Impact of fermented organic formulations combined with inorganic fertilizers on broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) cv. Palam Samridhi
Shraddha, Y. R. Shukla, K.S. Thakur, Rohit Kumar Vashishat, Subhash Sharma, Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Sunil Dhingra, Tabish Alam, Rohit Khargotra, Kumari Jyoti
Abstract
A two-year field experiment (2018–19 and 2019–20) was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a spacing of 60 × 45 cm involving three replications with ten treatments having cow manurial amendments along with integrated nutrient management in a plot size of 3.0 m × 1.8 m. The effect of the integration of cow manurial amendments and mineral fertilizers on soil fertility, nutrient uptake, yield, and economics of broccoli was studied. The experiment was laid out during the rabi season in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. T 8 [90% RDN (112.5 N: 67.5 P: 46.8 K kg/ha) + 5% jeevamrit (1.5 l/m2) + 5% jeevamrit foliar spray] obtained the greatest organic carbon (20.93 g kg −1 ), available N (375.13 kg ha −1 ), P (48.46 kg ha −1 ), K (260.53 kg ha −1 ) in the soil as well as more uptake of N (60.58 kg ha −1 ), P (7.25 kg ha −1 ) and K (37.88 g ha −1 ) by the plants. Further, this treatment obtained the greatest value for yield (186.77 q ha −1 and 12.44 kg plot −1 ), net income (₹ 245840) and cost-benefit ratio (1.93). Outcomes of this investigation suggested that combined usage of cow manure, jeevamrit, beejamrit, and ghanjeevamrit with inorganic fertilizers proved to be useful for enhancing soil health, increasing nutrient uptake, and ensuring sustainable production of broccoli.