Effect of integrated application of inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers on growth, yield and economics of papaya (Carica papaya L.) Cv. red lady

Abstract:

The present investigation was carried out during the Rabi season at the Instructional Research Farm of G.H. Raisoni University, Dhoda Borgaon, Sausar, 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. Data recorded on eleven growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment effects were highly significant (p < 0.01) for all characters studied. Treatment T4 (75% RDF + 50 g each of Azotobacter, PSB and KSB) recorded the maximum plant height (243.39 cm), plant girth (32.21 cm), number of leaves (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 plant (31.60 kg), besides the earliest flowering (140.14 days) and fruit maturity (199.37 days), while T1 (control) recorded the lowest values across nearly all parameters. T4 also secured the highest gross return (₹8,08,960/ha) and net return (₹5,95,145/ha), though its benefit-cost ratio (3.78) was exceeded by T5 (4.33) and T7 (4.32), both achieved at substantially lower cultivation cost. The results establish that integrating biofertilizers with a reduced (75%) dose of inorganic fertilizer performs at par with or better than the full recommended dose, while improving cultivation economics and reducing chemical fertilizer dependence.