Vol. 11, Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
KR Rajadurai, J Rajkumar and C Rajababu

Abstract:
The present study was aimed to assess the influence of integrated use of inorganic fertilizers (N,P,K) and bio fertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria and VAM) on plant growth, yield and quality of custard apple var. APK 1. An experiment was conducted during 2017 to 2020 at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Aruppukottai under the dry vertisols of Tamil Nadu, India. This experiment was carried out under ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits (ICAR-AICRP-AZF). This experiment was carried out under ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits (ICAR-AICRP-AZF). The finding showed that, the combined application of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, VAM, Phosphobacteria and 50% standard NPK recorded higher tree height of 5.1 m, tree girth of 55.4 cm and plant spread of 5.6 m and 5.2 m respectively towards east west and north south direction respectively. It also recorded higher yield of 14.9 kg/tree, fruit weight of 133.6 g /fruit and TSS of 19.0^o Brix followed by application of Azotobacter + Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria with standard dose of NPK which recorded yield of 13.6 kg/tree, fruit weight (128.8 g) and 17.9^o Brix compared to all other treatments including control. Based on this it could be concluded that the combined application of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, VAM, Phosphobacteria and 50% standard NPK on Custard apple var. APK 1 is suitable for dry vertisols tracts of Tamil Nadu to enhance the overall output for the farming community.