Efficiency evaluation of commercial liquid biofertilizers for growth of Cicer aeritinum (chickpea) in pot and field study

The effectiveness of commercially available biofertilizers is not always the same in pot and field study. In the present work, efficiency of 6 different commercially available liquid biofertilizers containing Azotobacter strains or phosphate solubilizers obtained from three reputed brands was assessed in green house (pot study) and also at field level on growth enhancement of Cicer aeritinum (chickpea). The results obtained in pot level studies showed marginal beneficial effects ranging between 21% and 50% in total final yield. At field level, PPS (P<0.01) and consortium of all 6 products (P<0.01) showed significant improvements by 144% and 140% respectively than control in total final yield. In pot studies, Azotobacter biofertilizers gave good results when seed germination, average shoot length and leaf chlorophyll contents were analyzed in controlled environments whereas in field studies, in general, phosphate solubilizing biofertilizers gave better overall yield. Though overall yield increase was observed upon application of liquid biofertilizers, the leaf chlorophyll and seed protein content were not different as compared to control. Moreover, where the producer is more inclined to obtain higher yield per hectare, for the consumer the nutrition value is more significant. This stands true for vegetarians, where a large number of people around the world depend on legumes such as chickpea as protein source in their diet as other protein sources are unaffordable for them. Hence to be more effective nutritionally; improvement is required in the already existing liquid biofertilizers available commercially.