Effect of inorganic, organic fertilizers and biofertilizers on growth, flowering, yield and quality attributes of bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L

The experiment was conducted on bitter gourd at College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during Kharif 2013 to find out the effect of inorganic and organic fertlizers and biofertilizers on growth, flowering, yield and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). Experimental factors included N:P:K three levels (50, 75, 100% RDF) alone or in integration with vermicompost or vermicompost + biofertilizers. The results illustrated that the plants treated with 100 per cent N:P:K + vermicompost + biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria) had a beneficial effect on bitter gourd viz maximum vine length (534 cm), number of branches per vine (18.0), minimum days taken to appearance of first male (39.6 days) as well as female flower anthesis (44.0 days) that appeared at earliest node (24.6^th node). The same treatment recorded maximum number of fruits/plant (40.0), fruit weight (86.4 g), fruit girth, fruit yield (4036 kg/ha), ascorbic acid (111.1 mg/100 g), TSS (2.10^oBrix) and protein content (1.76%). Application of 100 per cent N:P:K integrated with vermicompost and biofertilizers turned to be the best treatment for increasing growth, early flowering, yield and quality attributes of bitter gourd.