Study on Inorganic Fertilizers and Biofertilizers on Growth and Production of Papaya (Carica Papaya L.) Cv. Red Lady

Abstract:

The present investigation entitled “Study on Inorganic Fertilizers and Biofertilizers on Growth and Production of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady” was carried out during the Rabi season at the Instructional Research Farm of G. H. Raisoni University, Dhoda Borgaon, Village–Saikheda, Tah. Sausar, Dist. Pandhurna (M.P.), with the objective of studying the effect of different levels of inorganic fertilizers integrated with varying doses of biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria, and Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria) on the vegetative growth, yield, and economics of papaya cv. Red Lady. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications, comprising T₁: 100% RDF (Control), T₂: 100% RDF + 50 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₃: 100% RDF + 25 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₄: 75% RDF + 50 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₅: 75% RDF + 25 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₆: 50% RDF + 50 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₇: 50% RDF + 25 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, T₈: 25% RDF + 25 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB, and T₉: 25% RDF + 50 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB. Data recorded on eleven growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance, and the treatment effects were found highly significant (p < 0.01) for all the characters studied. Among the nine treatments, T₄ (75% RDF + 50 g Azotobacter + 50 g PSB + 50 g KSB) recorded the maximum plant height (243.39 cm), plant (31.60 kg/plant), and also recorded the minimum (earliest) days to first flowering (140.14 days) and days to fruit maturity (199.37 days). The maximum Leaf Area Index (5.00) was plant girth (32.21 cm), number of leaves per plant (62.25), leaf area (1912.04 cm²), number of nodes (71.21), number of fruits per plant (32.78), fruit weight (1924.30 g), and fruit yield per recorded under T₂, statistically at par with T₄ (4.96). The lowest performance across nearly all growth and yield parameters was recorded under T₁ (100% RDF alone, control), confirming that sole reliance on inorganic fertilization was the least effective nutrient management strategy. Treatment T₄ recorded approximately 49 per cent more fruits per plant and 54.8 per cent higher fruit yield per plant than the control.