Effect of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on growth and yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at sweet orange research station Badnapur, district Jalna on eight year old sweet orange plant during Mrig bahar (May- June) in the year 2015-16 to study the effect of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on growth and yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). The experiment was laid out with seven treatments having different combination of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers (i.e. PSB, Azotobacter, 800:400:400g NPK and 50kg FYM) in Randomized block design with three replications. The maximum increase in tree height (0.47m), stem girth (4.16 cm), tree spread (E-W 0.37m and N-S 0.50m) was recorded in the treatment of RDF (800:400:400g NPK+ 50kg FYM) + 80ml Azotobacter + 80ml PSB (T6). The maximum increase in plant volume (10.36m­­­­­3) was observed in the treatment of RDF (800:400:400g NPK + 50kg FYM) + 80ml PSB (T5). The maximum increase in number of fruits (403.83), average yield (107.36kg) and marketable yield of fruits (105.46kg) was recorded in the treatment of RDF (800:400:400g NPK + FYM) + 80ml Azotobacter + 80ml PSB (T6).