Vol. 11, Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
Joshi Thoudam and Amit Kotiyal

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out in the naturally ventilated polyhouse under the department of Horticulture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Punjab during the year 2021-2022 to examine the effects of bio-fertilizer and organic manure applications on growth, yield and quality of organically grown strawberry (Fragaria x annanasa Duch.) cv. Camarosa. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with nine treatments and three replications. Bio-fertilizers helps in reducing detrimental effect of hazardous chemical residues which is left by the inorganic fertilizers in the soil. Organic manure like vermicompost enhances the soil physical properties, soil pH, water holding capacity, increase the nutrient availability and its plant absorption as it adds micro and macro nutrients to the soil. The results revealed that highest total yield was obtained from treatment T9 (Vermicompost @50g plant^-1 + Neem cake @50g plant^-1 + Cocopeat @50g plant^-1 + Azotobacter @1g plant^-1 + PSB @1g plant^-1) and the lowest yield was from T0 (control). The biggest fruits were obtained from T2 (Neem Cake @100g plant^-1). No significant differences were found between the different treatments for titratable acidity. Highest T.S.S. was obtained from plants of treatment T1 (Vermicompost @100g plant^-1), highest ascorbic acid and total sugar of strawberry fruit was recorded from T6 (Vermicompost @100g plant^-1 + Azotobacter @1g plant^-1 + PSB @1g plant^-1) treated plants. The plant growth (plant length, plant height, petiole length) was found higher in treatment T3 (Cocopeat @100g plant^-1), also, higher number of leaves was recorded from treatment T9 (Vermicompost @50g plant^-1 + Neem cake @50g plant^-1 + Cocopeat @50g plant^-1 + Azotobacter @1g plant^-1 + PSB @1g plant^-1).