Effect of bio-NPK consortia along with iron on quality of kharif soybean (Glycine max) in inceptisol

Introduction

Soybean is an important food legume and plays a vital role in human livelihood. Soybean is known as "poor man's meat" because, it is packed with protein, which is very similar to the protein in meat, dairy products, and eggs which can be used for alleviating protein calorie malnutrition (Chavan et al., 2022) [5] . Soybean is primarily grown in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. These states contribute to about 98% of total production in India (Kumar et al., 2016) [10] . During kharif 2022, the total area under soybean crop in India was 12.07 million hectares, with a production of 13.98 million tons and a productivity of 1158 kg ha -1 (Anonymous, 2023) [2] . In Maharashtra, total area under soybean crop was 5.085 million hectares, with a production of 4.607 million tons and productivity of 1299 kg ha -1 (Anonymous, 2024) [3] . Iron is very important micronutrient for the normal growth and development of soybean. (Fageria, 2007) [6] . It also plays a considerable role in the formation of some nodule proteins (Moran et al., 1997) [12] . Iron deficiency symptoms appear on younger leaves, indicating yellowish interveinal areas of leaves commonly referred to as iron chlorosis. In case of severe deficiency, leaves appear pale-white due to loss of chlorophyll. In pulses, alternate yellow and green stripes along the length of the leaf blade may be observed. At later stages, complete leaf fall occurs and shoot may die also (Trivedi et al., 2011) [16] .

Materials and Methods

The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2023 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, College of Agriculture, Dhule, Maharashtra to evaluate effect of Bio-NPK consortia and iron on Soybean. The soil pH of the experimental plot was slightly alkaline (7.73), low in available nitrogen (161.12 kg ha -1 ), low in available phosphorus (13.53 kg ha -1 ), very high in potassium (324.73 kg ha -1 ) and deficient in DTPA-Fe (4.12 mg kg -1 ). The field experiment was conducted for one season by taking soybean crop in randomized block design with eight treatments viz., T 1 (Absolute control), T 2 (GRDF: (50:75:45 N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O kg ha -1 + 10 t FYM ha -1 ), T 3 (GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia), T 4 (GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia), T 5 (GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia), T 6 (GRDF 75% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia), T 7 (GRDF 75% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia) and T 8 (GRDF 75% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia). The application of bio-NPK consortia (4, 6, 8 ml) and FeSO 4 (25 kg ha -1 ) were applied as per the treatments. Five plants were randomly selected from each plot to calculate the quality parameters viz., protein and oil content after drying and grinding these samples. Protein content of the seed was worked out by multiplying nitrogen content in the seed (per cent) with the factor 6.25 (A.O.A.C, 1960) [4] . Oil content in seed was determined by Soxhlet's Ether extraction method (A.O.A.C, 1960) [4] . All the data recorded were analysed with the help of statistical analysis technique for Randomized block design (Panse and Sukhatme, 1985) [14] .

Results and discussion 1. Effect of Bio-NPK and iron on test weight (100 grain weight) g

The data of 100 grain weight of soybean as influenced by bio-NPK consortia and FeSO 4 are presented in Table 1 showed that the 100 grains weight of soybean was significantly superior in treatment T 5 (GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 8 ml bio-NPK consortia) (18.01 g) and statistically at par with the treatment T 4 (17.77 g) and T 3 (17.11 g) while absolute control found with lowest 100 grain weight (13.06 g).

The increase in test weight might be associated with bioconsortia which influence the availability of nutrients, specially nitrogen and phosphorous for the better filling of grains which resulting into bold sized seeds and consequently higher test weight. This may also be due to rapid mineralization of chemical fertilizers increased availability and uptake of nutrients during the critical physiological growth stages, resulting in higher test weight. The similar results were also found by Navasare et al., (2019) [13] , Jaga and Sharma, (2015) [8] , Ghadge and Murumkar, (2020) [7] and Thite and Murumkar (2023) [15] . The reason for recording maximum test weight might be due to the presence of iron application which stimulates the metabolic processes in seed besides its involvement in enzyme activation and photosynthetic activity which increases the chlorophyll content in leaves. This might have resulted in production and accumulation of carbohydrates in 100 grain weight development. The similar result observed by Kamble et al. (2021) [9] in soybean. 14.49 T3: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia 17.11 T4: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia 17.77 T5: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia 18.01 T6: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia 15.02 T7: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia 15.56 T8: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia 15.90 S.E. ± 0.45 C.D. @ 5% 1.36

The data pertaining to the effect of seed treatment of bio-NPK consortia and FeSO 4 on protein content in kharif soybean are presented in Table 2. It showed that the T 5 treatment significantly enhanced protein content (33.65%) of kharif soybean than rest of treatment, which was at par with treatment T 4 (33.60%).

Protein content seems to be increased due to increase in the availability of nitrogen to the plant through the process of atmospheric nitrogen fixation, higher microbial activity and more solubilization of phosphorus and potassium. Thus increase in nitrogen content in grain resulted in increased protein content in grain, as nitrogen is basic constituent of amino acids, which are building block of protein molecule. These results have cognizance with the findings of Alam et al., (2009) [1] , Navasare et al., (2019) [13] , Jaga and Sharma, (2015) [8] and Kumar and Sharma, (2018) [11] . Iron enhances the absorption of essential plant nutrients. It shows synergistic effect with nitrogen because nitrogen uptake is improved with increase in iron level in root zone. Iron is required as structural and catalytic components of protein or amino acids which helps in increment of protein in seed of soybean. The similar results were also confirmed by the findings of Trivedi et al., (2011) [16] and Chavan et al., (2022) [5] in soybean.

The data in respect with oil content in soybean are presented in Table 2, were influenced non-significantly by the different seed inoculation treatments. Nevertheless, treatment receiving iron fertilisation along with major nutrients revealed slight increase in oil content. 18.73 33.56 T3: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia 19.10 33.60 T4: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia 19.31 33.63 T5: GRDF 100% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia 19.37 33.65 T6: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 4 ml bio-NPK consortia 18.90 33.50 T7: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia 18.96 33.52 T8: GRDF 75% + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia 19.07 33.53 S.E. ± 0.65 0.01 C.D. @ 5% NS 0.03

Conclusion

Based on experimentation, it may be concluded that application of GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 8 ml bio-NPK consortia showed significant increase in quality parameters viz., test weight, protein content and oil content which was remained at par with GRDF 100% + FeSO 4 @ 25 kg ha -1 and 6 ml bio-NPK consortia.

References

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