A Comparative Study of Biofertilizers and Bioinoculants on Yield Parameters, Nutrient Status and Soil Microorganisms of Mango CV. Mallika in Middle Gujarat Condition

Abstract

Nutrient status of leaf and soil microorganisms have directly influence on the nutrient-absorption rate and translocation in the tree system which ultimately increases the production of fruit crops. Therefore, The effects of different biofertilizer and bioinoculant treatments on yield, leaf nutrient status, and soil microorganisms were evaluated post-harvest. A two year field experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B.A.C.A, AAU, Anand, Gujarat, India during year 2019-20 and 2020-21 on mango cv. Mallika. The experiment was laid out in factorial CRD with four biofertilizers viz., D1: Bio NPK Consortium (10 ml/tree), D2: VAM (10 g/tree), D3: Bio NPK Consortium (10 ml/tree) + VAM (10 g/tree) and D4: No biofertilizers which were given as a soil drenching at pea stage i.e., March and four bioinoculants viz., S1: Seaweed extract (0.2 %), S2: Novel organic liquid nutrient (2 %), S3: Jeevamrut (10 %) and S4: No bioinoculants which were sprayed in two frequencies at 2nd week of April and 1st week of May. Among biofertilizers, D3 showed higher fruit weight, diameter, number of fruits per tree, yield as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in leaf. Among bioinoculants, S2 showed higher fruit weight in pooled result, fruit diameter, number of fruits per tree, yield, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in leaf. D3S2 resulted maximum yield and potassium content in leaf in pooled whereas, nitrogen and phosphorus content in leaf during both the years and pooled data. Similarly, D3S2 also recorded maximum soil microorganisms.