INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)

cv. PRACHI A

THESIS SUBMITTED TO

THE ORISSA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY BHUBANESWAR

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

DEGREE OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (VEGETABLE SCIENCE)

BY

VANGAPANDU THRIVENI

DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

ORISSA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY BHUBANESWAR-751003, ODISHA

2014

THESIS ADVISOR: Dr. H. N. MISHRA

DEPARTMENT OF VEGETABLE SCIENCE

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Orissa University of Agriculture &Technology

Bhubaneswar751003, Odisha

Dr. H. N. Mishra

Professor and Head

Department of Vegetable Science

OUAT, Bhubaneswar–751003, Odisha Date

CERTIFICATE - I

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “ INTEGRATED NUTRIENT

MANAGEMENT IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.) cv. PRACHI”

submitted by VANGAPANDU THRIVENI, Adm. No.01VSc/12 to the Orissa

University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar in partial fulfilment

of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN AGRICULTURE (VEGETABLE SCIENCE) is a faithful record of

bona fide research work under my guidance and supervision. No part of this

thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma or published in any

other form.

The assistance and help received during the course of investigation have

been duly acknowledged.

Place: Bhubaneswar (H. N. Mishra) Chairman

Date: Advisory Committee

CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE –––– IIIIIIII

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “ INTEGRATED NUTRIENT

MANAGEMENT IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.) cv. PRACHI”

submitted by VANGAPANDU THRIVENI to the Orissa University of Agriculture

and Technology, Bhubaneswar in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE in the discipline of

VEGETABLE SCIENCE has been approved by the Student’s Advisory

Committee after an oral examination on the same in collaboration with the

External Examiner.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

CHAIRMAN: Dr. H. N. Mishra

Professor and Head Department of Vegetable Science

College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar-3

MEMBERS: 1) Dr. S. K. Pattanayak

Professor Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar 2) Dr. G. S. Sahoo

Associate Professor Dept.of Vegetable Science College of Agriculture

OUAT, Bhubaneswar-3

EXTERNAL EXAMINER:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I avail this acme opportunity to acknowledge the persons, whose help and

support has made me this work successfully.

Availing this unique privilege, I express my profound sense of gratitude and

indebtedness to my guide Dr. H. N. Mishra, Professor and Head of the department,

Department of Vegetable science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar for his valuable guidance,

constructive criticism, painstaking effort coupled with patience, encouragement

throughout the period of my thesis work and planning and preparing the manuscript..

I feel privileged to express my heartfelt gratitude, sincere respect and

reverence for my Co-guide Dr. Sushant Kumar Pattanayak, Associate Professor,

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar for

his valuable guidance, untiring interest, supervision, help and encouragement

throughout my thesis work and in the preparation of this manuscript.

I pay my due respect to my Co-guide Dr. Gowrisankar Sahoo, Associate

professor of Vegetable Science, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, for his guidance and needful

help during my thesis work.

My special thanks to Prafulla Bhaina, Srinivash bhaina, Rajani Bhai,

Pramodh bhai, Parusuram bhai, Bhubhu bhai, Lakshmi bhai, Bhisu bhai, Sonali didi

and other staff members of soil science and agricultural chemistry for their support,

help and patience during my work.

I very much thankful to Dr,P.S Antharyami Mishra , professor of soil

science for his help and guidance in my thesis work.

I express my thanks to all non-teaching staff of the Dept. of Vegetable

Science especially Sahu sir, Dolly madam, Narrayana bhai for their cooperation and

providing all the necessities at each step of my research work.

I acknowledge with highest sense of regards, to my mother, father and other

members of my family for their blessings, unwarming support, love and affection

without which I could not have to come this stage.

I am very much fortunate to have friend T. Thomson ,had helped and

motivated me lot during the period 0f my study.

Words run short to express my sense of irreversible and immense pleasure to

my friends specially V.Lakshmi Presanna (Appu),Rahul and Monalisha Pradhan

for their help and cooperation.

At the end, I bow down my head before the Almighty who has shown a beam

of spiritual light in the darkness. I still seek his blessings to proceed further.

BhubaneswarBhubaneswarBhubaneswarBhubaneswar (Vangapandu Thriveni)(Vangapandu Thriveni)(Vangapandu Thriveni)(Vangapandu Thriveni) Dt. Dt. Dt. Dt. Adm.No.01 VSc/12Adm.No.01 VSc/12Adm.No.01 VSc/12Adm.No.01 VSc/12

Title of the thesis : INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MAN AGEMENT IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.) cv. PRACHI

Name of the student : VANGAPANDU THRIVENI Admission No. : 01VSC/12 Name of the Advisor : DR. H. N. MISHRA Professor and Head Degree for which thesis is submitted : M.Sc. (Ag) Vegetable Science Year of submission : 2014 Name of the Department : Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar – 751003

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted during kharif 2013 to study the “Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management on Bitter gourd crop cv. Prachi on its growth, yield, quality, nutrient uptake and recovery. The soil of the experimental site was sandy in texture near neutral reaction, low in available N and K but high in available P. The test crop received 10 different treatment combinations of inorganic, organic and bio fertilizers viz. 50%NPK(T2), 50%NPK+VC (vermicompost)(T3), 50%NPK+ VC+BF (Biofertilizers) (T4),75%NPK (T5), 75%NPK + VC(T6),75%NPK +VC+BF(T7),100% NPK(T8),100%NPK+ VC(T9),100% NPK+ VC+BF(T10) along with absolute control(T1).The biometric observations recorded were vine length, days taken for first male and female flowering, chlorophyll content, leaf area, fruit length, girth, unit fruit weight number of fruits/plot and yield per hectare. Application of recommended dose (150:50:100:50:10:15 kg of NPK and S, Zn, Bo per hectare inorganics with VC @2.5 t ha-1 and BFs (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB @ 4kg ha-1) (T10) recorded maximum vine length(533cm),number of branches per vine, least number of days taken for male (39.6 days)flower as well as female flower anthesis (44.0 days) and female flower appeared at earliest node (24th internode).The same treatment recorded maximum number of fruits per plant(40nos),fruit length(17.6cm),girth (13.4cm), unit fruit weight(86.4g),fruit yield(4036kg ha-1), ascorbic acid(111.1mg/100g),TSS(2.0ᵒ Brix),protein content (1.76%).Significantly higher amount of N(46.7%) with recovery of 21.3%,P uptake of 9.0 kg ha-1 with recovery of 20.1 %,K uptake of (74.1 kg ha-1) with recovery of 34 percent, and uptake of 4.3kg ha-1 with a recovery of per cent were recorded with recommended dose of inorganics with vermicompost and biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB @1:1:1 ratio). The results indicated for soil test based recommended dose of inorganic nutrients with correction of soil deficient’s with integrated use of organics as vermicompost and biofertilizers like Aztobacter, Azospirillum and PSB in 1:1:1 each applied @4 kg ha-1 inoculated to prelimed vermicompost in 1:25 ratio incubated for 7 days at 30% moisture is the best recommended practices for getting optimum yield with higher nutrient recovery for bitter gourd crop.

ABBREVIATIONSABBREVIATIONSABBREVIATIONSABBREVIATIONS

% per cent

@ at the rate of

oC Degree Celsius

ANR Apparent nitrogen recovery

APR Apparent phosphorous recovery

B Boron

BFs Biofertilizers

CD (p=0.05) Critical difference at five per cent probability

cm centimetre

cm2 Squre centimetre

CV Coefficient of variance

DAS Days after sowing

et al. And others

Fig Figure

g gram

ha-1 per hectare

K Potassium

Kg Kilogram

Lit Litre

mg Milligram

N Nitrogen

NPK N-P2O5-K2O

P Phosphorous

PSB Phosphorous solublizing bacteria

PSM Phosphorous solublizing micro-organisms

RH Relative humidity

RDF Recommended dose of fertilizers

S Sulphur

VC Vermicompost

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PARTICULAR PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION 1-5

2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 6-28

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 29-46

4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 47-79

5. DISCUSSION 80-82

6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 84-87

BIBLIOGRAPHY i-viii

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

3.1 Meteorological data during crop growing season 30

3.2 Cropping History of the Experimental plot 30

3.3(a) Mechanical composition of the soil 32

3.3(b) Chemical compostion of soil 32

3.4 Details of Experimental Treatments 34

3.5 Detailed layout of the field 34

3.6 Schedule for field preparation and planting operation 40

3.7 Methods utilized for nutrient analysis 45

4.1 Vine length and number of branches per vine in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

48

4.2 Total chlorophyll content(SPAD value) in bittergourd at different growth stages as influenced by INM practices

51

4.3 Leaf Area(cm2) in bitter gourd at different growth stages as influenced by INM practices

52

4.4 Appearance of first male flower, first female flowers and node on which first female flower appeared in bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

54

4.5 Different fruit parameters of bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

58

4.6 Total dry matter production(kgha-1) of bitter gourd under the influence of grade doses of inorganic nutrients integrated with vermicompost and biofertilizers

64

4.7 Concentration and Uptake of Nitrogen in bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

65

4.8 Concentration and Uptake of Phosphorous (kg ha‾¹) in the bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

67

4.9 Concentration and Uptake of Potassium (kg ha-1) in the bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

69

4.10 Concentration and Uptake of Calcium (kg ha-1) in the bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

71

4.11 Uptake of Mg (kg ha-1) in the bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

72

4.12 Concentration and Uptake of Sulphur (kg ha-1) in the bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

74

4.13 Ascorbic acid content, protein content and TSS of bitter gourd under the influence of the INM practices

76

4.14 Post harvest soil properties as influenced by integrated nutrient management in bitter gourd

79

LIST OF FIGURESLIST OF FIGURESLIST OF FIGURESLIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE 3.1(a) Meteriological data showing average temperature along with RH

and Mean sun shine hours 31

3.1(b) Meteriological data showing average rain fall, no of rainy days and wind velocity

31

3.2 Plan of layout of experimental field 35 3.3 Overview of the Experimental field at different growth stages of

bitter gourd crop 36

3.4 Application of fertilizers, vermicompost and Biofertilizers as per the treatments followed by earthing up

38

4.1(a) Vine length(cm) of bitter gourd as influenced by inorganic nutrients integrated with organic manure(VC) and Biofertlizers

49

4.1b Influence of INM practices on growth of bitter gourd plant 50 4.2 Number of branches/vine of bitter gourd as influenced by

inorganic nutrients integrated with organic manure(VC) and Biofertilizers

49

4.3 Leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of bitter gourd as influenced by inorganic nutrients integrated with organic manure(VC) and Biofertilizers

53

4.4 Leaf Area (cm2) of bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices 53 4.5 Appearance of first mal flower in bitter gourd under the

influence of INM practices 55

4.6 Appearance of first female flower in bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

55

4.7 Appearance of first male and female flowers in bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

56

4.8 Node on which first female flower appeared in bitter gourd under the influence of INM practice.

56

4.9 Number of fruits per plant in bitter gourd as influenced by inorganic nutrients integrated with organic manure(VC) and Biofertilizers

59

4.10 Fruit length(cm) of bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

59

4.10a Influence of INM practices on fruit size in bitter gourd 60 4.11 Fruit girth (cm) of bitter gourd under the influence of INM

practices 61

4.12 Unit fruit weight(g) of bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

61

4.13 Fruit yield of bitter gourd (kg ha-1) under the influence of INM practices

62

4.14 The RAE(%) of bitter gourd fruit in different treatments under the influence of INM practices

62

FIGURE TITLE PAGE 4.15 Dry matter production of bitter gourd under the influence of

