Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Practices on Growth, Yield, Economics and Soil Properties of Sweet Pepper under Open Condition at Mid Hill of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect Of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Practices On Growth, Yield, Economics and Soil Properties Of Sweet Pepper Under Open Condition At Mid Hill Of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out at the Research farm of the School of Agriculture, Abhilashi University, Mandi (H.P.) during Kharif season 2022. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment consisted of two Bulky organic manures (FYM and vermicompost) and three inorganic sources i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium through urea, SSP an MOP respectively. The result revealed that maximum plant height (30.33 cm, 42.47 cm and 55.03 cm at 30, 45 and 60 DAT respectively), number of branches per plant (3.10, 3.43 and 4.03 at 30, 45 and 60 DAT respectively), number of leaves per plant (31.50, 32.60 and 35.03 at 30, 45 and 60 DAT respectively), plant spread (27.60 and 34.50 cm),  minimum number of days taken to 50 per cent flowering (36.01), fruit length (8.03 cm), fruit diameter (6.73 cm), average fruit weight (72.07 g), maximum number of fruits per plant (13.13), maximum number of flowers per plant (14.47), number of pickings (4.33), yield per plant (1.01 kg), and fruits yield per hectare (350.34 q/ha) were recorded with the conjoint use of 50% RDF through inorganic fertilizer + 25% through FYM + 25% through vermicompost in treatment T7. This treatment also showed higher nutrient availability in the soil with the residual nutrient status of nitrogen (269.97 kg/ha), phosphorus (40.03 kg/ha) and potassium (292.33 kg/ha). Maximum gross return (₹ 595578/ha), net return (₹ 485173/ha) and maximum B: C ratio (1:5.39) was obtained in T7. Thus, application of 50% RDF through inorganic fertilizer + 25% through FYM + 25% through vermicompost was found highly beneficial for plant growth and yield of sweet pepper.