Effect Bio-Inoculants and Organic Supplementation a Growth and Yield of Pomegranate
Greeshma Reddy BC1, Suma R1*, Nagaraja MS2 and Kulapati Hipparagi3
1Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences, India
2Associate Professor, of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Horticultural Sciences, India
3Professor of Fruit Science, University of Horticultural Sciences, India
Submission: August 19, 2017; Published: September 01, 2017
*Corresponding author: Suma R, Assistant Professor, Department Of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnataka, India, Email: sumassac@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Greeshma R BC, Suma R, Nagaraja MS, Kulapati H. Effect Bio-Inoculants and Organic Supplementation a Growth and Yield of Pomegranate. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res. 2017;4(4): 555641. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2017.04.555641
Abstract
The present research was carried in a seven year old pomegranate orchard cultivating Bhagwa variety during hasta bahar season, 2015-16. The experiment consists of six treatments that included application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer without (TJ or with bio- inoculants (T2), supplementation of 25 per cent (T3 and T4) and 50 per cent (T5 and T6) recommended dose of N through organics (neemcake + pongamiacake -1:1) without or with bio-inoculants. The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) and replicated four times. Pomegranate growth parameters did not record significant variation, however, the plant height and secondary branches were relatively more in bio-inoculants and organics supplemented treatments. Flowering patter was significantly influenced by organics and bio-inoculants application. Highest number of hermaphrodite flowers was observed in T6 (139.0) and T5 (122) as compared to Tt (86). The number of fruits were also highest in T6 (98.01) followed by T5 (89.10) but, fruit weight (301.44g) and size (78.77 and 100.81 mm fruit diameter and length) was maximum in T4 (292.2g, 77.19 and 102.55 mm fruit diameter and length). All the above yield parameters has resulted in highest fruit yield of 26.43 kg plant-1 and 19.56 t ha-1 in T6 (50% RD N&P +Organics + Bio-inoculants) while, lowest yield was observed in T (100% RDF) recording 17.06 kg plant-1 and 12.62 t ha-1.
Keywords: Pomegranate; Neemcake; Pongamiacake; Trichodermaharzianum; Pseudomonas Fluorescence
Introduction
Pomegranate (PunicagranatumL.) is one of the important fruit crop in arid and semi-arid regions. The fruit is touted as ‘super food’ because of its nutritional and health promoting characters. It has wide adaptability and requires relatively low cost for its cultivation with drought tolerance and good economic returns with potential of export attributes. Hence, its area is expanding in recent years. In India, it is extensively grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and it is an upcoming crop in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. In Karnataka, pomegranate is cultivated on an area of 18.49 thousand ha with an annual production of 1.99 lakh tons and productivity of 10.75 MT ha-1(KSHD, 2014), growing predominantly in districts of Chitradurga, Bellary, Bijapur, Tumkur, Koppal and Bagalkot.
Pomegranate is a hardy crop that is usually cultivated under low fertile soil. But, its intensive cropping involving bahar treatment (manipulation of flowering and fruit setting involving plant hormones) without proper nutrient management is deteriorating the plant health and making plants susceptible for several biotic and abiotic stresses. Hence, there is need for balanced nutrient application and enhancing its availability in soil that stimulates their uptake and assimilation by pomegranate. To achieve this present study was planned to integrate organic source, bio-inoculants and fertilizers to study its effect on pomegranate productivity. Bio-inoculants are the beneficial microbes that improve plant nutrition and promote plant growth. In recent years, they are increasingly used for suppression of plant diseases Heitefuss [1] and mobilization of nutrients in soil Saba [2]. Their application along with organics play crucial role in sustaining crop productivity. Among organic manures, the oil cakes posses higher plant nutrients, besides its potential pesticidal properties. Neem and pongamia cakes, by-products from bio-fuel industries can be effectively used as concentrated organic manure.
Use of organic sources of nutrients helps to conserve the soil health by maintaining the equilibrium of organic matter and soil micro flora ultimately helping to improve physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil Walia [3]. The utility of neem and pongamia seed cake as a fertilizer as well as a pesticide on economically important crop species is well established Wani, Sreedevi [4] Ramesh [5] Shivakumar [6]. Hence, this study is formulated to integrate bio-inoculants and organics for exploiting nutrient management in pomegranate.
Material and Methods
A field experiment was carried out in seven years old pomegranate orchard with Bhagwa variety at Kaladagi village of Bagalkot district, Karnataka, during 2015-16 in hasta bahar season (August-February 2015-16). Bahar treatment is an important operation in pomegranate in which plants were given rest by stopping water for one month to create artificial stress. Consequently, light pruning operation was carried during the last week of July, 2015. Then, the leaves were defoliated during first week of August by spraying ethrel (2.5ml L-1). After defoliation, the fallen leaves are collected and burnt. Then plants were irrigated followed by application of manures and fertilizers as per the treatment requirements. The new flushes appeared on tree between 8-12 days after Ethel spray and profuse flowering was observed during first to second week of September, 2015. The fruits were harvested in three pickings during January and February 2016. (Table 1) The farm yard manure was applied @ 20 kg plant-1 to all treatments at bahar initiation. The bio- inoculants @ 200g each plant-1 were applied by mixing with oilcakes in two equal splits viz, basal and 60 days after bahar treatment (DABT). Recommended dose of potassium and phosphorus as per the treatment requirement were applied as basal dose while, nitrogen was applied as per the treatment requirement in three equal splits viz., ten days after organics and bio-inoculants application as basal dose and 30 & 60 days after bahar treatment (DABT) as top dressing.
