Effect of Potassium Mobilizing Bacteria on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Aims: The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the influence of potassium mobilizing bacteria (KMB) on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a Randomised Block Design comprising eight treatments with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Latur, Maharashtra, India, during the Rabi season of 2025–26. Methodology: Eight nutrient management treatments involving recommended fertiliser doses, reduced potassium levels, KMB seed treatment and KMB drenching were evaluated. Observations on growth, yield attributes, seed and straw yields, nutrient content, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency were recorded using standard analytical procedures. The experimental data were subjected to analysis of variance, and treatment means were compared at the 5% level of significance. Results: Significant differences among treatments were observed for most of the studied parameters. Treatment T₇, comprising 100% recommended nitrogen and phosphorus, 75% recommended potassium, KMB seed treatment and KMB drenching at 20 and 40 days after sowing, recorded the highest numerical values for plant height (48.24 cm), leaf area (375.36 cm² plant⁻¹), number of pods plant⁻¹ (71.27), seed yield (23.15 q ha⁻¹) and straw yield (45.50 q ha⁻¹). T₇ also recorded the highest numerical values for total uptake of nitrogen (177.31 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (34.44 kg ha⁻¹) and potassium (139.85 kg ha⁻¹). For nutrient use efficiency, T₇ recorded 54.42% nitrogen use efficiency, 27.21% phosphorus use efficiency and 54.42% potassium use efficiency. Conclusion: Under the conditions of the present investigation, integration of KMB with 75% of the recommended potassium dose showed potential to improve nutrient utilisation and crop performance while reducing potassium fertiliser input by 25%. Further evaluation across multiple seasons, locations and contrasting soil potassium levels is required to establish the wider applicability of this nutrient management strategy.