EFFECT OF PGPR AND BIOGAS SLURRY ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF PEA UNDER SALT AFFECTED CONDITIONS.

Salt stress is a significant abiotic plant growth restrictive factor; it is becoming a severe environmental threat. The microorganism in the rhizosphere especially fungi and bacteria can increase the plant production under stress conditions both by direct and indirect mechanisms. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of biogas slurry and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) at different levels of salinity to improve the growth and yield of pea (Pisum sativum). In field experiment biogas slurry @ 600kg ha^-1and 800 kg ha^-1 and PGPR strain "Bacillus subtilis" was applied along with 6dS m^-1 and 8 dS m^-1 levels of salt stress in addition to recommended doses of NPK fertilizer. The results revealed that the combined application of PGPR and biogas slurry under normal soil conditions increased shoot length by 30.27%, while under saline conditions it increased up-to 65.27%. Soil salinity reduced root length up-to 79.155% at 8 dS m^-1as compared to control. Soil salinity reduced chlorophyll content 36.54% of pea decrease under salt stress, the application of biogas slurry under the same condition improved 29.26% chlorophyll content of pea but the combined application of PGPR and biogas slurry enhanced the chlorophyll contents 4.68% as compared to solely application of biogas slurry. CRD was used to analyze the data statistically. The results clearly indicated that the combined application of PGPR and biogas slurry is the best source to enhance the growth and yield of pea under normal as well as under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]