Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF BIOFERTILIZERS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN ON QUALITY OF KALE (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. ACEPHALA L.)

Ranjit Kumar Das, M.A. Chattoo and K. Mallikarjunarao

Abstract

An investigation was performed at the experimental field, Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar during Kharif season, 2013 to find out the effect of biofertilizer and nitrogen on the quality of kale. The experiment was laid out in RCBD design with three replications, with four biofertilizer levels (B0, B1, B2 and B3) and four nitrogen levels (N0, N1, N2 and N3). Observations were recorded on various aspects of quality attributes of kale. Biofertilizers showed a beneficial effect on several quality attributes of kale. Biofertilizers exhibited a significant increase over control. Among biofertilizers, Azospirillum registered higher values, than those recorded with Azotobacter. Conjugation of Azospirillum and Azotobacter @ 2.5 kg ha-1 each registered maximum values for N (1.92% - 60 DAT and 1.82%- 120 DAT) , P (0.161%- 60 DAT and 0.143%- 120 DAT) and K content in leaves (2.16%- 60 DAT and 1.96%- 120 DAT) as compared to sole application of biofertilizers. Increasing levels of chemical nitrogen registered a gradual increase in all the characters und er study. Treatment N3 (100% RN) i.e. (90 kg N ha-1) recorded maximum values for N (1.94% - 60 DAT and 1.99%- 120 DAT), P (0.144%- 60 DAT and 0.162 %- 120 DAT) and K content in leaves (2.04%- 60 DAT and 2.31%- 120 DAT). Treatment combination B3N3 (T16) recorded higher values for N (2.10%-60 DAT and 2.07%- 120 DAT), P (0.160%-60 DAT and 0.170%- 120 DAT) and K content in leaves (2.21% and 2.45%) at 60 and 120 days after transplanting respectively. However, it was observed that, B3N2 registered higher values with respect to all characters under study as compared to B0N3. It indicates a nitrogen economy of 25%.