INM practices 64

4.16 Nitrogen uptake by bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

66

4.17 Apparent Nitrogen recovery (%) of bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

66

4.18 Uptake of Phosphorous (kg ha-1) in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

68

4.19 Apparent phosphorous recovery (%) of bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

68

4.20 Uptake of potassium(kg ha-1) in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

70

4.21 Apparent potasium recovery(%) of bitter gourd as under the influence of INM practices

70

4.22 Concentration and Uptake of Calcium(kg ha-1) in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

73

4.23 Concentration and Uptake of Magnesium (kg ha-1) in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

73

4.24 Concentration and Uptake of Sulphur (kg ha-1) in bitter gourd as influenced by INM practices

75

4.25 Apparent sulphur recovery (%) of bitter gourd under the influence of INM practices

75

4.26 Ascorbic acid content (mg/100g edible portion) under the influence of the INM practices

77

4.27 Protein content (%) of Bitter gourd under the influence of the INM practices

77

4.28 TSS (⁰Brix) of bitter gourd under the influence of the INM practices

77

1

INTRODUCTION

Vegetables are important source of protective foods and also play an

important role in human balanced diet. These are rich source of vitamins, proteins,

carbohydrates and minerals. Vegetables make up a significant proportion of the diet

of most of the people and the production of vegetables is a significant factor in

ensuring that people have an adequate intake of many essential vitamins, minerals and

carbohydrates every day. The per capita vegetable consumption of India is only

135g/day compared to minimum requirement of 280g/day. According to National

Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, the daily requirement of vegetables per day is 280g

and the World Health Organization recommends daily consumption of 400g of

vegetables. According to this recommendation, per capita vegetable requirement

works out to be 146 kg per year. At present, India occupies an area of about 9,205M

ha with an annual production of162,187 million tonnes(Indian Horticulture Data base-

2013).At present, productivity of vegetables is 17.6 MT/ha, which is 2.1MT/ha lower

than the world average productivity. India is positioning second place among the

vegetable producing countries of the world after China. In India, Odisha state

occupies 7.5% area and 5.8% production.

Cucurbit vegetables are fair source of thiamine and riboflavin. Bitter gourd

(Momordica charantia Linn.) is the leading member of the cucurbit family with

somatic chromosome number 2n=2X=22.It is an important vegetable in south Indian

states and is grown for its immature tuberculate fruits which have unique bitter taste.

It is known by different names such has Balsam pear or bitter cucumber in English,

Karela in Hindi, Gujarat and Punjabi, Karla in Marathi, Beet karela in Assamese,

Kakara kaya in Telugu, Pavakai in Tamil, Hagalakayi in Kanada, Pavakka in

Malayalamand Kalara in Odia. It’s Indo-Burma centre of origin has been reported by

Garrison (1977).A well drained, loamy soil with a pH of 6.5-7.0 is ideal for its

2

cultivation. The plant is adapted to a wide variation of climates although production is

best in hot areas (Binder et.al., 1989). A long period of warm, dry weather with 30˚-

35˚C temperature is optimum for vegetative and reproductive growth. Plants are very

sensitive to frost.

It is a monoecious annual climber with duration of 100-120 days. Leaves are

palmately 5-9 lobed. Flowers are axiliary with long pedicel and are yellow in colour.

Stamens are 5 in number with free filaments and united anthers. Stigma is bilobed.

Fruits are pendulous, fusiform, ribbed with numerous tubercles. Anthesis is from 4.00

am to 7.00 pm.

Tender fruits are used as cooked vegetable or pickled. The fruit accumulates

bitterness with time due to build up of three pentacyclic triterpenes momordicin,

momordicinin and momordicilin, and then loses the bitterness during ripening

(Begum et al., 1997; Cantwell et al., 1996). Tender shoots and leaves are consumed

as green vegetable after parboiling to leach out the bitter alkaloid. Fruits are

considered as a rich source of vitamins and minerals and it is rich in vitamin C (88

mg/100g) (Akter et al., 2009).It contains 0.61mg iron, 20mg calcium, 70mg

phosphorous, 126µg carotene, energy 25kcal, moisture 92.4%, protein 1.6g, fat 0.2g,

fiber and carbohydrates 4.2g per 100g of edible portion. Fruits have medicinal value

and are used for curing diabetes, asthma, blood diseases and rheumatism. The fruits,

leaves and even the roots of M. charantia have been used in Ayurveda for a number

of diseases such as a bitter stomachic, laxative and anathematic. It is used as a

hypoglycaemic and anti diabetic agent because it posses hypoglycaemic (blood sugar

lowering) properties (Paaniswamy, 2011).These hypoglycemic chemicals includes a

mixture of steroidal saponins known as Charatins, insulin like peptides and alkaloids.

It has property of analgesic, abortifacient, immune suppressive and anti-tumor

properties such as kills bacteria, reduce inflammation, kill viruses, fights free radicals,

kills cancer cells, kills leukemia cells, prevents tumors, cleanses blood, reduces blood

sugar and balance hormones. (Leslie Taylor, 2005).

3

It is widely grown in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan,

South East Asia, tropical Africa and South America. In South India this crop is grown

on commercial scale and exported to Gulf and European countries. In India it is

cultivated in an area of 87 thousand million ha with a production of 917 thousand MT.

Leading states are Andhra Pradesh fallowed by Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and

Madhya Pradesh. Bitter gourd is cultivated in11407 ha area with 111762 MT

production having 9.71t/ha productivity in Odisha (Horticulture data base, Odisha,

2014).

Bitter gourd is a highly fertilizer responsive crop. The higher yield and

maximum returns make it the most preferred vegetable crop of Indian farmers. The

main concept of before India is to increase the production of sufficient quantity of

food to feeding the country’s large population and increasing income of farmers

provide them economic security. At present, Agriculture is highly dependent on the

use of chemical fertilizers alone, growth regulators, fungicides and pesticides for

obtaining increased yield (Naveen Kumar et al.2009). This dependence is

associated with problems such as environmental pollution, health hazards,

interruption of natural ecology, nutrient recycling and destruction of biological

communities that otherwise support crop production. The use of expensive

commercial fertilizers as per the requirement of the crop not much affordable to

the small and marginal farmers have given the way for use of combination of

chemical fertilizers, organic manures and bio-fertilizers instead of chemical

fertilizers. Hence integrated nutrient management is the need of the hour. This

necessitates the use of organic manures and bio-fertilizers for maintaining and

sustaining a higher level of soil fertility and crop productivity accomplished with

high quality fruits. Since vegetables are mostly consumed fresh or only partially

cooked, they should be free from the residual effects of chemical fertilizers.

Therefore, integrated nutrient management in vegetables has special relevance.

4

Use of organic manures and fertilizers is essential for its proper growth and

development. Organic manure improves soil structure as well as increases its water

holding capacity. Moreover, it facilitates aeration in soil. Increase in the yield and

quality of vegetables and improvement in soil properties and soil fertility status by

organic manure applications has been reported (Thampan, 1993). They provide

organic acids that help dissolve soil nutrients and make them available for the plants

(Rashid, 2004).Vermicompost improves the keeping quality of fruits, which could be

attributed to the significant quantities of available nutrients, biologically active

metabolites particularly gibberellins, cytokinins, auxins and group B vitamins present

in the Vermicompost reported by (Meerabai et al, 2007).

Biofertilizers are the living microbes capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen,

solublizing phosphorous from non usable form to usable form through biological

process. They do not require energy in huge quantities during their production and

enhances the crop growth as well as the quality of the produce. Bio fertilizers are

economically productive, ecologically sound, and also self generating sources without

any negative effect on environment. The beneficial microbes are biological nitrogen

fixers (Rhizobium, Aztobacter, Azospirillum, BGA and Azolla), phosphate solublizing

microbes (PSM) and nutrient mobilizes (Mycorrhizal fungi) in the soil. Now a day’s bio

fertilizers as partial substitute to chemical fertilizer are gaining momentum.

Azospirillum is an associative symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria having high potential

for N fixation in cereals and also in vegetable crops (Subbiah, 1990). The right

combinations of organic and inorganic nutrients were not only alerts the sex ratio in

cucurbits, but also yield to significant level (Karuppaiah and Kathiravan, 2006).

Azospirillum inoculation revealed a significant role in improving the quality of bitter

gourd fruits like vitamin C and protein content. Increase in crude protein and ascorbic

acid content due to the increased nitrogen fixation by Azospirillum, which in turn had

favorable effect on nitrogen uptake, protein synthesis and increased efficiency of

5

microbial inoculants to fix atmospheric nitrogen and secrete growth promoting

substances which accelerated the synthesis of carbohydrates (Asha, 1999).

However, very little information is available on the use of Vermicompost

and biofertilizers with chemical fertilizers, both in hybrids and open pollinated

varieties of bitter gourd crop. Lack of scientific information and research work in the

field of cucurbits following INM practices particularly in bitter gourd/karela in

Odisha under Bhubaneswar condition. Keeping the above points in view, the research

work on “Integrated nutrient management in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia

L.) cv. Prachi” was undertaken at the “All India Network project on Biodiversity and

Bio-fertilizers”, Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Orissa

University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar during the rainy

season of 2013 with the fallowing objectives:

• To study the effect of INM on growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd.

• To study the influence of integration of organic manures and bio-fertilizers

with conventional fertilization on nutrient uptake, nutrient concentration and

recovery of bitter gourd.

• To study the impact of INM on quality of bitter gourd (dry matter content,

protein content, Vitamin C, TSS).

• To find out economics of different treatments in bitter gourd cultivation.

6

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Agreat number of research scientists working on vermicompost and bio

fertilizer use in different vegetable crops, kept themselves updated of the detailed

aspects of literature available in the relevant line of research to establish their own

research findings.The production technology of bitter gourd has taken a standard shift

in recent years so far as nutrient management is concerned. Inthe recent years the

major emphasis has been given to integrated nutrient management in order to

minimize the use of conventional fertilizers and substituting it with different organic

components like organic manures, bio- fertilizers etc. It is well known that different

biofertilizers, vermicompost can supplement soluble fertilizers to crop. Lot of

literatures are available emphasizing on the facts that application of vermicompost

and biofertilizers enhances the quality of product of the vegetable crops and protects

plants from biotic stresses like pests,diseases apart from nutrient supplement. The

present study is just cross section of an attempt made to have thorough review of

literature contributing to knowledge on growth, yield and quality of bitter gourd and

other cucurbitaceous vegetables on their effect of vermicompost, biofertilizers as well

as inorganic nutrients.

3.1 INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ONGROWTH OF BITTER GOURD.

Vine length:

Islam et al.(1994) studied that the influence of incremental NPK levels on

growth of bitter gourd and reported that the vine length was significantly increased

with increasing rate of N alone especially at the rate of 240kg/ha and P,K application

significantly reduced the vine length.

According to Suresh Kumar et al. (2006)the integrated nutrient management

had shown beneficial effect on the vine length in bitter gourd type Mithipagal and the

7

result indicated that the combination of 75%NPK(60:30:20) + VC

@5t/ha+Azospirillum@2kg/ha gave highest growth in terms of vine length.

Naveen Kumar et al. (2009) studied the effect of plant growth promoting

rhizobacteria on growth and yield of bitter gourd and they reported that maximum

vine length (4.42m) with the basal (@2lit/plant)application of both Bacillus subtilis

and Pseudomonas flourescens @2.5kg/ha.

In an experiment on the effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen on growth and

yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), Prasad et al. (2009)

observed that the combination of Azotobacter+ PSB + 20 kg N/ha (T6) gave

maximum vine length followed by Azotobacter + PSB (T5).

Baset Mia et al. (2011) suggested that the combined application of NPK

fertilizer imparted significantly on enhancement of main vine length. The length of

vine increased with increased rate of nitrogen application but P and K application had

no significant effect on above parameter. The study revealed that the nitrogen

application at the rates of 60, 90,120kg/ha in the presence of other nutrients produced

20-35% higher vine length.

