Field application of ACC-deaminase biotechnology for improving chickpea productivity in Bahawalpur

The use of biofertilizer in crop production is gaining importance in modern agriculture, especially under stressful environments. In drought-hit areas of the world, improvement in drought tolerance of major food crops is one of the way forwards to ensure food security. Under water limited conditions, the use of ACC-deaminase biofertilizers can mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on crop production. Present study was conducted for the field evaluation of ACC-deaminase based biofertilizer (Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains) for improving chickpea productivity in Bahawalpur. Six field trials were conducted in different villages of Bahawalpur. Biofertilizer alone and in combination with enriched compost was evaluated under field conditions. Different treatments used in the experiment were control, P-Enriched compost, biofertilizer and P-Enriched compost + biofertilizer. The experiments were conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Results showed that enriched compost and biofertilizer, individually and in combination significantly improved the number of nodules plant -1 , nodules fresh weight and nodules dry weight of chickpea. The combined application of Penriched compost and biofertilizer resulted in maximum increase in number of nodules plant -1 and nodules dry weight as compared to control. The integrated use also gave better results in improving plant height and shoot dry weight, yield, number of pods plant -1 , number of grains pod -1 , and 1000 grain weight as compared to separate use of biofertilizer and P-enriched compost. A significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus contents of chickpea was also observed with combined application of biofertilizer and compost. It can be concluded that the integrated use of ACC-deaminase containing biofertilizer and P-enriched compost is an effective biotechnology to improve chickpea productivity under field conditions and should be recommended to the farmers in the region, where water shortage is the main hindrance to agricultural sustainability.