Phosphorus Management in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Wilczek] Grown on Saline Soils(SKNAU)

A pot experiment was conducted during kharif 2015 at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) to study the “Phosphorus Management in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Wilczek] Grown on Saline Soils” to evaluate the effect of different soil salinity levels, phosphorus and biofertilizer on soil properties (pH and ECe), dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, yield attributes and yield, nutrient concentration and salinity tolerance in cowpea on loamy sand soil. The experiment comprising of 27 treatment combination replicated three times, was laid out in completely randomized block design with three levels of salinity(1, 4 and 6 dSm), three sources of phosphorus(SSP, DAP and PROM) and three biofertilizer(control, PSB and PSB+VAM). Result revealed that under 6 dSm -1 level of salinity, ECe was increased significantly, while pH of soil decreased significantly. The dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, nutrient concentration viz., P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly with all level of soil salinity and maximum reduction was recorded with the application of 6 dSm level of salinity, while, N, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw increased significantly. The application of PROM significantly increased the dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, root biomass, nutrient concentration viz.,N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw, P content in root biomass, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw increased significantly, while, Na, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly. Inoculation with PSB+VAM significantly increased the dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, root biomass, nutrient concentration viz.,N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw,P content in root biomass, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw increased significantly, while, Na, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly. * A Post Graduate Student, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur-Rajasthan) 303329. ** Professor , Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, (Shri Karan Narendra Agricultural University, Jobner), campusJobner (JaipurRajasthan). yo.kh; e`nkvksa ij mxk;s x;s pioyk 1⁄4foXuk vUX;wdqykVk ,y-1⁄2 esa QkWLQksjl dk izca/ku lq’khyk ,spjk * MkW-ch,y;kno ** 1⁄4’kks /kdrkZ1⁄2 1⁄4eq[; lykgdkj1⁄2