Synergistic Effects of Organic, Inorganic and Biofertilizers on Nutrient Content and Uptake by Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) is a commercially grown vegetable crop that requires an adequate and balanced nutrient supply for optimal yield and quality. The imbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers has detrimental effects on the soil as well as on the environment. The adoption of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) thus offers a holistic solution that ensures both immediate and sustained nutrient availability by limiting the use of chemical fertilizers. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of the integrated application of nutrients from different sources on the major nutrient composition and uptake by capsicum plants. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) at the Vegetable farm, Department of Horticulture, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during two rabi seasons 2022-23 and 2024. The experiment consisted of eleven treatments and three replications, with various combinations of organic manures namely, vermicompost, farmyard manure, poultry manure, recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF: 150:60:60 NPK kg/ha), and biofertilizers (Azospirillum and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria). Results revealed that INM treatments significantly enhanced the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content and their uptake as compared to sole organic or inorganic sources. The treatment T8 (RDF 75% + Vermicompost 25% + Azospirillum and PSB 2.5 kg/ha each) consistently recorded the highest nutrient contents: nitrogen (3.61%), phosphorus (0.64%), and potassium (3.96%). Treatment T8 also displayed the maximum uptake of nitrogen (103.61 kg/ha), phosphorus (25.88 kg/ha), and potassium (59.07 kg/ha) across both years. The study suggests that application of organic manures and biofertilizers in combination with inorganic fertilizers improves nutrient uptake and offers a sustainable approach for better productivity of capsicum.