Effect of plant bio-stimulants on productivity, bio-energy efficiency and profitability of a berseem-pearl millet cropping system

A field study was conducted during the Rabi-Summer seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 at Fodder Farm Section, ICAR-IVRI, to assess the impact of bio-stimulants based crop nutrient management on berseem-pearl millet (fodder-food) cropping system on alluvial soils of IGP of western India. The treatments tests were framed with inclusion of three major plant bio-stimulants [plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM), and seaweed extract (SWE)] with four levels of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (0, 50, 75 and 100%) as T 1 —Absolute control, T 2 —PGPR + VAM, T 3 —PGPR + VAM + 50% RDF, T 4 —PGPR + VAM + 75% RDF, T 5 —PGPR + VAM + 3 sprays of SWE, T 6 —PGPR + VAM + 50% RDF + 2 sprays of SWE, T 7 —PGPR + VAM + 75% RDF + 1 sprays of SWE, T 8 —100% RDF, T 9 —PGPR + VAM + 100% RDF and T 10 —PGPR + VAM + 100% RDF + 1 sprays of SWE. The treatments were tested adopting RBD with five replications. The experimental findings revealed that the inclusion of plant bio-stimulants in conventional nutrient management, i.e., treatment T 9 and T 10 , significantly enhanced the system productivity in terms of green fodder yields, dry fodder yields and system equivalent yields. Also, the same treatments registered significantly improved bio-energy efficiency in terms of energy output, energy productivity and profitability. Economic feasibility assessment further revealed that T 9 and T 10 are statistically at par with respect to system gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio. The results solidify the agronomic and economic argument for using bio-stimulants to meet future fodder and food needs, energy security, and sustainability of intensive fodder-based food systems in India.