Benitez et al.(2012) reported that vine length of bitter gourd was

significantly enhanced with the application of organic fertilizers and comparable to

that as result of applying inorganic fertilizers@100N-60P₂O₅-60K₂O kg/ha.

Number of branches per vine

Islamet al. (1994) studied the influence of incremental NPK levels on the

growth of bitter gourd. The levels of NPK were: control (0-0-0), 120-0-0, 120-120-60,

240-0-0 and 240-120-60 kg/ha. N alone, especially at the rate of 240 kg/ha, markedly

improved the vegetative growth as shown significant increase in the number of vines.

The inclusion of P and K significantly increased the above parameter, the number of

lateral vines and diameter of stem.

8

Momin et al.(2007)conducted a field experiment to find out the effect of

plant growth regulators and fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of

bitter gourd in Dhaka. They reported that the NPK fertilization hadsignificantly

affected the number of branches per vine and recorded maximum number of branches

with the application of inorganic manures.

Naveen kumar et al. (2009) studied the effect of plant growth promoting

rhizobacteria on growth and yield of bitter gourd. They found that application of

phosphorous solubilizing bacteria basal @5kg/ha and 40DAS @5kg/ha produced

highest number of primary branches(4.80).

Prasad et al.(2009) investigated the effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen on growth and

yield of bitter gourd. they observed that the growth characters were influenced

significantly due to application of bio-fertilizers and nitrogen and recorded maximum

number of branches in treatment combination Azotobacter + PSB + 20 kg N/ha(T6)

followed by Azotobacter+ PSB (T5).

According to Sanap et al. (2010) the number of branches was highest when 250kg N,

50kg P₂O₅ and 100kg K₂O per hectare was applied in bitter gourd.

Leaf chlorophyll content

Meenakshi et al.(2002) reported that the application of different levels of

fertigation significantly influenced the total dry matter accumulation and chlorophyll

a, b and total chlorophyll in leaf at different stages of crop growth. The chlorophyll a,

b and total chlorophyll content increased with increase in the fertigation levels and the

highest being in 100 per cent macronutrient applied in combination with

micronutrients.

A study was conducted by Assubaie et al.(2004) on the fruits and leaves of

bitter gourd for total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a and b and revealed that total

chlorophyll content increased with NPK(20%N,20%P and 20%K) fertilizers.

9

Leaf area

Tripathi et al. (1999) conducted an experiment on response of bitter gourd to

mycorrhizal diversity for growth, yield and nutrient uptake at Pantnagar with five

treatments including control, A dose of 100:60:60 kg/ha of N,P2O5 and K2O was

supplied in all the treatments. They observed that the application of the mixed

inoculum of all the three AM species (G. fasciculatum+ G. aggregatum+ G. mosseae)

had maximum leaf area.

Baset Mia et al. (2011)found the flower synchrony, growth and yield of

small bitter gourd through PGRs and NPK fertilization. The results revealed that the

leaf area increased significantly due to the application of different plant growth

regulators and chemical fertilizers.

Appearance of first male flower

Prasad et al.(2009) studied the effect of bio-fertilizers and nitrogen on

growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd in West Bengal. They reported that the

treatment azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha (T6) had shown first male flower in

minimum number of daysand at lower inter node number.

Appearance of first female flower

Ali et al.(1995) studied the response of two bitter gourd cultivars to various

levels of (0, 60, 80,100 and 120kg/ha) nitrogen in climatic zone of Peshawar. They

recorded the maximum number of female flowers with the application of 120kg

nitrogen.

Suresh Kumar et al.(2006) conducted the study on the effect of integrated

nutrient management in bitter gourd type Mithipagal under rice fallow condition.

They recorded that the minimum number of days taken for first female flower

appearance, highest number of female flowers in the treatment combination of 75% of

NPK+ panchakavya at 3% foliar spray+ Azospirillum at 2kg/ha and suggested that

this treatment combination was best in the rice fallow condition.

10

Momin et al. (2007) conducted an experiment on the effect of plant growth

regulators and fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd

in Dhaka. They reported that the application of inorganic manure had given tallest

plant at first flowering (160.72cm), the lowest ratio of male and female flowers (3.06)

maximum female flowers (23.72).

Prasad et al. (2009) studied the effect of bio-fertilizers and nitrogen on growth

and yield attributes of bitter gourd in West Bengal. They recordedSignificantly minimum

days for first female flower appearance in the treatment Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha

(T6) and maximum days were taken in the control (T8).

Baset Mia et al.(2011) evaluated that the flower synchrony, growth and yield

of small bitter gourd through PGRs and NPK fertilization and found thatapplication

N₉₀P₆₀K₆₀ had significantly shown first female flower in minimum number of days in

bitter gourd.

Node on which first female flower appeared

Suresh Kumar et al.(2006) reported the beneficial effect of different

combination of inorganic, organic and bio fertilizers in bitter gourd(Momordica

charantia L.) under rice fallow condition. It was observed that treatment combination

of 75% of NPK+ vermicompost at 5t/ha+ Azospirillum at 2kg/ha gave maximum

number of female flowers.

Prasad et al.(2009)studied theeffect of bio-fertilizers and Nitrogen on growth

and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) and reportedthat the

combined application of Azotobacter+ PSB + 20 kg N/ha (T6) gave first female

flower at minimum node number compared over all the treatments.

Baset Mia et al. (2011) evaluated the flower synchrony, growth and yield of

small bitter gourd through PGRs and NPK fertilization and the higher number of

female flower was observed by the NPK fertilization.

11

3.2 INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES ANT YIELD OF BITTER GOURD

Number of fruits per vine

Ali et al. (1995) studied the response of two bitter gourd cultivars (Tarnab

Selection and Balsam Pear) to various levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 80, 100 and 120

kg/ha) in the climatic zone of Peshawar and reported thatthe highest number of fruits

were produced with the application of 80 kg nitrogen. Further differences within

cultivars were significant on number of fruits per plant and yield per hectare. 'Tarnab

Selection' had maximum number of female flowers per plant (35.05), fruits set per

plant (33.98) and yield (24.77 tons/ha) compared to 30.05, 28.66 and 18.85 tons/ha

respectively in 'Balsam Pear'.

A study on the effect of plant growth regulators and fertilizer management

practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)was

exploited by Momin et al. (2007). The results of the study revealed that the maximum

numbers of fruits (16.35) were recorded with the application of inorganic manure and

the minimum was recorded in control.

Effect of different organic manures and bio fertilizers on the growth, yield

and economics of bitter gourd was studied by(Meerabai et al., 2007).They reported

that poultry manure was found best in increasing the number of harvests, number of

fruits/plant. Further a basal dose of 25 t/ha of FYM and application of poultry manure

to supply the recommended dose of 70 kg N/ha (on N equivalent basis) in

combination with Azospirillum at 1 kg/ha was the best economic organic nutrient

schedule in bitter gourd.

Prasad et al.(2009) conducted an experiment on theeffect of bio-fertilizers

and nitrogen on growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

in West Bengal. They reported the maximum number of fruits per plant in T6

12

(Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha) followed by T2 (Azotobacter +20 kg N/ha.) and T5

(Azotobacter and PSB) respectively.

Baset Mia et al.(2011) studied the flower synchrony, growth and yield

enhancement of small type bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) through plant

growth regulators and NPK Fertilization. They observed the differential effect of NPK

fertilizers on fruit number and fruit size. The highest number of fruits recorded in

N90-P45-K60 and lowest number of fruits recorded in control.

Length of the fruit

Momin et al. (2007) investigated on the effect of plant growth regulators and

fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.). The results showed that the different fertilizer management practices

produced significant variation on fruit length. Further maximum fruit length

(19.98cm) was recorded in application of inorganic fertilizer and minimum incase of

control.

An experiment was conducted by Prasad et al.(2009) on the effect of bio-

fertilizers and nitrogen on growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.) and reported that the maximum fruit length in treatment combination

Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha.

Astudy was conducted by Shamima Nasreen et al.(2011) on therequirement

of N, P, K, and S application for obtaining higher yield of bittergourd (var. BARI

Karola-1.They revealed that the fruit size significantly differed among the treatments.

The longest fruit was recorded in N₁₂₀P₄₀K₈₀S₃₀ and shortest fruit in control.

Girth of the fruit

A field study conducted on the effect of plant growth regulators and

fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.) in Dhaka, by Momin et al. (2007). They observed the maximum fruit

13

diameter (4.32) was recorded with the application of organic fertilizer and minimum

(3.92) fruit diameter recorded in control condition. Different fertilizer management

practices showed significant variation on fruit length.

A study conducted byPrasad et al.(2009)on the effect of bio-fertilizers and

Nitrogen on growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

.They revealed that the fruit girth and fruit thickness were maximum in T6

(Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha) followed by T2 (Azotobacter +20 kg N/ha.) and T5

(Azotobacter and PSB). In this cases effects due to combined application of

Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kgN/ha fruit girth was varied significantly from other

treatments.

While studyingtherequirement of N, P, K, and S application for obtaining

higher yield of bitter gourd (var. BARI Karola-1), Shamima Nasreen et al.(2011)

observed maximum fruit diameter in the treatment N₁₂₀P₄₀K₈₀S₃₀ and minimum fruit

diameter in control. It was significantly different from rest of treatments.

Fruit weight

The response of two bitter gourd cultivars (Tarnab Selection and Balsam

Pear) to various levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 80, 100 and 120 kg/ha) was studied by Ali

et al. (1995).The study revealed that individual fruit weight was more (55.26 g) with

80 kg nitrogen but the difference was not significant within treatments.

Momin et al. (2007) studied thateffect of plant growth regulators and

fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.) and the maximum fruit weight (119.92 gm) per plant was obtained from

the application of inorganic manure and the minimum was recorded in control

condition.

Effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen on growth and yield attributes of bitter

gourd (Momordica charantia L.) was studied by Prasad et al. (2009). The maximum

14

fruit weight was recorded in the treatment Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha followed

by Azotobacter +20 kg N/ha and minimum fruit weight recorded under control. The

combined application of Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kgN/ha showed thesignificant

variation from other treatments in relation to fruit weight.

Shamima Nasreen et al.(2011)studied the requirement of N, P, K, and S

application for obtaining higher yield of bitter gourd (var. BARI Karola-1). They

observed significant variation in single fruit weight with the application of chemical

fertilizers, which was the highest in N₁₂₀P₄₀K₈₀S₃₀ and lowest in control plot.

Fruit yield of per hectare

Ali et al. (1995) studied the response of two bitter gourd cultivars (Tarnab

Selection and Balsam Pear) to various levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 80, 100 and 120

kg/ha). Highest fruit yield (24.90 tons/ha) was recorded with the application of 80 kg

nitrogen compared to less (17.13 tons/ha) fruit yield without nitrogen application.

Differences within cultivars were non significant except for number of female

flowers, fruits per plant and yield per hectare.

Rajput and Gautama (1995) a field trail was conducted to study the effect of

nitrogen and phosphorous on the performance of bitter gourd. N was applied at 0, 30

or 60 kg/ha and P2O5 at 0, 40 or 80 kg/ha. Seed yield washighest with 60 kg N and

80kg P/ha.

Rekha et al. (2001) studied the effect of levels and frequencies of organic

manures and inorganic fertilizerson growth and productivity of bitter gourd

(Momordica charantia L.). They concluded that the basal application of 20 tonnes of

dry cowdung,2.5 tonnes of poultry manures , fourth nightly drenching 2.5 tonnes of

cow dung and a fertilizer dose of 70;25:25 kg NPK/ha, was found superior to all other

treatments. So realistically good yield was can be achieved with the basal application

of dry cow dung, top dressing with poultry manure and by drenching cow dung slurry

at fortnightly interval.

