Gokhale, N.B.DHOPAVKAR, RAJESH VISHNU2019-08-312019-08-31http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810125305An investigation entitled “Effect of different levels of N and P fertilizers with biofertilizers on yield, biochemical parameters, soil properties and nutrient uptake by chilli (Capsicum annum L.), in lateritic soils of Konkan” was undertaken during Rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at the Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The effect of different levels of N and P fertilizers with biofertilizers on yield, biochemical parameters, soil properties and nutrient uptake by chilli at different growth stages was studied. The field experiment was laid out in the factorial strip plot design, comprising of thirty six treatments replicated three times, comprising of three levels of nitrogen viz. 0 kg N ha-1, 112.5 kg N ha-1 and 150 kg N ha-1, three levels of phosphorus viz. 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, 37.5 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1and four sources of bio fertilizers viz. No biofertilizer (B0), N fixer- Azotobacter chroococcum (B1), P solubilizer- Aspergillus niger (B2) and N fixer + P solubilizer (B3), with potassium @ 50 kg ha-1 and FYM @ 15 t ha-1 was applied to all the treatments. From field experiment, treatmentwise surface soil samples (0 to 22.5 cm) and plant samples were collected at 30, 60, 90 days after transplanting and at harvest stage. Green pods were collected at maturity stage. The physico-chemical properties of soil such as pH, EC,OC, major nutrients like available N, P2O5, K2O, micronutrients like DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu and soil biological properties such as microbial count, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, urease activity, acid phosphatase activity, dehydrogenase activity, CO2 evolution rate were determined. The plant and pod samples were analyzed for the major nutrients like N, P, K and micro nutrients like Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. The matured fruits were collected and analyzed for various quality parameters viz., ascorbic acid and capsaicin content. The effect of recommended doses of nitrogen and phosphorus with dual inoculation of biofertilizers increased the plant height, dry matter production, green pod yield over no application of fertilizers. From the interaction effect among the N and P fertilizers and biofertilizers, maximum green pod yield to the tune of 119.8 q ha-1 and 112.7 q ha-1 was obtained in the treatment receiving both the biofertilizers and recommended doses of N and P fertilizer during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. Application of doses of N in graded levels significantly increased the ascorbic acid content of chilli pods from 77.82 to 97.33 mg 100g-1 during 2016-17 while it was increased from 76.84 to 96.32mg 100g-1during 2017-18. The application of N @ 150 kg ha-1 and P @ 50 kgP2O5 ha-1 significantly increased the capsaicin contents of chilli fruit over their no application during both the years. Application of recommended doses of nitrogen, phosphorus with inoculation of N fixer and P solubilizer registered maximum available N, P2O5, K2O and micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil. Maximum increase in soil biological properties such as microbial count, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, urease activity, acid phosphatase activity, dehydrogenase activity, CO2 evolution rate are due to application of both the biofertilizers i.e. N fixer plus P solubilizer along with higher doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. During both the years at harvest of crop significant increase in quantity of CO2 evolution rate to the tune of 37.4 mg CO2/g/h was recorded in the treatment N2P2B2 and 41.80 mg CO2/g/h was in the treatment N2P2B3. Uptake of major as well as micronutrients were increased due to inoculation of both biofertilizers with recommended dose of N and P fertilizers. Potassium uptake was significantly increased due to interaction effects of NP levels and biofertilizers on 30, 60 DAT and A. H. maximum P uptake to the tune of 9.56, 19.26 and 63.66 kg/ha was noticed on 30, 60 DAT and harvesting stage, respectively. Maximum uptake of iron by chilli plants was recorded to the tune of 181.5 g ha-1 in the treatment N2P2B3 receiving recommended doses of both the fertilizers and dual biofertilizers. In general, the study indicated that the application of 150 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 50 kg K2O + 10 tons FYM per hectare with the inoculation of N- fixer (Azotobacter chroococcum) and P solubilizer (Aspergillus niger) @ 0.250 kg per hectare each by seedling dip method resulted in yield, and uptake of major and micronutrients with improvement in soil fertility and higher B:C ratio.ennullThesis