Evaluation of Indigenous Rhizobacterial Strains With Reduced Dose of Chemical Fertilizer towards Biochemical Constituents of Mustard Leaf (Brassica Campestris)

Judicious application of chemical fertilizers can significantly enhance the biochemical constituents of agriculturally important crop plants. Present study deals with the effect of indigenous input with reduced dose of chemical fertilizer towards biochemical contents of mustard leaf; a field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) pattern with three replications during two consecutive winter seasons of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 under old alluvial soil zone of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. Pseudomonas putida, Burkholderia cepacia, Burkholderia sp. and their mixture were used as indigenous biofertilizer for mustard cultivation. Results revealed that indigenous inoculation (with reduced dose of chemical fertilizer) significantly increased (p<0.05) the biochemical contents (chlorophyll, carotenoids, carbohydrate and protein) of mustard leaf as compared to uninoculated control (full recommended dose of NPK fertilizers). The comprehensive approach of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in agriculturally important crops should be carried out to explore the hidden potential of PGPR and to promote the quality and yield of crop under field conditions.