Integrated Effect of Rhizobium Inoculation, Phosphorus, and Zinc on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties under Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivation
Dheerendra Kumar *
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anil Kumar
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Krishna Kumar Singh
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rajendra Kumar
Bank of Baroda, GNFC Bharuch Branch, Narmada Nagar, Bharuch, Gujrat, India.
Shubha Tripathi
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Veerendra Singh
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kushal Sachan
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sugandha Chauhan
Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Ravindra Kumar
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Devendra Singh
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Janardan Prasad Bagri
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Pradeep Kumar
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rupak Kumar
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was carried out at the Student’s Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, during the rabi seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 to investigate the effects of rhizobium, zinc, and phosphorus inoculation on soil physico-chemical properties under chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) variety KPG-59 (Uday). Eighteen Treatments combinations were used in the factorial randomized block design (FRBD), which included two rhizobium inoculation levels (with and without), three phosphorus levels (0, 30, and 60 kg ha⁻¹), and three zinc levels (0, 2.5, and 5.0 kg ha⁻¹). The soil's pH was 7.77 and 7.69 before to planting, and electrical conductivity was 0.35 and 0.34 d Sm⁻¹, the particle density was 2.69 and 2.68 Mg m⁻³, and the bulk density was 1.41 and 1.40 Mg m⁻³ in 2023 and 2024. In addition to zinc and rhizobium inoculation, the results showed that raising phosphorus levels from P₀ to P₆₀ improved soil physico-chemical characteristics. The control (P₀) had the lowest mean values of soil pH (7.84), EC (0.348 d Sm⁻¹), bulk density (1.40 Mg m⁻³), and particle density (2.70 Mg m⁻³), whereas treatment T17 (60 kg P + 2.5 kg Zn + Rhizobium) and T18 (60 kg P + 5.0 kg Zn + Rhizobium) had the maximum values of soil pH (7.79), EC (0.340 d Sm⁻¹), bulk density (1.39 Mg m⁻³), and particle density (2.69 Mg m⁻³). The best results were obtained when phosphorus, zinc, and rhizobium were applied together to improve soil quality and chickpea cultivation.
Keywords: Chickpea, FRBD, phosphorus, zinc, rhizobium, soil physico-chemical properties, soil health