Nagre, Dr. P. K.KSHIRSAGAR, SNEHA KUNDLIK.2024-01-112024-01-112021-07-20KSHIRSAGAR SNEHA KUNDLIK (2021). Fertigation studies In Bitter Gourd. Department of Horticulture, (Vegetable Science). Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. Ph. D. 2021 Print. xv, 149p. (Unpublished).https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810206162The present investigation entitiled “Fertigation studies in bitter gourd” was carried out during 2018-2019 (Kharif season) and 2019-2020 (Summer season) at the Chilli and Vegetable Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (MS) to study the effect of different fertigation levels and intervals on growth, yield, quality, soil nutrient status, total nutrient status and economics of bitter gourd and to find out suitable combination of fertigation levels and intervals for higher yield and better fruit quality of bitter gourd. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with two replications. The main plot treatment consist of five fertigation levels (F) viz., F1- 100% of RDF through soil as a straight fertilizer, F2- 120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer , F3- 100% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer, F4¬¬- 80% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer, and F5- 60% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer and sub plot treatment included three Fertigation intervals (S) viz.,S1- at 4 days interval, S2- at 8 days interval and S3- at 12 days interval. It was observed that the growth and yield parameters of bitter gourd were significantly influenced by the different fertigation levels and intervals. The results revealed that the fertigation levels F2 i.e. 120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) and fertigation interval S1 i.e 4 days interval found to produce significantly maximum vegetative growth in terms of vine length and number of branches at all growth stages, leaf area, number of female flowers and fruit set (%). The interaction of these both treatments F2S1 i.e. 120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) with 4 days intervals exhibited same results during both the season and pooled mean. The characters related to flowering viz., days to first male flower appears, days to first female flower appears and node at which first female flower appears were observed significantly earliest and lowest in the fertigation levels F2 i.e. 120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) and fertigation interval S1 i.e 4 days interval during both the season and pooled mean. The interaction of both best factors F2S1 i.e. 120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer with 4 days intervals during both the season. The minimum male: female ratio (10.07 and 11.28 respectively) was observed in fertigation level F5 (60% of RDF through water soluble) and with fertigation interval S3 (fertigation at 12 days intervals) during both the season and pooled mean. whereas the combination F5S3 i.e. 60% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) with 12 days intervals during kharif season and pooled mean (9.20 and 10.35 respectively) and F1S1 (100% of RDF through soil as straight fertilizer with 4 days intervals) found minimum male: female ratio (11.10) during summer season. The fertigation levels F2 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation)) and fertigation interval S1 (4 days intervals) also recorded significantly maximum yield attributing characters like fruit set (87.24, 68.90 and 78.07 respectively) and (85.32, 67.05 and 76.19 respectively), number of fruits per vine ( 36.90, 32.77 and 34.83 respectively) and (35.36, 30.90 and 33.13 respectively), average fruit weight (105.27, 97.03 and 101.15 gm respectively) and (100.42, 93.67 and 97.04 gm respectively),fruit yield (3.90, 3.20 and 3.55 kg/vine respectively) and (3.62, 2.94 and 3.28 kg/vine respectively) and yield per ha (194.93, 159.82 and 177.37 q/ha respectively) and (180.97, 146.85 and 163.91 q/ha respectively) was found during both the season and pooled mean. While interaction F2S1 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) with 4 days intervals) recorded significantly maximum like number of fruits per plant (41.40, 35.90 and 38.65), average fruit weight (114.04, 106.06 and 110.05 gm), fruit yield (4.72, 3.80 and 4.26 kg/vine) and yield per ha (236.10, 190.18 and 213.14 q/ha) respectively. The quality attributes viz., fruit length (cm) and fruit diameter (cm) were also recorded significantly maximum in the fertigation levels F2 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation)), fertigation intervals (4 days interval) and interaction effect treatment F2S1 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) with 4 days interval) during both the season and pooled mean. The fertigation levels F2 , fertigation interval S1 and interaction effect treatment F2S1 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (Fertigation) with 4 days intervals) recorded significantly maximum total NPK uptake and available soil nutrients in both the season. Considering higher yield, quality and B:C ratio (1:3.85 during kharif season and 1:4.62 during summer season) the treatment F2S1 (120% of RDF through water soluble fertilizer (fertigation) with 4 days interval) can be considered as a best treatment.EnglishThesis