Effect of Application of Bio-Inoculants on Growth and Yield of Arachis hypogaea L. and Sesamum indicum L.

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of bio-inoculants [arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), rhizobium (Rhi)/azotobacter (Azo) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)] on growth and yield of two important oilseed crops of Bundelkhand region, viz., Arachis hypogaea (groundnut) and Sesamum indicum (sesame). Study consisted of six treatments viz., AMF, Rhi/Azo, PSB, Rhi/Azo+PSB, AMF+Rhi/Azo+PSB and control. The recommended dose of DAP was applied in all the plots and treatments were imposed in respective plots. Each treatment was replicated five times in randomized block design. Results showed that most of the bio-inoculants significantly increased the observed parameters. In A. hypogaea, maximum plot yield was recorded in AMF+Rhi+PSB (260.8 g/plot) which was significantly higher than control. Similarly, significantly higher plot yield (246.2 g/plot) was recorded in S. indicum with the application of AMF+Azo+PSB. Percent (%) increase in plot yield over control in different treatments ranged from 3.2 to 25.3% in A. hypogaea and 31.1 to 53.6% in S. indicum. Combined application of bio-inoculants gave better results than single inoculation which suggested that bio-inoculants used under the study worked synergistically with each other. Hence, it may be concluded that combination of AMF+Rhi/Azo+PSB may be used to enhance the yield of A. hypogaea and S. indicum in Bundelkhand region of central India.