Response of China aster to Bio-inoculant Amendments under Pot Experiment

The present investigation was layout out in Completely Randomized design (CRD) to assess the impact of biofertilizers on China aster with total of nine treatments and each treatment replicated thrice. The treatments consist of different combinations of bio-inoculants (Azospirillum, PSB, VAM and KSB). The results revealed that the treatment T8 (75%RDF+Azospirillum+PSB) was found significantly higher compared to other treatment combination, which recorded highest plant height (27.28 cm), Number of leaves (27.44), plant spread (15.28 cm2), Days to bud emergence (47.11 days), days of first bud break (54.67 days), opening first flower (62.33 days),number of flowers per plant(14.12), stalk length (13.00 cm), flower dimeter (4.92cm),Vase life (12.22 days), Leaf area (14.11 cm2).The economics viz. Gross return (Rs. 16,800), Net return (Rs. 8928) and Benefit cost ratio (2.13) was found highest in the same treatment.

Evaluate the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the Economic and Physical Attributes of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaerten)

The present investigation was conducted to Evaluate the effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the Economic and Physical attributes of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaerten). The research was carried at Main Experiment Station, Horticulture, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during the year 2021. It was laid out in a randomized block design with 10 treatments, namely: T1 – Control, T2- RDF 100% (1kg.N: 0.5kg.P:1kg.K per tree), T3- FYM (10kg./tree) + RDF 100%, T4- Poultry Manure (7.5kg./tree) + RDF 100%, T5- FYM (10kg./tree) + RDF 50% + Azospirillium (10ml./tree), T6- Poultry Manure (7.5kg/tree) + RDF 50% + Azospirillium (10ml./tree), T7 -FYM (10kg./tree) + RDF 50% + PSB (10ml./tree), T8- Poultry Manure + RDF 50% + Azospirillium (10ml./tree), T9 –FYM (10kg/tree) + RDF 50% + Azospirillium (10ml./tree) + PSB (10ml./tree) and T10- Poultry Manure (7.5kg/tree) + RDF 50% + Azospirillium (10ml/tree) + PSB (10ml./tree).The experiment was replicated three times. Results showed treatment T10 outperformed the rest with maximum fruit set percent (78.56%), fruit retention (20.29%), fruit yield (102.78 kg/tree), fruit weight (41.89 g), fruit length (3.87 cm), specific gravity (1.05 g/cm3 ) and maximum gross return/ha Rs. (128264), Net return Rs. (92154) and Cost: benefit ratio was evaluated with the use of treatment combination T10. Thus, the treatment combination T10 is therefore recommended for application to Aonla trees in eastern Uttar Pradesh in order to obtain high yields with better quality fruits.

Effect of organic and conventional farming practices on soil microbial population

Aim: Microbial community has an integral role in farming, but there is limited understanding of the complex response of microbial populations to organic and conventional farming systems. Therefore, the present study was carried out to study the effect of organic and conventional farming practices on soil microbial population in Haryana. Methodology: Fifty surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from organic and their adjoining conventional farms at 11 districts of Haryana. Soil samples were processed and analyzed for Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillium and phosphorous solubilizing bacterial (PSB) counts for the two types of farming systems. Results: In comparison to conventional farming system, overall, population of PSB (which was 25.71×104 CFU g-1 soil) increased significantly to 36.91×104 CFU g-1 soil (an increase of 43.5%). Similarily, Rhizobium population in organic farming system increased from 29.26×104 CFU g-1 soil to 42.14×104 CFU g-1 soil (an increase of 44.1%). The population of Azotobacter increased significantly from 15.83×104 to 22.01×104 CFU g-1 soil (39.0%), while Azospirillium population increased from 13.66×104 to 20.10×104 CFU g-1 with an increase of 47.1%. Thus, it is clear from the results that organic nutrient sources showed a stimulating influence on the microbial populations of organic farming. Interpretation: Higher microbial population recorded in organic farming in comparison to conventional farming leads to better soil health and increased productivity.