Growth parameters like plant height, canopy circumference and number of primary and secondary branches were recorded at critical growth stages viz., before bahar, 60, 120 and 200 DABT. Yield parameters like flowering pattern, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit length and diameter and fruit yield were recorded after the harvest. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis using Microsoft excel to draw conclusions.
* Oil cakes- Neem cake and Pongamiacake procured from bio-fuel park were applied in 1:1 proportion.
** Bio-inoculants-Trichoderma harzianum (Krishnaprabha- Trichokavach) and Pseudomonas fluorescence (DundanaRakshak), the two effective bio-inoculants specifically developed for pomegranate by bio-control lab, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot were used in this experiment.
Results and Discussion
Effect of bio-inoculants and organics supplementation on growth parameters
The effect of bio-inoculants and organics application on pomegranate plant height is presented in (Table 2). The plant height recorded significant difference only at 60 and 120 DBT. Application of organics along with bio-inoculants (T6) recorded maximum plant height of 3.01m followed by T2 (2.93m). At 120 DBT, application of bio-inoculants with or without organics increased plant height recording 3.43m in T6, 3.26m in T2 and 3.21m in T4 treatments compared to un-inoculated treatments. Availability of nutrients and assimilation by plants have prominent role in stimulating the growth of plants. Higher uptake of nutrients in T6 might have increased the plant height Dhillon [7] besides the plant promoting capability of bio- inoculants Luis [8]. The pomegranate canopy circumference did not vary significantly with the application of bio-inoculants and organics at any stages of crop growth (Table 2). In general the pomegranate canopy ranged from 2.96 - 2.86m, 3.22 - 3.07m and 3.32 - 3.13m at 60, 120 and 200 DBT respectively. The number of primary and secondary branches did not vary significantly however, the primary branches were in 2-3 numbers and about 5-7 numbers of secondary branches were arising from each primary branch (Table 3).
Effect of bio-inoculants and organics supplementation on yield parameters
The flowering pattern of pomegranate varied significantly with application of bio-inoculants and organics (Table 4). Profuse flowering was observed in T6 (270.0) followed by T5 (249.0). Amongst the type of flowers, hermophrodite flowers were found in higher number and its per cent ranged from 42.951.4 to total number of flowers. Application of organics along with bio-inoculants showed higher amount of hermaphrodite flowers recording 139.0 in T6 compared to 86 in T1. The highest number of intermediate flowers was recorded in T6 (32.0) and T4 (32.0) while, male flowers were found in T6 (99.0) and T5 (97.0). This could be attributed to the supply of N to pomegranate plants. Many researchers have opined that abundant nitrogen may reduce flowering in plants when it is under stress condition Corbesier [9]; Bernier [10]; Rideout [11].
* Numbers in the parenthesis indicates the percent number of flowers to the total number of flowers
Application of organics and bio-inoculants significantly influenced the pomegranate yield parameters viz., number of fruits, fruit weight and fruit size (Table 5). Number of fruits per plant varied significantly among different treatments. Application of organics with (T6- 98.01) or without (T5- 89.10) bio-inoculants recorded significantly higher number of fruits compared to 100 per cent RDF with (T2- 79.20) or without (T1- 76.23) bio-inoculants. This could be attributed to flowering pattern. The fruit set in pomegranate depends on number of hermaphrodite flowers NRCP [12].
Hermaphrodite flowers are considered as perfect flowers and have positive correlation to fruit bearing capacity Babu [13]. Pomegranate fruit weight (Table 5) was found to be maximum in treatments T4 and T6 that recorded fruit weight of 294.2g and 282.2g respectively. The lowest fruit weight of 230. 5g was observed in T1 (230.5g). Pomegranate fruit size was significantly influenced by different treatments. The maximum fruit diameter of 77.28mm was found in T2treatment, while fruit length was highest in T4-102.55mm. The treatment receiving 100 per cent RDF (T1) recorded lowest fruit diameter (68.94mm) and length (90.69mm).
Effect of bio-inoculants and organics supplementation on fruit yield
The pomegranate fruit yield varied significantly (Table 6) due to different treatments. The highest marketable fruit yield of 26.43 kg plant-1 and 19.56 t ha-1 was recorded in T6 followed by T4 recording 24.80 kg plant-1 and 18.35 t ha-1 fruit yield. This may be attributed to higher availability of P, K, S and micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn) with addition of neem and pongamia cake which is a source of these nutrients. Further, activity of bio-inoculants might have stimulated its enhanced availability and further assimilation by pomegranate plants. Similar findings on enhanced pomegranate fruit yield were observed with application of neem cake Ray [14] and bio- inoculants Shukla [15] and Mir [16-20] by many researchers. Application of 100 per cent RDF (T1) recorded lowest fruit yield of 17.06 kg plant-1 and 12.62 t ha-1 that was significantly enhanced to 21.94 kg plant-1 and 16.24 t ha-1 with the application of bio-inoculants (T2) compared to 100 per cent RDF [21,22].
Conclusion
The application of organics (neem + pongamia cake in 1:1) to supplement 50 per cent N & P2O5 along with bio-inoculants (Trichodermaharzianumand Pseudomonas fluorescence) are effective in obtaining in higher pomegranate yield. However, the pomegranate fruit quality was found superior when 25 per cent of N & P2O5 was supplemented with organics along with bio- inoculants. This study established the importance of quantity and time of nitrogen application on pomegranate flowering pattern and fruit yield.
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