A study was carried out to assess effect of inorganic fertilizers, vermicompost, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorhizae (VAM) and biofertilizers [Rhizobium and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)] inoculation on seed yield and quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The experiment was conducted in a split plot design for two consecutive cropping season, kharif 2012 and 2013, with two main plot treatments of inorganic fertilizers i.e. 100% and 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and nine sub plot integrated nutrient management (INM) treatments including control (No organic fertilizer). Main plot treatments were at par but sub plot INM treatments differed significantly for plant height, seed yield, number of pods/plant, pod length, number of seeds/pod, 1000-seed weight, seed germination and vigour indices. Integrated use of inorganic fertilizers + Vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 (4.76, 4.16 q ha″1) performed significantly better than the control (3.32, 2.79 q ha″1) for seed yield and its attributes as well as seed quality parameters during Kharif 2012 and 2013, respectively. It was at par with combined use of inorganic fertilizers + biofertilizer inoculation (Rhizobium + PSB) + VAM 10 Kg ha-1 Also, the mean cost benefit ratios (2.04, 1.90) were highest for combination of biofertilizer inoculation (Rhizobium + PSB) + VAM 10 Kg ha-1 +inorganic fertilizers 100% and 75% RDF, respectively.
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Nutrient Availability, Uptake and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. “Gujrat Tomato-2”
