Effect of Vermicompost and Rhizobium Inoculation on Growth and Yield of Lentil Genotypes under Rainfed region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/agrivet.005.01.01820Keywords:
Rhizobium, Vermicompost, Lentil, Growth and yield, Rainfed Agriculture, Sandy Loam SoilAbstract
Abstract
Vermicompost (VC) and Rhizobium inoculation (RI) can be used to improve the growth and productivity of lentil. This study aimed to assess the impact of both organic and inorganic fertilizers on the productivity and growth of genotypes of lentils grown under rainfed environments. For this, a field experiment was conducted at the experimental field area of the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, in 2024–2025 under rainfed conditions. The investigation was carried out on a sandy loam textured soil with a pH of 7.8, extractable K (126 mg kg-1), extractable P (2.5 mg kg-1), and low organic matter (0.31%). The RCBD factorial (randomized complete block design) was used in this study, which included three replications and seven treatments in a 1.2 m * 5 m plot. Urea, single super phosphate, and murate of potash were the sources of N, P, and K, respectively. On October 25, 2024, the crop was planted, and on April 4, 2025, it was harvested. The mean values were compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at a 5% probability level after the collected data was statistically analyzed using the analysis of variance technique (ANOVA). When the treatments were compared, it was found that all of the genotypes of lentil (G1=21CL307, G2=21CL309, and G3= Chakwal Masoor, a check variety) performed better in T6 (Rhizobium + VC + 100% RDF), as evidenced by improved germination percentages (98, 97, 98), plant height (48.66 cm, 47.33 cm, 45 cm), number of pods/plant (116.33, 118, 108.33), number of seeds/pod (2.66, 2.7, 2), 1000-grain weight (37g, 36.66g, 36.66g), and grain yield (359.5 kg ha⁻¹, 364 kg ha⁻¹, 354.33 kg ha⁻¹). The control group, which did not receive any fertilizer treatments, had the lowest outcomes. Every other treatment outperformed the control treatment statistically. According to this study, applying fertilizer such as rhizobium + VC + 100% RDF is advised to improve the growth and yield of lentil genotypes grown under rainfed conditions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Abdul Latif, Muhammad Arsalan, Rehmat Ullah, Madeeha Khan, Sairah Syed, Farhat Bashir, Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Aslam, Rizwan Latif, Amir Afzal, Sair Sarwar, Munazza Yousra, Adeel Anwar, Aown Abbas, Salma Shaheen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
