Journal of Environmental Biology

Impact of phosphorous on biochemical changes in Hordeum vulgare L.

in mixed cropping with Chickpea

 

O.P. Shukla¹, P.K. Singh² and P.B. Deshbhratar*²

¹Environmental Biotechnology Division, ²Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment Division,

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur - 440 020, India

(Received: July 06, 2009; Revised received: September 10, 2009; Accepted: September 23, 2009)

 

Abstract: Multiple cropping (i.e. intercropping or mixed cropping) plays an important role in agriculture because of the effective utilization of resources, significantly enhancing crop productivity compared with that of monocultured crops. The study was planed to assess the effect of various concentrations (00, 30, 60, 90 kg ha^-1) of phosphorous on the biochemical composition of grains of Hordeum vulgare L. (NDB-1050) in mixed cropping system with Chickpea. Phosphorous is an essential ingredient for plants to convert atmospheric N (N₂) into an ammonium (NH₄) as a useable form. The available nitrogen content was found more in the year 2006 (131 kg ha^-1) than year 2005 (105 kg ha^-1). The results of available nitrogen content were showed that the mixed cropping system enhances N fixation process because phosphorous also influences nodule development through its basic functions in plants as an energy source. Reducing, non reducing and total sugar content of H. vulgare L. were influenced by changes in the phosphorous doses. Maximum protein (13.43 %) was obtained at 60 kg P₂ O₅ ha^-1 during the year 2006. Lysine, tryptophan and methionine content were found maximum in year 2006, respectively. Total mineral content of grains of plant (0.99 g 100g^-1) was found maximum by the application of 60 kg P₂ O₅ ha^-1. It is possible that there was an increase in the soil N made available by the leguminous chickpea species, and this could be another reason why there was an increase in Hordeum vulgare L. shoot mass per plant with intercropping with chickpea.

Key words: Cropping system, Nitrogen fixation, Legume, Nutrition, Phosphorous

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