Effect of microbial consortia on yield and quality of pomegranate cv. Bhagwa

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on “Effect of microbial consortia on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa” at farmer’s field near University of Horticultural sciences, Bagalkot during 2022-23. Yield and fruit quality parameters were markedly influenced by microbial inoculation. The highest fruit set (78.88%), fruit number (84.67 fruits/plant), fruit weight (302.47 g), and marketable yield (25.63 kg/plant; 21.32 t/ha) were obtained in T5. Microbial treatments also enhanced aril weight (208.73 g), aril-to-peel ratio (2.23), and fruit firmness (14.68 N), with favourable TSS (16.40 °Brix), juice content (52.67%), and reduced acidity (0.40-0.42%). Fruit micronutrient content (Fe 231.10 mg L⁻¹; Zn 72.01 mg L⁻¹), red pigmentation (high a* values) and total phenols (163.24 mg QE/100 g) were significantly improved under microbial consortia. Overall, the integration of microbial consortia with RDF, particularly in T5, T6 and T8 enhanced yield, and fruit quality of pomegranate cv. Bhagwa.