Response of organic nutrient management in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol) Standl.]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Mewar University, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) during Summer season, 2025 on loamy sand soil, which consisted nine treatments viz., control T1: Control, T2: 100% Vermicompost (5 t/ha), T3: 100% Compost (5 t/ha), T4: Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) (25 g/kg seed), T5: 50% Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + 50% Compost (2.5 t/ha), T6: 50% Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + PSB (25 g/kg seed), T7: 50% Compost (2.5 t/ha) + PSB (25 g/kg seed), T8: 50% Compost (2.5 t/ha) + 25% Vermicompost (1.5 t/ha) and T9: 50% Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + 50% Compost (2.5 t/ha) + PSB (25 g/kg seed) randomized block design (RBD). The bottle gourd variety “Pusa Naveen” was used for experiment. Results clearly showed that growth parameters viz., vine length (527.40 cm) at harvest and 1st appearance of female flowers (35.75) and whereas yield parameters and yields viz., maximum yield parameters viz. fruit length (30.22), fruit weight (970.08), number of fruits/plant (18.59 kg) and yield (250.89 q/ha) significantly higher recorded under T9: 50% Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + 50% Compost (2.5 t/ha) + PSB (25 g/kg seed) over control. Further it was recorded that T6 and T5 where as T8, T2 statistically at par with each other.