, and Fisher’s protected least significant difference (LSD) was calculated at the 0.05 probability level for treatment mean comparisons. Soil pH was measured by a combined glass calomel electrode (Jackson, 1958). Organic carbon was determined by the wet oxidation method (Walkley and Black). Total N was determined by the modified Kjeldahl method. Calcium, K and Mg were determined by NH₄OAc extraction method. Copper, Fe, Mn and Zn were determined by DTPA extraction followed by AAS reading. Boron was determined by CaCl₂ extraction method. Phosphorus was determined by Bray and Kurtz method (Acid soils) and the Modified Olsen method (Neutral + Calcareous soils). Sulphur was determined by CaH₄(PO₄)₂.H₂O extraction followed by turbidimetric turbidity method with BaCl_2.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2019–2020, Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

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Achievement/Findings:

Application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha^-1 plus Rhizobium can reduce considerable amounts of chemical fertilizers. Vermicompost exhibited better performance in cowpea. To improve soil health and to maintain it as well as to improve crop production, we have to reduce chemical fertilizer. As the yield was higher in T₇ treatment, VC 5.0 t ha^-1 and Rhizobium along with IPNS based chemical fertilizers except N may be recommended for cowpea cultivation for rich conscious farmers. From the economic point of view, the yield was higher in the T₉ treatment; poor farmers can adopt this treatment. From the trial, it can be concluded that full doses of chemical fertilizers and Rhizobium along with IPNS based chemical fertilizers (except N) may be recommended for cowpea cultivation.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings