Improving growth and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) with Rhizobium inoculation in combination with compost and different levels of mineral nitrogen

Rapidly increasing population created a tremendous pressure on food resources available in Pakistan. Therefore, there is a need to boost up the production of leguminous crops for which generally mineral fertilizer are used, but nowadays, dependence on nitrogen fixing plants and inoculation of legumes with superior rhizobial strains could be an important contribution to crop nutrition and national economy. On the other hand, due to fast increasing population and urbanization, management of organic waste in environment-friendly situation is very critical. A pot trial was performed in the wire house of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to check the efficacy of Rhizobium inoculation in combination with compost and different levels of mineral nitrogen to improve growh, nodule formation and yield of mungbean. Treatments were comprised of control without Rhizobium, Rhizobium combined with compost (@ 400 and 800 kg per ha) and three levels (100, 50 and 75% of recommended, dose) of mineral nitrogen. The experiment done under completely randomized design (CRD) following three replications. The combined application of Rhizobium inoculation, compost and mineral N significantly increased all the parameters of mungbean as compared to control (uninoculated). The results implied that the best combination to enhance growth and yield of mungbean was application of Rhizobium inoculation, compost @ 800 kg per ha and 75% of recommended mineral N. It increased the straw yield, nitrogen content in shoot, biological yield and potassium content in grain and shoot by 73. 75. 59, 98 and 271 % respectively over uninoculated control. While Rhizobium inoculation, compost @ 800 kg per ha and 100% recommended mineral N increased plant height, nodules number per plant and nodule fresh and dry weight by 89, 88, 82 and 85% respectively over uninoculated control. Rhizobium along with compost @ 400 kg per ha and 50% of recommended mineral N increased number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant and grain yield per plant by 77, 37 and 22%, respectively, over control. To sum up the results, it could be concluded that Rhizobium inoculation in combination with compost and mineral N can improve mungbean production.