Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Seed Yield and Its Attributes in Field Pea ( Pisum sativum L . )

Among the pulse crops, field pea is one of the most important grain legumes and commonly used in human diet throughout the world and is rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A and C, Calcium, phosphorous and has high levels of amino acids lysine and tryptophan [1]. Its cultivation maintains soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation in association with symbiotic rhizobium prevalent in its root nodules and thus plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agriculture [2]. Chemical fertilizers are needed to get good crop yields, but their abuse can be harmful for the environment and their cost cannot make economic agricultural products [3]. Under intensive cultivation increased use of chemicals has contaminated the ground water and also disturbed the harmony existing among the soil, plant and microbial population [4]. Bio-fertilizers on the other hand are cost-effective and renewable source of plant nutrients to supplement partly chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizers play a vital role for improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen both symbiotically with plant roots and asymbiotically; solubilize insoluble soil phosphates and produces plant growth substances in the soil [5]. Integrated nutrient management, which entails the maintenance of soil fertility to an optimum level for crop productivity to obtain the maximum benefit from all possible sources of plant nutrients-organic as well as inorganicin an integrated manner is an essential step to address the twin concerns of nutrient excess and nutrient depletion [6, 7]. Thus, integrated approach of nutrient supply by chemical fertilizers along with bio-fertilizers is gaining importance, as this system not only reduces the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, but also sustains the crop productivity by improving soil health besides being an environmentfriendly approach. Integration of inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers resulted in better growth, yield and nutrient uptake in field pea. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of integrated application of bio-fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers on field pea in terms of seed yield and its attributes.