Agrotechnology

Effects of mulches, planting methods and biofertilizers on fruit yield and quality and weed characteristics of organically grown capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.)

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

K S Thakur, Tanushree Jamatia, M L Bhardwaj and Ramesh Kumar

Posters: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

An investigation was carried out at the Experimental Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Kharif season, 2012, to evaluate the effect of mulches, planting methods and biofertilizers on fruit yield, weed characteristics and quality of organically grown capsicum ( Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangements which included 3 levels of mulch (M 1 : No mulch, M 2 : Black plastic mulch and M 3 : Pea residue mulch), 2 levels of planting methods (P 1 : Flat bed method and P 2 : Ridge bed method) and 2 levels of biofertilizers treatments (B 1 : No biofertilizers and B 2 : Biofertilizers) to compare the treatment combinations of the factors. The main effect of the factors revealed that M 2 , P 2 and B 2 treatments recorded enhanced fruit yield, reduced weed growth where M 2 recorded the minimum number of weeds (7.35) and fresh and dry weight of weeds per m 2 (13.18 and 4.50 g respectively), P 2 recorded minimum number of weeds (48.24) and fresh and dry weight of weeds per m 2 (100.45 and 30.51 g respectively) and B 2 recorded the lowest fresh weight of weeds (100.95 g) and increased ascorbic acid content and shelf life of fruits. The interaction effect between the factors revealed that M 2 P 2 B 2 treatment combination i.e., application of black polythene mulch, ridge bed method and application of biofertilizers exhibited significant influence on quality and fruit yield of capsicum with maximum fruit yield (280.45 q/ha) and reduced fresh and dry weight of weeds (12.19 and 4.12 g).

Biography :

K S Thakur is working as Associate Professor in the Department of Vegetable Science and involved in teaching (UG and PG students), research and extension activities in the field of Vegetable Science for last 13 years. He earned his graduation in Horticulture, M.Sc. (Hort.) and Ph.D. (Hort.) in Vegetable Crops from Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. He is conducting research works since last 7 years on organic vegetable production technologies with special emphasis on nutrient management by use of biofertilizers and organic manures and its application in commercial vegetable production. He has published more than 22 research papers, popular articles and technical bulletins on vegetable crops in international, national and regional journals. He has attended, participated and contributed 11 international, national and state level seminar, symposia, conference, congress and workshop related to sustainable vegetable production technologies.