15

Mulani et al. (2004) conducted an experiment to study the effects of organic

manures and bio fertilizers on the growth, yield and quality of bitter gourd (M.

charantia). They observed that the application of 25% nitrogen through neem cake

and 75% through poultry manure was superior in the enhancement of the growth,

yield and quality parameters of bitter gourd.

A study on effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on the

performance of bitter gourd type Mithipagal with various sources of nutrients under

rice fallow condition was conducted by Suresh Kumar et al.(2006). They observed

that the treatment combination of 75% of NPK (60:30:20 kg/ha) +vermicompost at 5

t/ha+ Azospirillum at 2 kg/ha (T6) was the best with the total yield of (1.33 kg/plant)

followed by T8 (75% NPK+ panchakavya at 3% foliar spray+ Azospirillum at 2 kg),

which was on a par with T3 (NPK 100%+vermicompost at 5 t/ha) in the rice fallow

condition.

According to Meerabai et al. (2007) who studied the effect of different

organic manures and biofertilizers on the growth, yield and economics of bitter gourd,

using eight different organic manures and two levels of Azospirillum in all possible

combinations and compared with two controls. They reported that poultry manure was

found best in increasing total fruit yield (The fruit yield produced by poultry manure

was 46.5% higher as compared to control).

Momin et al. (2007) studied the effect of plant growth regulators and

fertilizer management practices on reproductive growth of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.). ) The highest yield (19.11 t/ha) was recorded from the application of

inorganic manure and the minimum was recorded in control condition.

Naveen Kumar et al.(2009) studied the effect of plant growth promoting

rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and yield of bitter gourd. Four PGPR strains

(Azospirillum, Phosphorous solubilising bacteria, Pseudomonas flourescens and

Bacillus subtilis), one commercial organic product (Aishwarya) and non inoculated

16

control were used; two time application of Bacillus subtilis basal + 40 DAS @ 2 l per

plant produced the maximum yield per plant and yield/ plot.

Prasad et al.(2009) conducted an experiment to study the effect of

biofertilizers and Nitrogen on growth and yield attributes of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.). They reported the maximum fruit yield /plant (1.49kg) and total yield/ha

(199.15q) inT6 (Azotobacter +PSB + 20 kg N/ha) followed by T2 (Azotobacter + 20 kg

N/ha) and T5 (Azotobacter +PSB). These treatments resulted 183.69, 169.91and 144.77

percentage higher yields, respectively over the control (T8).

Effect of N, P and K on growth and yield of bitter gourd (Momordica

charantia L.) was studied by Sanap et al. (2010). They reported that thediameter of

fruit, yield per vine and yield per hectare were highest when 250 kg N, 50kg P2O5 and

100kg K2O per hectare was applied to the crop.

Baset Mia et al. (2011) studied the flower synchrony, growth and yield

enhancement of small type bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) through plant

growth regulators and NPK Fertilization and they reported that the application of

N90-P45-K60 fertilizer along with Ethophon spraying gave better yield of small bitter

gourd.

An experiment was conducted by Mostafa Heidari et al. (2011) to study the

effect of rate and time of nitrogen application on fruit yield and accumulation of

nutrient elements in Momordica charantia L).The study revealed that both rate and

time of nitrogen application had significant effect on fruit yield. Further highest yield

was recorded at the rate of N₃=225kg N/ ha and time of application T₃=1/3 at 3-

4leaves and 1/3 before flowering.

Shamima Nasreen et al. (2011) conducted an experiment to study the

requirement of N, P, K, and S application for obtaining higher yield of bittergourd

(var. BARI Karola-1). There were 14 treatment combinations comprising four levels

17

each of N (0, 90, 20,150 kg/ha), P (0, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha), K (0, 40, 80, 120 kg/ha), and

S (0, 20, 30, 40 kg/ha), A blanket dose of 2 kg B, 4 kg Zn, and 5 ton cow dung/ha

was given. The maximum fruits/plant, fruit size, and single fruit weight and yield of

bitter gourd was achieved from the treatment N120 P40 K80 S30 kg/ha.

Benitez et al. (2013) carried out an experiment in the bitter gourd

(Momordica charantia L. cv. Makiling) growing in soil amended with organic

fertilizers, namely, Bio-N, commercial compost and vermicompost, at the rate of

0.075 g/ seed, 150 g/ plant and 231 g /plant, respectively. Further as a positive control,

the plants were fertilized with inorganic fertilizer by adding 32.4 g /plant of complete

fertilizer (14-14-14) applied basally and 6.52 g per plant of urea side-dressed at

flowering based on the recommended application rate of 100 N – 60 P2O5 – 60 K2O

kg ha-1, the application of commercial compost resulted in the greatest improvement

in both vegetative and reproductive growth as well as in the total herbage and fruit

yield of bitter gourd.

Dry matter production

Meenakshi et al. (2008) studied the nutrient uptake and dry matter

production as influenced by fertigation in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) and

reported that the application of 100% macro and micronutrients in water soluble form

significantly influenced the total dry matter production.

3.3 INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON QUALITY OF BITTER GOURD

Ascorbic acid content

Tripathi et al. (1999) studied theresponse of bitter gourd to mycorrhizal diversity

for growth, yield and nutrient uptake at Pantnagar with five treatments including control, A

dose of 100:60:60 kg/ha of N,P2O5 and K2O was supplied in all the treatments.

Application of the mixed inoculum of all the three AM species (G. fasciculatum+ G.

aggregatum+ G. mosseae) induced significantly highest Vit.C than other treatments.

18

Assubaie et al. (2004) studied the fruits and leaves of bitter gourd for

ascorbic acid. The results indicated that the application of NPK(20%N,20%P and

20%K) during cultivation and plantation significantly increased vitamin C in the

edible parts of Momordica charantia L.

A study conducted by Rajasree et al. (2004) on the effect of nitrogen

nutrition on fruit quality and shelf life of cucurbitaceous vegetable bitter gourd

showed that the higher levels of N nutrition reduced the ascorbic acid content in

fruits. Further more frequent split application of nutrient N or greater proportion of

organic source enhanced the shelf life of fruits.

Meerabai et al. (2007) conducted a field experiment to study the effect of

different organic manures and biofertilizers on the growth, yield and economics of

bitter gourd. They reported that the keeping quality was best when vermicompost was

applied as the organic source. Further application of Azospirillum significantly

improved the quality of bitter gourd fruits like vitamin C and protein content.

Benitez et al.(2013) grown bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. cv.

Makiling) in soil amended with organic fertilizers, namely, Bio-N, commercial

compost and vermicompost, at the rate of 0.075 g/ seed, 150 g/ plant and 231 g /plant,

respectively. Further as a positive control, the plants were fertilized with inorganic

fertilizer by adding 32.4 g plant-1 of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) applied basally

and 6.52 g plant-1 of urea side-dressed at flowering based on the recommended

application rate of 100 N – 60 P2O5 – 60 K2O kg ha-1.They observed that organically

grown bitter gourd produced higher amount of antioxidants in leaves and fruits than

the chemically fertilized plants.

Total soluble solids content

Mulani et al. (2004) studied the effects of organic manures and bio fertilizers

on the growth, yield and quality of bitter gourd (M. charantia) and found that the

application of 25% nitrogen through neem cake and 75% through poultry manure was

19

superior in the enhancement of the quality parameters of bitter gourd: pulp thickness

(1.03 cm) and shelf life (7.33 days).

Protein content

In an experiment Assubaie et al.(2004) studied the fruits and leaves of bitter

gourd for protein content. They found that the application of NPK (20%N,20%P and

20%K) during cultivation and plantation significantly increased protein content in the

edible parts of Momordica charantia L.

Rajasree et al. (2004) studied the effect of nitrogen nutrition on fruit quality

and shelf life of Cucurbitaceous vegetable bitter gourd usingpoultry manure as an

organic source,three levels of nitrogen (200, 250 and 300 kg N ha−1) which were

applied in three ratios of organic-chemical N substitutions (1:1, 1:2, 2:1)at three

different frequencies. They recorded the crude protein content of fruits increased with

increasing levels of N application and was highest with 300 kg.

Meerabai et al. (2007) studied that the effect of different organic manures

and biofertilizers on the growth, yield and economics of bitter gourd and the results

revealed that Azospirillum significantly improved the protein content of bitter gourd

fruits.

3.4 INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF BITTER GOURD

Nutrient concentration

Assubaie et al.(2004) evaluated the fruits and leaves of bitter gourd for N,

P, K, Cu, Fe, Mg and Zn. The study concluded that the nutritional contents in edible

parts of Momordica charantia L. significantly increased with the application of NPK

(20%N, 20%P and 20%K) during cultivation and plantation.

Astudy was conducted to investigate the influence of nitrogen (N) nutrition

on fruit quality and shelf life of cucurbitaceous vegetable, bitter gourd (Momordica

20

charantia L.) by Rajasree et al.(2004) using poultry manure as an organic source.

Three levels of nitrogen (200, 250 and 300 kg N ha−1) were applied in three ratios of

organic-chemical N substitutions (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) at three different frequencies. They

reported that total phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and iron (Fe) content of fruits

increased with increasing levels of N application and were highest with 300 kg and

highest iron content was recorded (0.10%) with higher doses of N.

Souad el-Gengaihi et al. (2007) studied the effect of nitrogen and potassium

fertilization on the yield and quality of Momordica charantia fruits in Germany.

Nitrogen as ammonium nitrate in three doses: of 100, 200 and 300 kg/acre and potassium

as sulphate in graded doses of 50 and 100 kg/acre were added using side dressing to

Momordica charantia to assess their effects on fruit yield and active constituents. .

Polypeptide in immature fruits increased by nitrogen till 200 kg/acre and the combination

of medium dose of nitrogen and any rate of potassium produced the highest polypeptide

concentration. They also have similar effect on cucurbitacins in immature fruits.

Mostafa Heidari et al. (2011) studied the effect of rate and time of nitrogen

application on fruit yield and accumulation of nutrient elements in Momordica

charantia L. In this study, by increasing nitrogen level from 75 to 225kg N/ha the

values of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content in fruit increased. Time of

nitrogen application had significant effect on the amount of calcium and zinc elements

and had no significant effect on the other elements.

Nutrient uptake

An experiment on response of bitter gourd to mycorrhizal diversity for growth,

yield and nutrient uptake study was conducted by Tripathi et al. (1999) at Pantnagar with

five treatments including control, a dose of 100:60:60 kg/ha of N, P2O5 and K2O was

supplied in all the treatments. They observed that combined application of three arbuscular

mycorrhizal species (G. fasciculatum+ G. aggregatum+ G. mosseae) proved to be

significantly superior as compared to other treatments along with the control with respect to

the content of phosphorus, potassium, and zinc and copper.

21

Meenakshi, et al. (2008) studied thenutrient uptake and dry matter

production as influenced by fertigation in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) and

reported that the application of 100% macro and micronutrients in water soluble

fertilizer form significantly increased the nutrient content and uptake of N, P, K and

Fe and proved most superior over rest of the fertigation levels in case of content and

uptake of N, P, K and Fe, supplying 100% macronutrient in combination with

micronutrient recorded the highest yield.

A field experiment was conducted by Mostafa Heidari et al. (2011) to study

the effect of rate and time of nitrogen application on fruit yield and accumulation of

nutrient elements in Momordica charantia L., in Iran. They suggested that the

application of a 150kg N/ha had a beneficial effect on nutrient uptake pattern.

Nitrogen application in the time of T3 (1/3 at 3 and 4 leaves, 1/3 before flowering, and

1/3 after fruit to start) treatment had more favorable results than other time of

application on nutrient uptake in M. charantia.

