BIOINOCULATION AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION EFFECT ON DRY MATTER PRODUCTION, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND POST-HARVEST SOIL PROPERTIES IN POINTED GOURD (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.)

D. NAYAK¹, M. PRADHAN²*, D. SETHI³, S. MOHANTY⁴, P. MAHAPATRA^5
1Department of Vegetable Science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar
²Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar
³Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar
⁴Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar
⁵Department of Vegetable Science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar
* Corresponding Author : madhusmita.pradhan47@gmail.com

Received : 29-09-2015     Accepted : 01-11-2015     Published : 07-12-2015
Volume : 7     Issue : 12       Pages : 796 - 800
Int J Agr Sci 7.12 (2015):796-800

Keywords : INM, Nutrient uptake, Microbial parameters, Dry matter, Pointed gourd
Academic Editor : Sharma R. P., Deepak Nagawade, S K Shah, Assemi H, M Raychaudhuri
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

A field experiment on combined use of bioinoculation and chemical fertilizer was conducted with test crop pointed gourd cv. Swarna Alaukik consecutively during 2012-13 and 2013-14 rabi and summer seasons in the research plots of “Network Project on Biofertilizers”, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. Integrated application of different levels of N, P and K with biofertilizers (Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp. and Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria [PSB] – Bacillus sp.), lime and organic manure significantly increased the dry matter contents viz., fruit, vine and total dry weight of pointed gourd fruit. Likewise, maximum crop nutrient uptake (N, P and K) and post harvest soil nutrient (N, P and K) availability were recorded in the treatment T12 [Lime + Biofertilizer + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + RDF (100%)]. Investigation leads to conclude that, the liming plots positively influenced the post harvest soil microbial biomass compared to unlined plots which in turn directly influenced the crop nutrient uptake (N- 44.26%, P- 119.97% and K- 35.79%) as well as post crop soil health leading to sustainable cultivation practice.