ABSTRACT

EFFECT ON INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria sciceraria L.)

Student : S. RAMESHKUMAR, B.Sc., (Ag.)

Chairman : Dr. R. SURESHKUMARLecturer (SS),

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,

Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608

002

2010

An experiment on the “Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth

and yield of bottle gourd (Lageneria sciceraria L.)” was carried out in the

vegetable unit, Department of Horticulture, Annamalai University, Annamalai

nagar during 2008-2010.

The experiment was conducted with 13 treatment combinations by using

different organic nutrients viz., Farmyard manure, poultry manure and coir pith

compost (soil application) whereas, vermiwash, panchakavya and humic acid were

applied in 3 foliar application at a fortnight intervals. Various biometric

observation on plant growth attributes viz., vine length, number of branches per

plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index and dry matter

production and physiological attributes viz., chlorophyll content and

photosynthetic rate, flowering attributes viz., days taken for first male flower and

female flower emergence, total number of male and female flowers per plant and

fruit set percentage and yield attributes viz., number of fruits per vine, length of

fruit and fruit yield were recorded. All the treatments significantly influenced the

growth, physiological, flowering and yield attributes. The results revealed that the

treatment combination of farmyard manure @ 25 t ha-1 combined with

recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers and vermiwash (1:5 dilution) (T4) was

found to be superior with higher fruit yield of 31.64 t ha-1 which was followed with

poultry manure @ 10 t ha-1 with combined with recommended dose of inorganic

fertilizers and vermiwash (1:5 dilution) as foliar spray with the yield of 29.61 t ha-1.

Compared to all other treatments, T4 gained importance due to reduction in

production costs. It also improves soil physical and chemical properties. Hence,

this can be recommended for the cultivation of bottle gourd under the integrated

nutrient management syatem.