Study on Growth, Yield and Quality of Pea under the Influence of Different Combinations of Biofertilizers and Organic Manures

Abstract

The Pea (Pisum sativum) belongs to group of the legume family (Fabaceae).  The immature green seeds are eaten raw, cooked, dehydrated, or as the main ingredient in frozen vegetable dishes. The present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Research & Demonstration Block, College of Horticulture, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar Pauri Garhwal during Rabi season (2023-2024) to access the performance of pea to different organic cultivation practices. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete block Design (RCBD) with 13 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were a combination of different doses of biofertilizers i.e. (Rhizobium leguminosarum) and PSB along with application of organic manures (FYM, Vermicompost and Compost). Parameters like germination (93.333 %), plant height (67.813 cm), leaf count (60.333), RLWC % (80.963 %), number of cluster/plant (13.633), number of root nodules (27.433), root active nodules (14.217), pod length (10.267 cm), pod yield/plant (77.230), seed yield/plant (60.760 g), shelling percentage (48.920 %) and 100 seed weight (46.470 g), TSS (14.0 °Brix) and Ascorbic acid (25 mg/100g) also found highest in T9. The data depicted best results in T9 for all the treatments which was found statistically at par with T5.  But considering economic point of view Cost benefit ratio (1:1.73) was found to be maximum under treatment T5 [Rhizobium leguminosarum (20ml) + PSB (20ml) +FYM (10 t/ha)] and should be recommended to the farmers as for deriving maximum profit for organic cultivation of pea. Therefore, the current study concludes that organic sources of nutrients are more environment friendly and sustainable than chemical fertilizers. They also have an advantage over inorganic synthetic fertilizers, which pollute the environment and may accumulate in the soil and lead to health risk of living surrounding beings.