Biochemical Effects of Rhizobium and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria on Growth and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.)

Abstract

A field study conducted at Integral University, Lucknow, during the kharif seasons of 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 evaluated the biochemical effects of Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria on black gram (Vigna mungo L.). The experiment included three replications and sixteen treatments to assess their impact on various growth parameters and yield. Significant findings included the highest values for plant population (59.15 m^-2), plant height (40.31 cm), number of branches (13.34 plant^-1), and number of nodules plant-1 (60.60). Notably, treatments combining 60 kg ha^-1 of Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria showed promising results, yielding highest fresh weight of nodules (957.51), pods plant^-1 (68.67), seeds pod-1 (8.5), grain yield (12.32 q ha^-1), straw yield (25.92 q ha^-1), 1000-grain weight (39.31), and harvest index (33.26%). Additionally, applying 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 demonstrated superior yield performance, comparable to 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1.