Effective combination of nutrient application on growth and yield of Palak

Abstract

Increasing the use of chemical fertilizer led to high cost in vegetable production and creates pollution of their agricultural environment as well as affects the soil fertility. Farmers use large amount of nitrogen application in the form of urea for effective growth and yield which becomes vulnerable to soil that leads to nutrient imbalance and threat to ecological sustainability. Therefore, it has become essential to use untraditional fertilizers as supplements or substitutes for chemical fertilizers. Keeping this facts in view, A field experiment has been conducted in College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University. The ten integrated treatments consisting of inorganic nutrients (75%, 50% and 25% NPK kg/ha), biofertilizers (Azotobacter Phosphorous Solubulizing Bacteria (PSB), Potassium Solubulizing Bacteria (PSB), Arka Microbial Consortium (AMC) and Arka vegetable special @ 5 gm/litre was done for 3 times at 15 days interval with three replications were arranged in a randomized block design. Results revealed that maximum growth and yield obtained in Palak was 50% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (NPK kg/ha), 50% Biofertilizers (Arka Microbial Consortium + Potassium Solubulizing Bacteria) along with Arka vegetable special (micronutrient spray). Hence, to sustain a higher level of soil fertility and crop productivity, by reducing the levels of inorganic nutrients are very important in the crop production system.