Effect of conjoint use of inorganic fertilizers and organics on soil fertility and growth parameters of tomato and french bean crops in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh

Field experiments were conducted during 2002 and 2003 by taking 20 treatments composed of various combinations of crop residue, FYM, biofertilizers and chemical fertilizer levels under tomato and French bean crops in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. In both the years 100% NPK and in-situ incorporation of crop residue in tomato produced the highest yield 70.84, 91.67 q ha⁻¹, TSS 5.3, 4.8% and ascorbic acid 37.2, 35.5 mg per 100 g fruit, respectively. The percent increase in yield under this treatment over alone 100% NPK was 13 and 9.3% during the years 2002 and 2003, respectively. In French bean, 100% NPK + dual inoculation of Rhizobium + VAM was found superior in yield (74.16, 74.40 q ha⁻¹) and pod length (13, 13.1cm) production during both the years. The percent increase in yield over alone 100% NPK in this case was 15 and 15.7% during 2002 and 2003. Similarly, integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organics under both the crops increased the organic carbon, available NPK contents of the soil over their alone applications. Integrated use of any one of the organics and or biofertilizer with 75% recommended NPK in both the crops produced yield, quality (except FYM) and available NPK built up in soils at par with alone 100% NPK doses and indicated saving of 25% of chemical fertilizers. Conjoint application of crop residue + FYM + dual inoculation of Azotobacter/Rhizobium + VAM produced yield, quality and in general organic carbon, available NPK built up in the soils equal to alone 75% of recommended NPK doses in both the crops..