Effect of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on soil health and quality of carrot

Field experiments were conducted at CAZRI, Jodhpur during rabi seasons of 2008–09 and 2009–2010 to study the effects of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on carrot grown under irrigated conditions. Experiments were laid out in a RBD with eight treatments in three replications. Treatments comprising of 75% NPK through fertilizers + 25% N through VC (T₄) or compost (T₅), though were at par with 100% NPK through fertilizers (T₁) exhibited slightly higher values for root yield and its attributes and was vice versa for green top yield. Carrot quality attributes such as reducing sugar, total sugars and ascorbic acid content significantly increased with the higher level of N substitution (i.e., for 100 and 75%) through compost or VC. Soil quality indicators such as soil pH, organic C, penetration resistance and FC moisture responded significantly better to organic manures at 100 or 75% N substitution as compared to solely inorganic fertilizers.