Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) under Prayagraj Agro-climatic Conditions

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) under Prayagraj agroclimatic conditions at Horticultural Research Field, Department of Horticulture, Naini agricultural institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (UP) during 2021 kharif season. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments replicated thrice with organic manures (FYM, vermicompost, poultry manure) and Inorganic fertilizers (NPK). The results of the experiment revealed that the treatment T8 (50% RDN through chemical fertilizers + 50% through vermicompost) was found to be best treatment combination in terms of vine length (312.44 cm), days to first female flower appearance (40 ), node to which first female flower appearance (19), days taken to first harvest (56), average fruit weight (107.35 g), average fruit length (15.72 cm), number of fruits per plant (20), average fruit yield per plant (2.16 kg), average fruit yield per hectare (17.96 t/ha), TSS (4.33ºBrix). Significantly the highest gross return (Rs. 305320/ha), net returns (Rs. 207903/ha) and B: C ratio (3.1) were also recorded under the treatment T8(50% RDN through chemical fertilizers + 50% through vermicompost) while average fruit diameter (7.84 cm) was observed in the treatment T2 (100:50:50 NPK +10 tonnes vermicompost).