Influence of AM fungi and inorganic phosphorus levels on growth, green pod yield and profitability of pea (Pisum sativum) in Himalayan acid Alfisol Yadav Arti1,*, Suri V.K.2, Kumar Anil3,*, Choudhary Anil K.4 Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh-176 062 1Research Associate, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 2Chief Scientist, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 3Assistant Professor, Farm Science Centre, GAD Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran, Punjab 4Senior Scientist, Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 *Corresponding author Email: ambikarti@gmail.com
**anilkumarhpkv@gmail.com
Online published on 18 July, 2015. Abstract Present investigation was carried out during winter season of 2010–11 at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) with the broad aim of assessing its productivity and profitability following integrated use of AM fungi (AMF) and inorganic P at varying irrigation regimes in Himalayan acid Alfisol. At 120 DAS, AMF imbedded treatments exhibited an increase in plant height and LAI to the tune of 7.4 and 2.3%, respectively over non–AMF treatments. Green pod yield, net returns, benefit: cost ratio got enhanced by 6.5, 12.7, 9.2%, while production and monetary efficiencies increased by 3.1 and 10.8% following AMF inoculation over non–AMF treatments respectively. Increase in inorganic P levels from 50 to 100% at both irrigation regimes with or without AMF, led to increase in plant height, LAI, green pod yield, net returns and B: C ratio in pea; however, irrigation regime of IW/CPE1.0 showed its superiority over IW/CPE0.6. AMF + 75% P at both irrigation regimes produced pod yield and net returns statistically similar to 100% generalized recommended P dose (GRD), thus, indicating a net saving of about 25% in fertilizer P. Overall, integrated use of AM fungi and 75% soil–test based P dose at both irrigation regimes led to enhanced productivity and profitability besides economizing fertilizer P dose by about 25% in acid Alfisol conditions. Top Keywords Acid Alfisol, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Inorganic P, Pea, Productivity. Top |