Economics

Meerabai et al. (2007) studied the effect of different organic manures and

bio fertilizers on the growth, yield and economics of bitter gourd in KAU. They recorded

that the basal dose of 25 t/ha of FYM and application of poultry manure to supply the

recommended doses of 70 kg N/ha (on N equivalent basis) in combination with

Azospirillum @1 kg/ha was the best economic organic nutrient schedule in bitter gourd.

3.5 INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON OTHER CUCURBITS

Cucumber

Patil et al. (1998) reported that sex ratio and yield of cucumber cv. Himangi

was significantly influenced by major nutrients viz. nitrogen, phosphorous and potash.

Maximum number of staminate flowers were produced with 200kg N+50kg P2O5+

50kg K2O per hectare, while the highest number of pistillate flowers were recorded

22

with 50kg N +50kg K2O per hectare. More number of fruits as well as high average

fruit yield per vine was obtained from 150 kg N+50kg P2O5+ 50kg K2O per hectare.

Umamaheswarappa et al. (2002) studied the effect of varied levels of

nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on flowering, fruit set and sex ratio of cucumber

and reported that the nitrogen and potassium levels had a significant effect on number

of days required for initiation of first male and female flowers, number of male and

female flowers per vine, number of days required for first fruit set, fruit set per cent

and sex ratio but phosphorus levels also showed positive effect on number of male

and female flowers per vine, fruit set per cent and sex ratio. Potassium had no

significant effect on flowering, fruit set percent and sex ratio of cucumber cv.

Pionsette.

A study on integrated nutrient managementin cucumber var. Green long was

conducted by Prabhu et al.(2003). They observed that theapplication of 50 percent

recommended dose of fertilizer+ Vermi compost @2t/ha + bio fertilizers (2kg in each

of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 2 kg/ha) increased the vine length, earliness

in flowering, yield and yield components as per their observations.

Anjanappa et al. (2006) were also studied the effect of integrated nutrient

management on growth, yield and quality attributes of cucumber (cv. Hassan Local)

grown under protected condition and reported that application of 75% RDF+75%FYM+

Azotobacter +Phosphobacteria+ Trichoderma (T₂) was significantly superior for growth

parameters like vine length, number of leaves, number of branches per plant and yield

quality parameters like ascorbic acid, TSS and moisture content.

Parmar et al. (2007) studied the response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

to chemical fertilizers and bio-fertilizer, the fertilizers were applied at the rate of 50:

25: 25 NPK Kg/ha and FYM @10 t/ha, remaining half quantity of nitrogen was top

dressed uniformly at the time of flowering. The given treatments were T1: Control

(Untreated), T2: 100% RDF (N50:P25:K25 Kg/ha), T3: 75% RDF + Azospirillum,

23

T4: 0%RDF + Azospirillum, T5: 75% RDF + PSB, T6: 50% RDF + PSB, T7: 75%

RDF + Azosprillum + PSB and T8: 50% RDF+ Azospirillum + PSB, Azospirillum and

PSB@ 2 kg/ ha. Maximum vine length (330.75 cm), appearance of the first female

flower (28.00 days), maximum number of male flowers, female flowers per vine

(92.75 and 19.75), lower sex ratio, higher fruit length, girth, fruit yield per plot and

per hectare and TSS(3.11) were recorded with the application of 75% RDF

+Azospirillum + PSB (T7).

A field experiment was conducted by Eifediyi et al. (2008) to investigate the

effect of inorganic fertilizer on the yield of two varieties of cucumber (Cucumis

sativus L.). The results showed that the growth and yield attributes of cucumber

including the vine length, number of leaves per plant, fruit number per plant, number

of branches, leaf area, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight

per plant, and total yield per hectare increased significantly with increase in inorganic

fertilizer application up to highest level.

Rahul et al. (2010) was carried out an experiment to study the influence of

interaction effect of NPK on number of fruits per vine and weight of fruits in cucumber

(Cucumis sativus L.) cv. Japanese long green and results revealed that interacting

combinatioN4 P1 K2 (200 kg N ha-1 + 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 100 kg K2O ha-1) recorded the

maximum weight of fruit (230.45 g), number of fruits per vine (12.57) respectively.

Isfahani et al. (2011) investigated the effect of bio-fertilizers on yield and

yield components of cucumber. The ‘P’ represents chemical fertilizer by amount of

(0, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%), respectively. B1 plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

(PGPR) and B2 indicates bio fertilizer-2. Results indicated that P1B0 has the most

yields, P100B1 has the most length of the plant, P25B1(25%fertilizers+Pseudomonas

sp.) had highest amount of chlorophyll and P75B2(chemical fertilizer75%+bio

fertilizer -2) has the least chlorophyll. The use of biological fertilizers have increased

yield and components yield of cucumber.

24

Summer squash

A field trail conducted to study the effect of mineral supplements (NPK) on

sex expression in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis, Hook F) by Odejimi et al.

(2000-02), revealed that the potassium containing nutrient supplements K, NK and

PK promoted staminate flowering or caused a shift toward maleness while nitrogen

and phosphorous containing nutrient supplements (N, P, NP and NK) promoted

pistillate flowering or caused a shift toward femaleness. They also discussed influence

of mineral nutrients on the hormonal balance for sex expression in the species.

Ruchi sood et al. (2003-04) studied thenitrogen economy through the use of

bio-fertilizers on yield of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) The treatment

combinations comprised three nitrogen levels (80, 60 and 40% of the recommended

dose), two biofertilizers (Azotobacter and Azospirillum) and two methods of

biofertilizer application (soil and seed application). The treatment combinations 80%

N+ Azospirillum (soil application) and 80% N+ Azotobacter (soil application) was

associated with higher marketable yields. The treatment combinations 80% N+

Azotobacter (soil/seed application) also exhibited nitrogen uptake at par or

significantly higher than the control. Thus, the biofertilizers could affect economy up

to 20% of the recommended dose of nitrogen.

Taha et al.(2009) revealed that the Azotobacter alone or in combination with

sheep residues (organic manure had significant effecton total chlorophyll content in

summer squash. The results indicate the highest total chlorophyll content (52%) as

compared to the lowest values of the above trait in control.

Effect of NPK fertilization on fruit yield and yield components of pumpkin

(Cucurbita pepo Linn.) was studied by Oloyede et al.(2010). They suggested that

NPK 15:15:15 compound fertilizer was applied as ring/side dressing at the rates of (0,

50,100, 150, 200, 250) kg/ha. Fruits number/ha significantly (p=0.05) increased from

7000 in control to over 10,000/ha at fertilizer rates between 100 and 250 kg NPK/ha.

25

Fruit weight also increased from 9 to 17t/ha between control and higher fertilizer rates.

Mean seed yield between 100-250 kg NPK was 460 kg/ha. The value was 37% higher

than at 50 kg NPK and 57% higher than in control. Increasing fertilizer above 100 kg

NPK/ha did not significantly (p=0.05) increase the fruit yield nor the seed yield.

Oioyede et al. (2010) conducted the study on analysis of pumpkin

(Cucurbita pepo Linn.) biomass yield and its components as affected by nitrogen,

phosphorous and potassium (NPK) fertilizer rates, at 8WAP. The fallowing morpho-

physiological traits; vine length, vine diameter, number of internodes, internodes

length, vine weight, number of leaves, totalfresh and dry biomass were significantly

influenced by season and fertilizer effects. Maximum biomass yield was attained at

application of 205 kg and 244 kg ha‒1 of NPK(15-15-15) for early and late season

cultivation, respectively.

Ridge gourd

Lalitha Kameswari et al. (2005-06) studied the influence of integrated

nutrient management in ridge gourd. They reported that application of

vermicompost+25% RNF recorded maximum vine length (9.23cm) and

50%VC+50%RNF showed earliness in flowering(47days). Further maximum fruit

weight, moisture content was also observed in vermicompost treated plots and poultry

manure with RNF having more TSS (3.3-3.2⁰B) and Ascorbic acid content (2.15-

1.15mg/100g).

Bottle gourd

Patil et al. (1997) also studied that the effects of NPK doses on growth and

yield of bottle gourd cv Samrat, the best results were obtained with the application of

nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at the rate of 150:50:50 kg/ha, respectively.

A field study was conducted on effect of NPK fertilizers and spacing on

yield of bottle gourd (Lageneria sicerarta M.) by Nek Dara Jan et al.(2000). They

revealed that NPK fertilizers doses has significant effect on days to germination, fruit

26

weight(gm), fruit volume (ml),fruits per vine, vine length(cm),yield per hectare(tones)

maximum yields (20,403t ha−¹)was obtained from T₅(164-114-164).

Pointed gourd

Saravaiya et al.(2011) conducted an experiment on integrated nutrient

management in pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) cv. LOCAL under South

Gujarat conditions. They are concluded that to obtain higher fruit yield of pointed

gourd (17.93 t/ha) under INM system, the vine should be fertilized with the

combination of 50 per cent RDF (60:30:30 NPK kg/ha) along with 10 tones of bio-

compost/ha.

Sponge gourd

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on fruit yield and quality of sponge gourd

(Luffa cylindrica L.,) cultivar Pusa chikni was studied by Arora et al.(1989) and they

reported that the early and total yield were maximum with 50 kg N/ha +20 kg P/ha in

both theseasons. Longest fruits were recorded with 50 kg N/ha +20 kg P/ha in rainy

season. Fresh fruit weight increased with 50 kg N/ha in summer while 25 kg N/ha +20

kg P/ha in rainy season. Highest fruit dry weight was observed with 40 kg P/ha in

rainy season and 25 kg N/ha +40 kg P/ha in summer season.

Spine gourd

Thripathy et al. (1993) studied the effect of N, P and K at 0, 30, 60 and 90

kg/ha level on the stem cuttings of spine gourd planted in the field and observed that

N, P2O5, K2O each at 90 kg/ha resulted in the highest number of nodes and leaves per

plant. Plant height and leaf area were greater with N, P₂O₅, and K2O each at 60kg/ha

level while highest yield and largest fruit were produced with each at 30kg/ha.

Goswami and Sharma (1997) studied the effect of phosphorous on growth,

yield and quality of spine gourd (Momordica charantia Roxb.) in a trail at Jorhat,

Assam. P2O5 was applied at 0, 20, 40 or60 kg/ha to local cultivar grown in raised beds

27

on an acidic sandy loam soils. Fruit yield increased as P2O5rates increased. The

ascorbic acid content was highest whenP2O5 was applied at 40 kg/ha.

Vishwakarma et al.(2007) investigated on the effect of different levels of nitrogen and

phosphorus on growth, yield and quality of spine gourd and recorded least number of

days taken for germination, first female flower anthesis and first harvest; and highest

mean values for number of nodes to first female flower, number of fruits per plant,

fruit length, fruit diameter, average fresh weight, yield per plant, vine length,

estimation of chlorophyll and total soluble solid with the application of 80 kg N/ha +

60 kg P2O5 /ha.

Gherkins

Sareedha et al. (2006) studied on the influence of integrated nutrient

management on growth of gherkin (Cucumis anguria L.) cv. Ajax hybrid. Among

growth attributes they revealed that highest vine length, number of leaves, inter nodal

length, leaf area and dry matter production with the treatment pressmud @25t/ha+

recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers+ humic acid @0.2% fallowed by

Vermicompost@5t/ha+RDF+ humic acid @0.2%.

Shivashankaramurthy et al. (2007) suggested that the combination of NPK

has showed significant effect on vegetative characters like number of pistillate

flowers, leaf chlorophyll content), yield attributes such as number of fruits,fruit

weight and yield in gherkin. They concluded that NPK@175:125:125 kg/ha is the

optimal level for good yield and quality of fruits ingherkin.

