Indian Journal of Horticulture

A field experiment was conducted during 2004–2007 to find out the influence of microbial and inorganic fertilizers in combination with micronutrients (0.4% foliar spray) on growth, yield and leaf nutrient status of sweet orange cv. Mosambi, and resultant changes in rhizosphere soil microbial biomass. The treatment consisted of application of full dose of NPK, AMF (Nutrilink- mixed strains of IARI), Azospirillum, and micro-nutrients sprays in different combinations along with a control. The study for three years indicates that the plant height, trunk diameter, canopy spread, fruit yield and fruit quality were significantly influenced by different microbial and inorganic fertilizers applications. Application of 3/4^th N (300 g) + 3/4th P (250 g) + 3/4^th K (300 g) + AMF (5 g) + AZO (5 g) + along with spray of 0.4 per cent micronutrients (Cu+Fe+B+Zn) resulted in the maximum plant height, trunk growth, fruit yield, juice content and TSS: acid ratio. The use of AMF along with Azospirillum proved to be beneficial along with inorganic fertilizers and also indicated the beneficial effects of Azospirillum along with AMF strains. It also helped in lowering the applied dose of inorganic fertilizers and also improving the soil biological properties.