Effect of Liquid Biofertilizer Application on Growth and Yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

An experiment was conducted at Ambach village of Pardi block of Valsad district of Gujarat to study the effect

of liquid biofertilizers (LBF) application including Azotobactor, Phosphorus solubilising bacteria (PSB) and Potash mobiliser bacteria (KMB) on the growth and yield attributes of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) variety Mukta round. Liquid biofertilizers developed by Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari applied through seedling treatment @ 30ml/10 l water prior to transplanting and with soil application @ 1l/ha after 35 days of transplanting as per treatments. The treatments were T₁: Control, T₂: 100 per cent RDF (200 kg N: 50 kg P₂O₅:50 kg K₂O/ha), T₃: Sole application of LBF i.e Azotobactor, PSB and KMB, T₄: 75per cent RDF (150 kg N: 37.5 kg P₂O₅: 37.5 kg K₂O/ha) + LBF and T₅: 50 per cent RDF (100 kg N: 25 kg P₂O₅: 25 kg K₂O/ha)+ LBF. An application of 100 per cent RDF i.e. T₂, through chemical fertilisers recorded 61.72 per cent more fruit yield than control with BCR 5.66 but it reduced 6.25 per cent organic carbon, increase salinity and alkalinity after harvest as compare to pre sown status, however

60.73 per cent more fruit yield over control with BCR 5.69 recorded with the application of 75 per cent RDF (150 kg N: 37.5 kg P₂O₅: 37.5 kg K₂O/ha) with LBF i.e. T₄ without deterioration in soil health. An application of LBF with reduction in RDF up to 25 per cent found more profitable than 100 per cent RDF.