A study on effect of organic manures and bio-fertilizers on growth, yield and

nutrient uptake in gherkin (Cucumis anguria L.)cv. Ajax Hybrid was studied by

Bindiya et al.(2007-08).They observed that the application of recommended dose of

fertilizers (RDF) (150 N: 75 P: 150 K kg/ha) recorded highest vine length (167 cm),

number of branches per vine (5.75), intermodal length (16.44 cm), lowest node at

which first female flower appeared (1.88) and highest fruit yield per vine (276 g)

28

which at par with vermicompost 18t/ha + Azotobacter(2 kg/ha) + Phosphate

Solubilizing bacteria (2 kg/ha). Significantly highest nutrient uptake (N, P and K

kg/ha) was recorded with recommended dose of fertilizers.

Melons

Castellanos et al. (2005-07) conducted an experiment to study the growth

dynamics and yield of melon as influenced by nitrogen fertilizer. Melons were

subjected to an irrigation depth of 100% crop evapotranspiration and to 11 N

fertilization rates, ranging 11 to 393 kg ha-1 in the three years. They reported that the

dry matter production of leaves and stems increased as the N amount increased and

the whole plant was also affected similarly, while the fruit dry matter decreased as the

N amount was increased above 112, 93 and 95 kg ha-1. The maximum leaf

area index (LAI), 3.1, was obtained at 393 kg ha-1 of N. The highest N supply

increased the vegetative growth, LAI and leaf area duration (LAD), but reduced yield

by 24%. They suggested for this melon type, rates about 90-100 kg ha-1 of N were

sufficient for adequate plant growth, development and maximum production.

Simsek et al. (2007-08) studied the effects of different irrigation regimes and

nitrogen levels on yield and quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.), 28 treatments were

designed and applied as combination of nitrogen and irrigation levels. Four nitrogen

treatments were: Control (N1), basic fertilizer (100 kg ha-1 pure N); N2, basic

fertilizer + 30; N3, basic fertilizer + 60 and N4, basic fertilizer + 90 kg ha-1 as urea.

The best combination of treatments was N3*DI-low (T19) with a yield of 59.77 t ha-1

which corresponds to 10% yield loss providing 55% water saving. It could be applied

for sustainable production, saving a significant amount of water and increasing the

nitrogen use efficiency, where water is scarce.

29

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A field experiment entitled “Integrated Nutrient Management in Bitter

gourd (Momordica charantia. L) cv. Prachi” was undertaken during the rainy

season of 2013 at the “All India Network project on Biodiversity and Bio-fertilizers”,

Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture

and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar.Different techniques for investigation have

been described in this chapter.

3.1 LOCATION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SITE

The locationof the site was 22⁰15’ North latitude, 80⁰22’ East longitude with an

altitude of 25.5 meters above the mean sea level (MSL). It comes under tropical climate

zone. This site is located in the East and south-Eastern Coastal plain agro-climatic zone and

comes under the East Coastal plains and hills zone of humid tropics.Bhubaneswar is located

at a distance of 62 km from the Bay of Bengal towards the west side.

3.2 CLIMATE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SITE

The place is characterized by warm and moist climate with hot humid summer

and mild winter.

3.3 WEATHER CONDITION DURING THE PERIOD OF THE EXPERIMENT

The weather data recorded from meteorological crop observatory, OUAT,

Bhubaneswar for the crop growing period from 16th August, 2013 to 21st

December,2013 has been presented in Table 3.1.

3.3.1 Rainfall

The precipitation during cropping period which was received between August,

2013 to December 2013was about 1222.3mm (table 3.1) distributed within 55 rainy

days, maximum during October.

30

3.3.2 Temperature

The maximum temperature recorded during the cropping season was32.6⁰C in

September, 2013 and the minimum temperature of 28.9⁰ C during December 2013.

The average temperature of 28.7⁰C during August 2013 gradually decreased to

21.6⁰C during December.

3.3.3 Other Weather parameters

The mean sunshine hours recorded during crop period ranged from 3-4

hoursper day and wind velocity ranged from 2.6 to 5.0 Km per hour.The maximum

relative humidity recorded 95% and minimum of 38% during crop growing period.

Table.3.1 Metrologicaldata during crop growing season

Month Temperature(⁰⁰⁰⁰C)

Relative humidity (%) Rain

fall (mm)

No. of rainy days

Mean sunshine

hour (BSH)

Wind velocity (Km/hr) Max. Min. Avg. Max. min Avg.

Aug,13 32.2 25.2 28.7 94 77 85.5 156.1 18 3 3.6

Sept,13 32.6 24.4 28.5 95 77 86 345.6 16 3 3.0

Oct.13 30.5 22.9 26.7 93 76 84.5 720.1 20 2.9 5.0

Nov.13 29.9 18.0 23.95 85 51 68 0.5 1 4.0 3.1

Dec.13 28.9 14.4 21.65 87 38 62.5 0.0 0 3.8 2.6

3.4 CROPPING HISTORY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SITE

A detail of the Cropping history of the experimental field is presented below

(Table 3.2).

Table 3.2 Cropping History of the Experimental Plot

Year Cropping season Name of the crop

2012 Summer Cowpea

2013 Kharif(August) Bitter gourd(Test crop)

31

Fig3.1(a) Meteriological data showing average temperature along with average RH and mean sunshine hours

Fig3.1 (b) Metrological data showing average rainfall, no. of rainy days and wind velocity.

85.5 86 84.5

68

62.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Aug.13 Sept.13 Oct.13 Nov.13 Dec.13

Me

an

su

nsh

ine

ho

urs

Te

mp

era

ture

ºC

Relative humidity (%)

Relative humidity Temperature Mean sun shine hours

156.1

345.6

720.1

0.5 0

18

16

20

10

3.6 3

5

3.1 2.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Aug.13 Sept.13 Oct.13 Nov.13 Dec.13

N0.

of

rain

y d

ay

s

Ra

infa

ll (

mm

)

Months

Rainfall(mm) No. of rainy days Wind velocity

32

3.5 SOIL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FIELD

The experiment was conducted on a fixed laid out plot, a representative

initialsoil samples weredrawn from a depth of 0 to 15 cm from each treatment to

determine the initial soil properties for bitter gourd.

Table 3.3(a) Mechanical composition of the soil

Sl.no Constituents Per centage

( air dry basis) Methods followed

1 Sand 69 Bouycous hydrometer(Piper,1950)

2 Silt 13 Bouycous hydrometer(Piper,1950)

3 Clay 18 Bouycous hydrometer(Piper,1950)

4 Textural class Sandy

Table 3.3(b) chemical composition of soil

Sl. No. Soil pH

Electrical conductivity

(dSm-1)

Organic carbon

(%)

Available nitrogen (kg ha-1)

Available phosphorous

(kg ha-1)

Available potassium (kg ha-1)

1 6.63 0.137 0.49 108.0 80.8 74.4

2 6.72 0.147 0.58 148.0 103.4 73.5

3 5.95 0.156 0.54 150.2 111.9 62.5

4 6.30 0.260 0.57 152.1 114.9 59.1

5 6.63 0.169 0.59 159.8 137.1 87.1

6 6.50 0.146 0.81 158.0 165.9 106.2

7 6.19 0.148 0.71 160.0 152.3 81.8

8 6.30 0.150 0.56 159.7 178.6 89.8

9 6.68 0.163 0.73 157.0 164.7 105.5

10 6.20 0.167 0.64 160.0 158.8 82.4

33

It is a carryover experiment after cowpea crop. It was fixed plot experiment in

which pH,electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available NPK ranged from 6.19

to6.72,0.137 to 0.169 dSm-1,0.49 to 0.81 per cent,108.0 to 160.0,80.8 to 178.6

and74.4 to 106.2 kg ha-1,respectively.Over which the treatmentsfor present

experiment were super imposed(Table 3.3(b)).

3.6 DETAILS OF THE EXPERIMENT

The present research work was conducted with ten treatments including

control. Different treatments include recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers,

vermicompost and biofertilizers. Healthy, viable, bold seeds of bitter gourd variety

Prachi were sown in the field on 30.08.2013.

3.6.1 EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES

Design of the experiment, treatments, layout of the plot, field preparation,

source of planting material(seed), fertilizer requirement, irrigation, Intercultural

operations, plant protection measures and harvesting are present in this section.

3.6.1.1Design of the experiment and layout plan

The experiments consist of ten treatment combinations including absolute

control. Bitter gourd variety “Prachi “seeds were planted on 30th August, 2013. The

experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications.

3.6.1.2 Treatments

The treatment consists of absolute control where no external source of

nutrients were given and three incremental doses and combinations of recommended

doses of fertilizers with or without bio-fertilizer and vermi-compost. The details are in

given in (table 3.4).

34

Table 3.4 Details of Experimental Treatments (Variety: bejo F₁₁₁₁ hybrid Prachi)

Notations Treatment combinations T₁ Absolute control T₂ 50% RDF NPK T₃ 50% NPK + VC T₄ 50%NPK+VC+BF T₅ 75%NPK T₆ 75% NPK+VC T₇ 75%NPK+VC+BF T₈ 100% NPK T₉ 100% NPK+VC T₁₀ 100% NPK+VC+BF

Recommended dose of fertilizer(RDF): N-P₂O₅-K₂O-SO₄-Borax-ZnSO₄

(150:50:100:50:10:25) kg ha‾¹, supplied through Navrathna (20-20-0-13), Urea,

Murate of potash, borax and commercial ZnSO₄, respectively.

3.6.1.3 Detailsof Layout

Thirty (30) plots of 5.5sqm each were prepared for the experiment.The

treatments were distributed using random table.

Table 3.5 Detailed layout of the field:

Sl.No. Design of layout Randomized Block Design (RBD) 2 Number of treatments 10 3 Number of replications 3 4 Plot size 2.2 x 2.5 m (5.5m²) 5 Planting distance 1m x50cm 6 No. of rows per plot 2(two) 7 No. of mounds per row 3(Three) 8 Total number of plots 30 9 Width of the bund separating the block 30cm

10 Length of the experimental field 60m

11 Width of the experimental field 60m 12 Area of the experimental field 180 m² 13 Variety F1 hybrid-Prachi 14 Cropping season

The study was conducted during Khareif season in 2013.

15 Sowing time 30.08.2013

35

2.2cm x 2.5cm

Fig 3.1 Plan of layout of experimental field

3.6. 2 Cultivation aspects

3.6.2.1 Field preparation

The experimental field was prepared by ploughing thrice during July second week,

leveled with wooden plank. The plots were prepared as per the layout plan

(Fig.3.1)with regular bunds and irrigation channels by manual labour and sowing of

seeds was done in the end of August.

R₁T₂

R₁T₃

R₂T₁₀

R₂T₉

R₃T₆

R₃T₅

R₁T₁

R₁T₄

R₂T₅

R₂T₆

R₃T₄

R₃T₂

Irrigation

R₁T₆

R₁T₅

irrig

atio

n

R₂T₇

R₂T₈

R₃T₁

R₁T₃

R₁T₇

R₁T₈

R₂T₃

R₂T₄

R₃T₁₀

R₃T₉

R₁T₁₀

R₁T₉

R₂T₂

R₂T₁

R₃T₇

R₃T₈

N

36

Fig .3.3 Overview of the Experimental field at different growth stages of bitter gourd crop

37

3.6.2.2 Source of planting material(seed):

The seeds of Bitter gourd cv. Prachi were collected from bejo sheetal seeds

Pvt. Ltd.Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Healthy, bold seeds were graded and sowing

was done after the land preparations of the main field on mounds prepared at 1m x

50cm spacing from row to row and plant to plant.

3.6.2.3 Seed treatment

The seeds of bitter gourd were soaked in water for 24hours before sowing

followed by treatment with Bavistin@1g/200g seeds to enhances uniform germination

and minimize pathogen attack in the field respectively.

3.6.2.4 Fertilizerrequirement

A) Manures

The organic manure vermicompost was obtained from the vermicompost unit

of Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of

Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar.

