Effect of microbial inoculants and chemical fertilizers on yield and economics of hybrid cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Department of Horticulture,\rAllahabad School of Agriculture, SHIATS, Allahabad, U.P. during winter season of 2014-15 and\r2015-16 in Factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) for yield and quality contributing characters.\rThe microbial inoculants (Azospirillum) significantly reduced the number of days taken to\rhead initiation (52.20 days). The plants developed under NPK levels of N200 P100 K100 along with\rmicrobial inoculant Azospirillum significantly produced the highest average head yield (1.753\rkg) per plant. The highest head yield (787.47 q/ha) was obtained with the use of microbial\rinoculant Azospirillum and proved its superiority over Azotobacter. For economics components\rthe highest gross return (607954.67Rs./ha) was associated with NPK levels of N200 P100 K100 +\rAzospirillum. Moreover, net return (463011.69Rs./ha) was associated with NPK level of N200\rP100 K100 per hectare. The plants grown at NPK levels of N200 P100 K100 per hectare produced\rsignificantly maximum benefit: cost ratio (3.96). Therefore, it may be concluded that application\rof microbial inoculants basically Azospirillum as soil application of NPK levels of N200 P100 K100\rper hectare was the most effective treatment combination for higher yield and economics in\rhybrid cabbage