Effect of Different Inorganic Fertilizers and Bio-Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.)

Abstract

The study titled Effect of different inorganic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield, and quality of Sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during the zaid season of 2022. The experiment was designed in a randomized block design with fifteen treatment combinations replicated three times. The treatments were made out of N, P, K, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, and PSB. The results showed that the application of T8 (75% NP + 100% K + Azotobacter + Azospirillum + PSB) was the most effective for growth, yield and quality of sponge gourd giving maximum average vine length of (278.34 cm) at harvest, maximum number of nodes per plant (15.98) at 40 DAS, minimum number of days to appearance of first male and female flower at (34.83) and (40.77) DAS respectively, minimum number of days to first appearance of male and female flowers in 50% plants at (38.78) and (44.72) DAS respectively, minimum number of days to first fruit picking at (46.72) DAS, highest average number of (16.17) fruits per plant, maximum fruit length and diameter of (24.33cm) and (5.05 cm) respectively, highest average fruit weight of (137.17g), maximum average fruit yield per plant of (2.22 kg), maximum yield per hectare of (30.8 tonnes), maximum total soluble solids of 5.81 (0Brix), and maximum ascorbic acid content of (20.29 mg/100 g).