The recommended dose of vermicompost was applied @ 600 g/5.5m2in a plots

as per the treatmentspecifically selected at the time of sowing, 15days after planting

and 30 days after planting. Then it was calculated per hectare and expressed in tonnes

(2.5t ha-1).

B) Bio-fertilizers

The bio-inoculants namely Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Phosphate

Solubilizing bacteria in 1:1:1 ratio(4 kg each ha-1) were inoculated to 5% limed

Vermicompost in 1:25 ratio, incubated for 7 days at 30% moisture under shade,

applied in the rhizosphere on the day of sowing of seeds.

38

Fig.3.4 Application of fertilizers, vermicompost and biofertilizers as per the treatments followed by earthing up

39

C) Chemical fertilizers

The recommended dose of fertilizers for Bitter gourd was N, P₂O₅, K₂O and So₄

@ 150:50:100:50 Kg ha-1 applied in the form of Navrathna (19-19-0-13), Urea and

Muriate of Potash (MOP).The total amount of P₂O₅ and one fourth (1/4) amount N as well

as half (1/2) amount of K₂O were applied as basal application. Half of remaining N (out of

¾ total) of nitrogen and rest part of K₂O (1/2) were applied as a first top dressing at 15 days

after sowing. The remaining N was applied as second top dressing at 30 days after sowing.

3.6.2.5Irrigation

First irrigation was applied immediately after sowing of the seeds by rose can.

The subsequent irrigations given every day with rose can till germination was

complete. There after irrigation continued at an interval of 4 days. Irrigation was also

done immediately followed chemical fertilizers. However, the frequency of irrigation

depended on soil moisture status and crop requirement.

3.6.2.6Intercultural operation

a) Hoeing, weeding and earthing up operations were carried out twice during

cropping period. First hoeing cum weeding was done manually after 15 days after

planting fallowed by top dressing, earthing up and irrigation. Second hoeing carried

out at after 30 days of sowing.

b) Training:

At initial growth stage i.e. at 15days after sowing the vines of bitter gourd

were supported with bamboo sticks and bamboo poles with spreaded wire for

supporting the plants after 20 day of sowing.

3.6.2.7 Plant protection measures

Chloropyriphos @ 2ml/liter of water was sprayed at initial

stage.Multineem@4ml/liter of water sprayed twice during the entire cropping period at an

interval of 15 days at flowering stage to control the aphids attack. Acephate @2ml/liter of

40

water was sprayed thrice as a spray at an interval of 15days at active growth stage against

Epilachna beetle. Trizophus @1ml/liter of water was sprayed against leaf eating

caterpillar at fruiting stage. Ridomil MZ-72 @1.5g/liter and sulfex @4g/liter were applied

as spray application to control the fungal disease powdery mildew after heavy rain fall.

3.6.2.8Harvesting

Bitter gourd fruits were harvested at tender stage after attaining optimum size

at 7days after flowering and subsequent harvesting done at 5 days interval. Harvesting

commenced 55 days after sowing and continued for 30 days till the crop attended the

growth 90 days after sowing.

3. 6 Schedule for field preparation and planting operation

Operations

Date( 2013) Remarks

Ploughing of the main field 16.08.2013 By manual Layout of experimental field 19.08.2013 By manual labour Preparation of plots as per the layout after leveling

19.08.2013

By manual labour

Application of Bleaching powder 20.08.2013 By manual labour

Application of vermicompost and bio-fertilizers as per treatment

30.08.2013 By manual labour

Sowing of seeds 30.08.2013 By manual labour Application of chemical fertilizers(Basal) 11.09.2013 By manual labour

First hoeing and weeding 11.09.2013 By manuallabour

Second hoeing and weeding 25.09.2013 By manuallabour First top dressing and earthing up 26.09.2013 By manual labour

Third hoeing 13.10.2013 By manual labour Second top dressing and earthing up 15.10.2013 By manual labour Harvesting schedule

First harvesting 26.10.2013 By manual labour Second harvesting 30.10.2013 By manual labour

Third harvesting 6.11.2013 By manual labour Fourth harvesting 11.11.2013 By manual labour

Fifth harvesting 17.11.2013 By manual labour Final harvesting 3.12.2013 By manual labour

41

3.7 BIOMETRIC OBSERVATIONS RECORDED

3.7.1 Method of Sampling

Six plants were selected from each plot to record the plant biometric

observations periodically. Different growth characters like vegetative growth,

flowering and yield attributing parameters of plants as influenced by different

treatment combinations were recorded.

3.7.2. Growth parameters

3.7.2.1 Vine length (cm)

The length of the vine was recorded from base of the plant up to tip and data

expressed in centimeter. The observations were recorded twice at 15 days after

germination and at the time of final harvesting.

3.7.2.2 Number of branches per plant

Total number of branches were recorded for each sample plant at the time of

final harvesting and expressed in number.

3.7.2.3 Leaf Chlorophyll content

The leaf chlorophyll content of each plant was recorded at 30, 40, 80,100 days

after planting and measured by SPAD meter. The total chlorophyll content was

expressed in SPAD value.

3.7.2.4 Leaf Area (cm2)

The total leaf area in each plant was recorded at 30, 40, 80,100 days after

planting and the active third leaf from top was taken to record this observation by

using Leaf area meter and expressed in centimeter square (cm2).

3.7.2.5 Appearance of first male flower

Appearance of first male flower in six randomly selected plants under each

treatment was recorded and the average was exhibited in days.

42

3.7.2.6 Appearance of first female flower

Appearance of first female flower randomly selected plants under each

treatment of each replication was noted and mean values were calculated and finally

expressed in days.

3.7.2.7 Node on which first female flower appear

The number of nodes from the base of plant up to initiation of flowering of six

randomly selected plants in each vine was counted and the average value expressed in

number.

3.8 Yield parameters

3.8.1 Number of fruits per plant

The number of fruits produced from each randomly selected plant under each

treatmentand replication were recorded and mean values finally used for calculation.

3.8.2 Length of the fruit (cm)

The length of six randomly selected fruits of sample plants under different

treatments in each replication and the mean values were calculated and expressed

incentimeter(cm).

3.8.3. Girth of the fruit (cm)

The girth of six randomly selected fruits under each treatment in each

replication were measured and finally expressed in centimeter (cm).

3.8.4 Fruit weight (g)

For this trait the mean weight of six randomly selected fruits of sample plants

under different treatments in each replication were taken and their weight was

expressed in gram (g).

3.8.5 Fruit yield (kg ha-1)

Thetotal quantity of fruits per plant from each treatment in each replication

were recorded per hectare yield was expressed in Kilogram (kg ha‾ˡ).

43

3.9 BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

3.9.1 Sampling technique

a) Leaf Sample

Leaf Sample from different treatments were taken at the 30, 40, 80 days after

sowing to analyze N, P, K content. The Third active leaf from top was selected for

sampling. The third active leaf of randomly selected plants in each treatment was

collected. These samples are washed and shade dried for 30 minutes. Labeled

according to treatments and weighed (w₁), dried in hot air oven under constant

temperature of 70⁰C till constant weight (w₂) was achieved.

b) Fruit sample

The fruit sample from each treatment was harvested separately from individual

treatments at immature stage from second harvesting and washed thoroughly with

deionized water. Then it was analyzedfresh for fruit dryweight oven dried at 70⁰C

temperatures until the constant weight was obtained. Fresh fruits were used for

estimation of concentration of (N, P, K, Ca and S) and quality parameters.

c) Stem sample

The stem sample from each treatment was collected separately and sun dried

for 3-4 days followed by oven dried until a constant weight was achieved.

3.9.2 Observation on quality attributes

3.9.2.1 Total soluble solids (⁰⁰⁰⁰Brix)

Fresh fruit samples from different treatments were taken from second picking

and 5g fruit sample were macerated by using pestle. The single drop of extracted juice

put in hand refractrometer for estimation of total soluble solids (TSS). The results

were expressed in ⁰Brix.

44

3.9.2.2 Ascorbic acid (mg/100g edible part)

Fresh fruits were collected from each treatment of second picking and 5g

sample was macerated by using a pestlein 4% oxalic acid. The extracted solution

centrifuged fallowed by collection of the extract.Volumetric method was followed for

estimation of ascorbic acid and expressed in milligram per 100g edible portion

(mg/100g) as described by Sadasivum and Manickam (1996).5ml of supernatant was

taken in a conical flask by pipette. Then 10ml of 4% oxalic acid was added to the

conical flask containing the aliquot and titrated against 2,6-dichlorophenol

indophenols(dye) until rose pink colour persists.

3.9.2.3 Protein content (%)

The crude protein content of fruit was estimated through Kjeldahl method of

digestion and distillationwas followed for the estimation of nitrogencontent and it was

multiplied with 6.25 to get protein content(with assumption that protein contains 16

percent N).

3.9.2.4 Dry matter content of fruit(%)

The fruits of six sampled plants from each treatment were sliced separately

and composite samples of 50 g were taken from each treatment. Sampleswere air

dried for four days and then oven dried at 60⁰C till a constant weight was obtained.

The weight of dried fruit recorded, calculated and expressed in percentage.

3.9.2.5 Dry matter production of vine

The vines of six sampled plants from each treatment were chapped and

composite sample of 100g was taken from each treatment .The samples were air dried

for three days followed by oven drying at 70⁰C until constant weight was obtained.

The dry matter content was multiplied with the harvested vine weight to get total dry

matter production.

45

3.10 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

3.10.1 Plant sample analysis

The nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur

content of leaf, fruit and vine were determined. The plant parts used for dry matter

determination and chemical analysis were ground separately into powder by using

mill. These were digested separately following suitable methods.

Table 3.7 Methods utilized for plant nutrient analysis

S.l.no Nutrient Methods adopted

1 Nitrogen Kjeldahl digestion(digestion mixture (K2SO4+ CaSO4) + salicylic acid+ sodium thiosulphate) and distillation (Jackson et al., 1973)

2 Phosphorous Digestion with di acid (HNO3:HClO4 :: 3:2) followed by spectrophotometric determination (Jackson, 1973)

3 Potassium Di acid digestion followed by Flame photometric determination after digestion with di acid (Jackson, 1973)

4 Sulphur Spectrophotometric determination (Jackson,1973) after di acid digestion

5 Calcium&Magnesium EDTA complex metric titration method (Jackson,1973) after di acid digestion

3.10.2 Nutrient Uptake

Nutrient uptake through plant(vine) and fruit was calculated after multiplying

the nutrient concentration of individual nutrient with dry matter yield (vine and fruit)

due to respective treatment and then added to get total nutrient uptake. The results

were expressed in the unit of kg ha‾1.

3.10.3 Nutrient recovery (%)

Inorder to compare the treatment combination nutrient recovery, apparent

nutrient recovery (%) was calculated by using fallowing formula.

����� �� �������� �������� ����

����� �� ��������� � � ������X 100

46

3.11. Post harvest soil analysis

The soil samples were collected, shade dried and sieved properly by 10mm

mess sieve and these samples utilized for post harvest soil properties like Soil texture

by Bouycous hydrometer method, pH by using pH meter, electrical conductivity by

conductivity bridge method, organic carbon by Walkely and Black wet

oxidation(Page et.al.,1982), available nitrogen by Alkaline permanganate method,

available phosphorous by Bray’s-1Pmethod as suggested by Page et.al.,(1982) and

available potash by neutral N ammonium acetate method and estimated by flame

photometer (Jackson,1973).

3.12 Statistical analysis

The research results were subjected to proper statistical analysis in randomized

block design. The F-test was used for testing the significance of treatments. The least

significant difference was calculated at 5% level of significance by using the formula

(Gomez and Gomez, 1976).

