Rock Phosphate and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria Effect on Yield and Yield Components of Chickpea

A field experiment was carried out at The Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during rabi season 2020–2021 to evaluate levels of rock phosphate (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg ha⁻¹) and two consortium of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria including PSBc₁ (Pantoea sp., Klebriella sp., Brevibacterium sp., Acinetobacter sp.) and PSBc₂ (Cellulomonas sp., Alcaligenes sp. Pseudomonas sp.) on growth and yield components of chickpea variety Karak 1. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with rock phosphate in main plot and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria in subplot. The analyzed data revealed that there was non-significant effect of the treatments on days to emergence. Emergence m⁻² was significantly affected by phosphorus solubilizing bacteria while the impact of rock phosphate was non-significant. Physiological maturity showed significant response to rock phosphate while effect of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria was non-significant. Besides that, all other parameters including days to flowering appearance, nodules per plant, nodules weight per plant, plant height, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000-seed weight, biomass and grain yield were significantly affected by rock phosphate levels and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria except harvest index in which the effect of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria was non-significant. To sum up, the results show that rock phosphate application at the rate of 500 kg ha⁻¹ enhanced days to flowering appearance (104), days to physiological maturity (152) increased nodules plant⁻¹ (25), nodules weight plant⁻¹ (1.86 g), plant height (59 cm), number of pods plant⁻¹ (49), seeds pod⁻¹ (1.79), 1000-seed weight (231 g), biomass (5507 kg ha⁻¹), grain yield (1899 kg ha⁻¹) and harvest index (34.48%). Likewise, inoculation of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria PSB_C2 (Cellulomonas sp., Alcaligenes sp. Pseudomonas sp.) enhanced days to flowering appearance (105) increased emergence m⁻² (25), nodules plant⁻¹ (22), nodules weight plant⁻¹ (1.76 g), plant height (55 cm), number of pods plant⁻¹ (46), seeds pod⁻¹ (1.63), 1000-seed weight (226 g), biomass production (5352 kg ha⁻¹) and grain yield (1735 kg ha⁻¹). Based on the outcomes of the current experiment it is concluded that rock phosphate 500 kg ha⁻¹ and PSBc₂ of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria maximized growth, yield and its components. Therefore, it is recommended for higher production of chickpea in the study area.