Effect of bio-fertilizers and NPK levels on growth and yield of mid-maturity group of cauliflower under mid hill subhumid conditions of Himachal Pradesh Sharma KC1, Sharma LK2 1Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Bajaura, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh -175 125, India. 2KrishiVigyan Kendra, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Bajaura, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh -175 125, India. E mail: keycsharma@yahoo.com.
Abstract A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2008 and 2009 to investigate the effect of different levels of bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB) in combination with fourlevels of NPK fertilizers on growth and yield of cauliflower hybrid ‘Swati’. The application of bio-fertilizers alone and in combination resulted in significant improvement in plant height, number of leaves/plant, curd diameter, curd depth, gross weight/plant, marketable curd yield and benefit cost ratio. The increased marketable curd yield was to the tune of 26.4%, 24.19% and 18.16% with the combination of bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB), PSB and Azotobacter, respectively over un-inoculated control. The application of NPK fertilizers significantly increased all the growth and yield parameters along with marketable curd yield over control with each incremental level of NPK. The interaction effects showed that gross weight/plant, marketable curd yield and benefit cost ratio were increased in a linear manner with the application of bio-inoculants integrated with increasing levels of NPK fertilizers. The highest marketable yield (247 q/ha) was recorded when the plots were supplemented with 100% NPK + seedlings dipping of both the inoculants. Furthermore, it was observed that the yield (238.66 q/ha) obtained with the application of 75% NPK +Azotobacter +PSB was at par with that of recommended NPK (100%), thus resulting in net saving of 25% NPK fertilizers with maximum benefit cost ratio(5.06). Top Keywoards Cauliflower, bio-fertilizers, marketable curd yield, benefit cost ratio. Top |