1) CD₀.₀₅ for treatment means= √2$%&(±)xt₀.₀₅ error d.f

2) Coefficient of Variance (CV)(%)

80

DISCUSSION

A field experiment was conducted in the campus of College of Agriculture

to study the influence of integrated nutrient management in bitter gourd crop cv.

Prachi. It was continued over a mini long term experiment with cow pea as a previous

crop. There were three levels of NPK fertilizers (50, 75 and 100%), each dose of NPK

was integrated with VC either alone or VC with BFs. There was one absolute control

treatment, where only test crop was grown on native inherent fertility (no additional

source of any nutrients).

The differential treatments imposed for present crop production exhibited

variations on crop biometrics, flowering behaviour, fruit setting, nutrient

concentration, their uptake, recovery by crop and ultimately on post-harvest soil

properties.

Whatever variations were observed were due to differential nutrient supply,

(both major and secondary), effect of organic sources of nutrients in the form of VC

and the BFs (di-azotrophs and phosphorous Solubilizing microorganisms).These input

sources through their impact on physico-chemical and biological properties of soil,

nutrient supplying capacity, impact of various nutrients on crop growth, have

influenced the vegetative growth, productivity as well as the crop quality. The balance

among the input sources have reflected differentially on crop growth behaviour,

production and also produce quality.

The growth parameters like vine length (Fig.4.1), number of branches

(Fig.4.2), leaf area (Fig.4.3), the chlorophyll content (Fig.4.4) in leaves were at their

optimum to support good crop growth with T10 (100%NPK+VC+BF). The inorganic

nutrients alone could increase the vine length by 32.1 per cent, with VC by 38.5 per

cent and VC+BF by 47.5 per cent compared to control. Integrated nutrient

81

management proved superiority for production of more number of branches, higher

chlorophyll content in leaves with larger leaf area. All these findings corroborate the

findings of Suresh Kumar and Karuppaiah (2008) from Kerala, Prasad et al. (2009) in

West Bengal. Similar results were also reported for ridge gourd a member of cucurbit

gourd family by Lalitha Kameswari et al. (2010) and Sareedha et al. (2006) in

Gherkins.

The different nutritional management practices in the present experiment

exhibited the differential flowering behaviour interms of appearance of first male and

female flowers from DAS and earliest node to first female flower to appear.The T10

treatment being the best integrated treatment produced male flowers 10 days

(Fig.4.5), female flowers to 15 days early (Fig.4.6,4.7) and female flower appeared at

10 internodes (Fig.4.8) less as compared to the control, even earlier to other treatment

combinations. Mulani et al. (2007), Suresh Kumar et al. (2008) and Prasad et

al.(2009) were in support of similar findings from experimentation with bitter gourd

crop. Prabhu et al. (2006), Bindiya et al. (2012) also reported similar results while

working on cucumber and gherkin, respectively.

The influence of nutrient management practices ultimately reflected in

number of fruits per plant (Fig.4.9), their length (Fig.4.10), girth (Fig.4.11) and unit

fruit weight (4.12g) and ultimately on the (Fig.4.13 &4.14) yield of the crop. Among

ten treatment combinations tested, T10 (agro inputs with optimum doses of

inorganics) produced best of all performances (15% more fruits per plant, 9.3% longer

fruits, 4% more fruit diameter,10% more fruit weight and 15% higher per ha-1 yield

compared to that of with 100% inorganic dose, (Table 4.5). Similar results also

reported by Mulani et al. (2007) Prasad et al. (2009), in bitter gourd, Lalitha

Kameswari et al. (2010) in ridge gourd and Anjannapa et al. (2012) cucumber.

As crop yield and its biomass productions (Fig.4.15) were influenced by

nutrient management practices, which simultaneously influence nutrient uptake and

recovery by the crop (Pattanayak et al., 2008).

82

The biofertilizers in addition to nutrient fixation (N) or solubilisation (P)

also release growth promoting substances like IAA, Gibberelic acids, Cytokinins and

other growth promoting enzymes which influence the root growth, root density, root

volume, root CEC (Pattanayak et al.,2008), there by influence nutrient uptakeby the

crop and ultimately the recovery of specific nutrients.

In the present experiment, bitter gourd crop under the influence of optimum

inorganic nutrition based on soil test, supplementation of nutrients through organic

manures and biofertilizers backed by optimum physico, chemical, biological and

enzymatic environmental condition through VC and BFs, removed highest N (46.7

kg ha-1) (Fig.4.16) and recorded highest recovery of N (21.3 %) (Fig.4.17), similarly

highest phosphorous (9.0 kg ha-1) with moderate recovery of 20.1 per cent (Fig.4.20,

4.21), highest K uptake of 74.3 kg ha-1 with apparent recovery of 34 per cent

(Fig4.18, 4.19), highest uptake of sulphur (4.3kg ha-1 with recovery of 8.8 per cent

(Fig.4.24,4.25) and also the highest amount of Ca (22.3 kg ha-1) (Fig.4.22) and Mg

(16.8 kg ha-1) (Fig.4.23). Similar results were also obtained by Anjannapa et al.

(2012) in cucumber at GKVK, Banglore and Bindya et al. (2012) in Gerkins at

Hyderabad and Kamili et al. (2002) in Brinjal.

The beneficial effects of integrated nutrient management with optimum dose of

nutrients also recorded highest ascorbic acid (111.1mg/100g edible portion) (Fig 4.26) and

protien content (1.76%) (Fig.4.27) with higher TSS (2.0º Brix) (Fig.4.28) of the fruits. This

is in confirmation with findings of Benitez et al. (2013) in bitter gourd, Lalitha kameswari

et al. (2010) in ridge gourd and Aanjanappa et al. (2012) in cucumber.

All the above results supported integrated nutrient management including

application of optimum soil test based fertilizer application correcting deficient of

soil nutrients, sufficient organics and consortia of micro-organisms, like Aztobacter,

Azospirillum and PSM for increased growth,productivity with quality produce.

84

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

SUMMARY

An experiment entitled “Integrated nutrient management in Bitter gourd

(Momordica charantia L.) cv. Prachi” was carried out during kharif 2013 at the site

alloted for "All India Network project on Biodiversity and Bio fertilizers” in

OUAT, Bhubaneswar with the objectives to study the influence of graded levels of

inorganic fertilizers integrated with VC and BFs(Aztobacter, Azospirillum and PSM)

on growth, yield, quality, nutrient uptake and recovery by bitter gourd. The soil of the

experimental site was sandy in texture, mildly acidic in reaction, medium in status

with respect to organic corbon and K, low with respect to available N and S, high with

respect to P. The test crop was bitter gourd (var. Prachi,110 days duration) received

ten different treatments namely; Absolute control (T1), 50%NPK(T2), 50%NPK+VC

(T3) ,50%NPK+VC+BF(T4), 75%NPK(T5), 75%NPK+VC(T6), 75%NPK+VC+ BF

(T7), 100%NPK (T8), 100%NPK+VC (T9), 100%NPK+VC+BF(T10). Each treatment

was replicated three times and imposed over a statistically laid out field with

randamized block design. The 100% soil test based recommended dose of fertilizers

for bitter gourd was 150:50:100:50:10:15 kg NPK and S,B and Zn supplied through

Navrathna (20-20-0-13), urea, murate of potash, zinc sulphate and borax, respectively.

The dose of VC was 2.5t ha-1 and the bioinocolum for the test crop was a consortia of

Aztobacter. Azospirillum and PSM in 1:1:1 ratio, each applied at the rate of 4kg ha-1,

inoculated to 5% limed vermicompost in 1:25 ratio, incubated for 7 days at 30%

moisture under shade, applied in the rhizosphere on the day of sowing of seeds.

The observations on crop growth parameters recorded such as; vine length,

number of branches, chlorophyll content, leaf area, appearance of first male flower,

female flower, node number on which first female flower appeared, yield attributes

like no. of fruits, fruit length, fruit girth, unit fruit weight, yield per hectare, quality

attributes like ascorbic acid, protein content, TSS, nutrient uptake and recovery.

85

Among different treatments 100% inorganic nutrients based on soil test

integrated with VC and BFs gave best results in terms of growth viz. vine length

(533cm), no. of branches (18.0 nos), chlorophyll content (SPAD value, 36.4 to 43.3),

leaf area (from 83.9 to 55.2cm2), days taken for appearance of first male (39.6 days),

female (44 days) at least node (24 node). The yield attributes such as fruit

number(40nos), fruit length(17.6cm), girth(13.4cm),unit fruit weight(86.4g), fruit

yield (4036kg ha-1) and quality characters viz. ascorbic acid(111.1mg/100g),protein

content(1.76%),TSS(2.0º Brix)were recorded with the best treatment. With this

treatment the total uptake of nutrients like N, P, K and S were 46.7kg ha-1, 9.0 kg ha-1,

74.1kg ha-1, 4.3kg ha-1accompenied by recovery of 21.3%20.1%34% and 8.8%,

respectively. The occurrence of “Philini” during active growth stage of crop resulted

in poor uptake and recoveries of the nutrients.

The post harvest soil properties indicated that after crop harvest the soils

turned acidic, there was drop in soluble salts concentration, organic carbon and

available N, P status. However, the available K and S status increased compared to

initial.

The inorganic nutrients combined with organic input source and BFs through

their impact on physical (soil structure, aeration, water holding capacity etc),

chemical(soil reaction, CEC, buffering capacity, soluble salt concentration etc.) and

biological properties (food source for microbial population and their activity) of soil,

nutrient supplying capacity, impact of various inorganic nutrients on crop growth,

have influenced the vegetative growth, flowering behaviour, productivity as well as

the crop quality in soil . Application of biofertilizers not only enhances the soil

fertility but also improves the crop growth, production and quality through nutrient

fixation (N) or solubilisation (P) and by releasing growth promoting substances like

indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberelic acids, cytokinins and other growth influencing

enzymes which enhances the cell elongation in order to give good root growth, root

density, root volume, root CEC, there by enhanced dry matter production of crop. The

86

balance among these input sources through different treatment combinations have

reflected differentially on crop growth behaviour, production and also produce

quality, nutrient uptake by the crop and ultimately the recovery of specific nutrients.

The results of the present experiment supported integrated nutrient

management practices including application of optimum soil test based fertilizers

application correcting deficient soil nutrients, sufficient organics and consortia of

micro-organisms, like Aztobacter, Azospirillum and PSM for increased growth,

productivity with quality produce and enhanced crop nutrient recovery.

87

CONCLUSION

Following conclusions can be drawn from the experiment conducted on the

“ Integrated nutrient management in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) cv. Prachi”

1. Integrated use of optimum dose of inorganic nutrients after correction of

deficient nutrients based on soil test with organics and biofertilizers increased

the vine length by 15%, number of branches by 13%, chlorophyll content by

5%, leaf area by 10% compared to no integration.

2. Male and female flowers appeared 10 and 15 days early as compared to their

first appearance under non integrated condition of 49 and 59 days,

respectively.

3. .Female flower appeared at10thnodes lower compared to 39th node for

unintegrated condition.

4. Fruits under integrated system were 15% more in number, 9.3 % of longer length,

4% more girth and 10% increased weight compared to unintegrated systems.

5. The fruit yield was 15% higher (4036kg ha-1) in optimum integrated condition

(100% NPK+VC+BF) compared to yield of 3523 kg ha-1 no integration.

6. The apparent recovery of N, P, K and S increased from a level from 9 to 21%,

10 to 20%, 18 to 20%, 2 to 9 %, respectively from non integration system to

optimum integration system.

7. The fruits under optimum integrated systems had highest ascorbic acid content

of 111.1mg/100g, protein content of 1.76% and TSS of 2.0º Brix compared to

the same of 99.7 mg/100g, 1.56% and 1.60 under unintegrated condition.

So INM practices found suitable for enhancing yield and quality of

bitter gourd crop.

i

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