STUDIES ON BIOFERTILIZERS AND MICRONUTRIENT APPLICATION IN CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)
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Date
2019-07
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on biofertilizers and micronutrient application in
cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)” was carried out at the Experimental Farm, Department of
Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, (HP) in the Rabi
season of 2016-17 and 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design
(RCBD) Factorial with three replications comprising of fourteen treatment combinations having two
levels of biofertilizers i.e. B0= No biofertilizers & B1= Biofertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB + KSB) and
seven levels of micronutrientsviz., M0= No micronutrient, M1= Boric acid @ 0.5 %,M2= Zinc sulphate@
0.5 %, M3= Ferrous sulphate@ 0.5 %, M4= Manganese sulphate @ 0.5 %,M5= Ammonium molybdate @
0.5 %, M6= Multiplex @ 0.5 %. In total there were fourteen treatment combinations viz., B0M0,B0M1,
B0M2, B0M3, B0M4, B0M5, B0M6, B1M0, B1M1, B1M2, B1M3, B1M4, B1M5 and B1M6. Seedlings of
cabbage were transplanted on 7th October, 2016 and 8th October 2017 in a plot size of 4.05 m2 in three
replications. The treatment combination B1M6 registered maximum plant spread (42.38 cm), gross head
weight (1299.00 g), net head weight (870.00 g), harvest index (66.97 %), yield per plot (16.31 kg), yield
per hectare (322.10 q) and heading percentage (90.28 %). It also recorded maximum available
phosphorous (78.40 kg/ha) in soil which was statistically at par with B1M2. Minimum number of days to
50 per cent head maturity (67.50) and minimum number of non wrapper leaves (8.35) were observed in
B1M1. Same treatment registered highest TSS (5.72 ˚Brix) and maximum leaf P content (0.62 %). B1M2
registered maximum vitamin C content (59.97 mg/100 g), leaf Zn content (47.17 ppm), however,
maximum available potassium (399.07 kg/ha) in soil and leaf N content (3.54 %) in cabbage was
statistically at par with B1M6. The maximum values for polar diameter (13.75 cm), equatorial diameter
(13.36 cm), available iron (17.15 mg/kg) in soil, leaf Fe content (173.30 ppm) was observed in B1M3,
whereas maximum leaf K content (2.32 %) was statistically at par with B1M6. Maximum head
compactness (47.45) was recorded in B1M5. Maximum available manganese content (14.55 mg/kg) in soil
and leafMn content (84.77 ppm)was recordedin B1M4.On thebasis of economic returnsitwasconcluded
that B1M6 i.e. Biofertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB + KSB) + Multiplex @ 0.5 % was rated as the best
treatment in terms of growth, yield and quality parameters. It resulted in maximum yield (322.10 q/ha)
with highest annual net return of Rs. 369134.90/ha and B: C ratio of 3.04. Besides this it also enhanced the
soil fertility status as evident through the increased post harvest availability ofN, P and K by 19.27, 49.04,
14.68 per cent, over the initial content in the soil (pre experimental). In addition to this the leaf nutrient
content (N, P, K, Zn, Fe and Mn) of cabbage has also increased. Hence for getting more yield, quality
produce and high economic returns, seedling root dip @ 1 kg/ha and soil application @ 5 kg/ha each of
biofertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB + KSB) with three foliar spray of @ 0.5 % Multiplex at 20 days interval
from days of transplanting can be recommended for commercialcabbage cultivation in Himachal Pradesh.
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