Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2024 and 2025 at the Regional Research Farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat, to evaluate the effects of phosphorus levels and biofertilisers on nutrient characteristics, soil fertility, and the economics of vegetable cowpea. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomised block design with three replications and comprised four phosphorus levels (50, 75, 100, and 125% of the recommended dose of phosphorus) and three biofertiliser treatments (control, 1% phosphate-solubilising bacteria, and 0.2% vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza). Among the phosphorus treatments, 100% recommended phosphorus generally produced the highest protein content and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. Application of 1% phosphate-solubilising bacteria also resulted in higher nutrient uptake and improved post-harvest soil nutrient status compared with the untreated control. The interaction of 100% recommended phosphorus with 1% phosphate-solubilising bacteria recorded 23.18% seed protein, 0.69% phosphorus in pods, and phosphorus uptake of 9.37 kg ha⁻¹. The same treatment recorded the highest available soil phosphorus (83.44 kg ha⁻¹) and the highest reported gross income, net income, and benefit-cost value of ₹348,000, ₹244,145, and 2.35, respectively. The results indicate that integrating the recommended phosphorus dose with phosphate-solubilising bacteria may improve nutrient acquisition, soil phosphorus availability, and economic performance of vegetable cowpea under the experimental conditions of South Gujarat.