Effect of rhizobium consortia and foliar NPK on growth and yield parameters of greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

The present study titled “Effect of Rhizobium consortia and foliar NPK on growth and yield parameters of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.)” was conducted during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Instructional Farm of Barrister Thakur Chhedilal College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur (C.G.). The experiment was designed using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications, incorporating seven different nutrient management treatments: Control (T1), RDF (20:50:25 NPK kg ha-1) (T2), RDF + Rhizobium consortia (T3), RDF + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T4), 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia (T5), 75% RDF + NPK foliar once @ 40 DAS (T6) and 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T7). The findings revealed that 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T7) significantly outperformed other treatments in terms of growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches and nodules, as well as yield attributes like pod length, grain count, number of pods and test weight. While 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T7) was statistically superior, it was comparable to RDF + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T4) and RDF + Rhizobium consortia (T3). In terms of yield, 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T7) recorded the highest grain and straw yields, again showing statistical superiority over other treatments, though similar to RDF + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T4) and RDF + Rhizobium consortia (T3). Economic analysis also showed that 75% RDF + Rhizobium consortia + NPK foliar spray once @ 40 DAS (T7) achieved the highest gross returns, net returns, and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio among all the treatments.