Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies: Unraveling the Impact of Bio-Fertilizers and Traditional Fertilizers on Soybean (Glycine max) Productivity
Md. Abdus Samad *
Department of Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Ripon Kumar Sikder
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Md. Towhidul Karim
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mahbub Iqbal
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Munshi Mohammad Sumon
Department of Biochemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abdullah All Imtiaz
Department of Seed technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Sautam Kumar Shil
Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Md Touhidujjaman
Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study investigated the impact of different treatments on soybean growth and productivity, focusing on plant height and various growth parameters. Notably, Treatment T6, incorporating cow dung, Rhizobium, and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), consistently outperformed other treatments. At 40 days after sowing (DAS), T6 exhibited the highest plant height, a trend sustained at 60 DAS and harvest. This superiority was attributed to the synergistic effect of the bio-fertilizer components. The control (T1) consistently had the shortest plants. In terms of productivity, T6 consistently excelled across parameters such as number of branches (4.12), nodules per plant (29.33), number of pods (33.33), pod length (4.82), seeds per pod (4.29), and seed yield (1.87 t/ha). Additionally, T6 demonstrated the highest protein (39.41%) and oil content (18.60%). While the recommended fertilizer dose (T2) showed improvement over the control, T6 surpassed T2, emphasizing the synergistic benefits of combining organic and microbial inputs. These findings highlight the potential of bio-fertilizers, particularly the combined approach, in enhancing soybean productivity. The study provides valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices and optimizing fertilizer strategies for improved crop yields.
Keywords: Inorganic fertilizers, cow dung, rhizobium, PSB, KSB and soybean