Nutrient Management in Underutilized Vegetable Crop Ivy Gourd [Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt]

Abstract

Background: Ivy gourd is the most nutritious and healthy vegetable among the underutilized vegetable crops. To increase the production effective nutrient management is key tool. Methods: The experiment on growth and yield improvement in ivy gourd through integrated nutrient management was conducted in a randomised block design with three replications at Regional Horticulture Research Station in ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. Results: An application of 50% RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer) + Bio-compost had a beneficial effect on growth parameters like minimum days to flowering (35.83 days) and fruit harvest (47.11), maximum dry biomass of shoot (8.41 kg) and dry biomass of root (840 g) with near to neutral fruit pH (6.8). Maximum length of fruit (5.12 cm), diameter of fruit (1.80 cm), weight of fruit (4.57 g), maximum fruit yield plant-1 (1.64 kg), highest fruit yield (16.60 t ha-1), maximum leaf nutrient content (N - 1.753 ppm, P - 0.456 ppm, K - 1.653 ppm) and soil nutrient status (N - 211.77 kg ha-1, P2O5 - 69.52 kg ha-1, K2O - 498.96 kg ha-1) were also noted in 50% RDF + Bio-compost as compared to other treatment.