Influence of different organic sources of nutrients on growth and flowering behaviour of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

Abstract

A field experiment on the influence of different organic sources of nutrients on growth and flowering behaviour of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa was conducted at College Farm, College of Horticulture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Jagudan, District-Mehsana in Gujarat, India during Mrig bahar (June-January)  2017-18 and 2018-19. The present investigation was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications consisting of twenty-two treatments with four different organic manures viz., farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure and neem cake as a source of nitrogen and recommended dose of manure and fertilizers based on plant age with or without biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB & KMB) and biopesticides (Trichoderma viride and Paecilomyces lilacinus). The results based on pooled data revealed that a maximum number of hermaphrodite flowers (85.17) and incomplete flowers (96.50) up to two months after treatment application, fruit set (69.45 %) along with minimum fruit drop (13.18 %) and days taken for marketable picking (168.83) were significantly (@5%) noted under treatment 100 % RDN through poultry manure + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus. However, significantly (@5%) highest incremental primary growth parameters viz., plant height (0.60 m), plant spread (E-W: 0.41 m and N-S: 0.43 m) and stem girth (1.47 cm) after two months of treatment application were observed under treatment 100 % RDN through vermicompost + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus. Thus, the organic sources viz., vermicompost and poultry manure with biofertilizers and biopesticides would be very helpful for enhancing vegetative growth and flowering behaviour of the pomegranate.