Influence of Biofertilizers and Foliar Application of Seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) Extract on Growth of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Abstract

In the Kharif season 2021, the field trial was conducted at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (UP), India. The experiment aims to reduce the impact of harmful chemical amendments in agro-ecosystems. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments, including control with different biofertilizers, viz., Azospirillum sp. 25 g/kg seeds + 5% seaweed, Azospirillum sp. 25 g/kg seeds + 10% seaweed, Azospirillum sp. 25 g/kg seeds + 15% seaweed, PSB 25 g/kg seeds + 5% seaweed, PSB 25 g/kg seeds + 10% seaweed, PSB 25 g/kg seeds + 15% seaweed, Azospirillum sp., PSB: 25, 25 g/kg seeds + 5% seaweed, Azospirillum sp., PSB: 25, 25 g/kg seeds + 10% seaweed, Azospirillum sp., PSB: 25, 25 g/kg seeds + 15% seaweed including control i.e., application of 80: 40:40 kg NPK (farmer’s practice) were replicated thrice. The results revealed dual inoculation by Azospirillum sp. 25 g/kg seeds and PSB 25 g/kg seeds, along with the foliar application of 10% seaweed at 30-50-70 DAS, significantly increased the growth parameters of sorghum viz., plant height (164.07 cm), number of leaves (12.47) dry matter accumulation (116.59 g), absolute growth rate (1.21 g/plant/day), crop growth rate (40.33 g/m2/day) and leaf area (332.33 cm2).