Institute Of Horticulture Technology

An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on growth, yield, and quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). The field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022 at the Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture Science, Technology & Research, Sardar Patel University, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications to minimize experimental error and to ensure uniformity of soil and environmental conditions. A total of eight treatments comprising different combinations of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and organic manures were evaluated under the integrated nutrient management approach. The application of nutrients through integrated sources significantly influenced the growth, yield attributes, yield, and quality parameters of cowpea. Among the different treatments, T₅ (100% RDF + 2 tonnes FYM ha⁻¹) recorded superior performance in terms of plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and seed yield per hectare. The enhanced growth under this treatment may be attributed to the balanced and sustained supply of nutrients from both inorganic fertilizers and farmyard manure, which improved soil physical condition, nutrient availability, microbial activity, and overall plant vigor. In addition to yield improvement, treatment T₅ also resulted in the highest benefit–cost (B:C) ratio, indicating better economic returns compared to other treatments. The integration of FYM with chemical fertilizers not only reduced dependency on sole inorganic fertilizers but also improved nutrient use efficiency, leading to higher productivity and profitability. Overall, the study clearly demonstrated that integrated nutrient management involving 100% RDF in combination with 2 t FYM ha⁻¹ is an effective and economically viable nutrient management strategy for cowpea cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions of Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. This approach can be recommended for sustainable cowpea production with improved growth, yield, quality, and soil health.

Cherry tomato is a high-value horticultural crop known for its nutritional richness, market appeal and adaptability to protected cultivation systems. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of zinc (Zn) and boron (B), can limit the crop’s growth, productivity and fruit quality. The present study was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–2025 at the Department of Horticulture, SHUATS, Prayagraj to evaluate the effect of foliar application of zinc and boron on growth, yield and quality of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) under protected cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 15 treatments and three replications, comprising individual and combined applications of zinc (30, 60, 90 ppm) and boron (30, 60, 90 ppm). Observations were recorded at regular intervals on various growth parameters (plant height, number of branches), reproductive traits (flowers and fruits per cluster, days to first harvest), yield and quality attributes (fruit weight, yield per plant and per hectare, total soluble solids, and vitamin C content). The results revealed that foliar application of zinc and boron significantly improved all studied parameters compared to the control. Among all treatments studied, the treatment T15 (Zinc @ 90 ppm & Boron @ 90 ppm) recorded the maximum plant height (235.28 cm at 120 DAT), number of branches (33.99), number of flowers per cluster (11.78), number of fruits per cluster (9.24), fruit length (4.87 cm), fruit girth (3.45 cm), average fruit weight (42.63 g), yield per plant (3.45 kg) and yield per hectare (191.67 t/ha), total soluble solids (8.32 °Brix) and vitamin C content (16.98 mg/100g), while also advancing earliness in harvest (80.25 days) followed by the treatment T14 (Zinc 90 ppm & Boron 60 ppm) having 229.47 cm plant height, number of branches (31.06), number of flowers per cluster (10.50), number of fruits per cluster (8.05), fruit length (4.55 cm), fruit girth (3.20 cm), average fruit weight (36.40 g), yield per plant (3.31 kg), earliest days to first harvest (80.47 days), yield per hectare (183.32 t/ha), total soluble solids (8.13 °Brix) and vitamin C content (16.71 mg/100g) and the minimum was found in T0 control. Thus, the study confirms that the combined foliar application of zinc and boron at higher concentrations enhances vegetative growth, reproductive efficiency, fruit yield, and quality in cherry tomato. These findings support the integration of micronutrient sprays as a cost-effective and efficient strategy for maximizing crop performance in protected environments.

Micronutrients plays a vital role in enzymatic activity in plants and thus have influential role in growth and superiority of fruit. The research was carried out at SHUATS, Prayagraj during the Rabi season of 2021 and 2022. The research was conducted with aim to study the effect of nano mixed micronutrients on growth, quality, and economics of French bean variety “Arka Komal”. The experiment was set up using a FRBD one factor being application of nano mixed micronutrients and other being application of nano fertilizers. The nano mixed micronutrients given were M0-control; M1- 0.2ml/ L of nano mix micronutrient/L of water as foliar application; M2- 0.4ml/L of nano mix micronutrient/ L of water as foliar application; M3 -0.6ml/ L of nano mix micronutrient/L of water as foliar application. The nano-fertilizers treatment given were F0– Control (without fertilizer); F1- 100% RDF as traditional fertilizer; F2-5ml/ L each of Nano NPK/ L of water as foliar application; F3- 4ml/L each of Nano NPK/ L of water as foliar application; F4- 3ml/L each of Nano NPK/ L of water as foliar application. 50% traditional fertilizers were applied in all treatments excluding control. From above experimental findings it was concluded that treatment M3 performed best for growth parameters like plant height; leaf area and pod yield per hectare studied in French bean. M3 performed best for quality parameters like TSS; ascorbic acid content. It also had highest BC ratio (3.07) among various treatments.

The field experiment entitled “Assessment of bioefficacy by using biostimulants on growth, quality and yield of chilli (capsicum annum l.)”. was conducted during rabi season August 2022 to January 2023 at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, (U. P). The experiment had sixteen treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The results from the present investigation concluded that bio stimulant which is applied in T 8 Dollar 2.5 ml / L was found superior in all aspects viz, Average Plant height (62.80), Average number of Primary branches (4.33), Average number of secondary branches (8.36), Plant surface area (56.62 cm2), No of days of flowering (52.81), Average number of flowers/cluster (12.42), Average number of flower/ plant (61.96), no of fruits/plants (73.66), Fruit length (12.26 cm), fruit girth (2.85 cm), Average Yield (612.81 gm), yield/kg (3.68 kg), Yield tonn/ha (22.68), Total soluble solids (0Brix) (5.22), Ascorbic acid (118.52 mg/100 g).Among the treatment maximum net profit in T8 (Dollar 2.5 ml / L) @ Rs/ha is 314765.85 & B:C ratio is 3.26 were recorded significantly higher compared to other treatments.

A field experiment was carried out to study the efficacy of foliar spray of micronutrients on growth, flowering parameter, yield, and quality of China aster during October 2022 to March 2023 at Floriculture Research Field, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.). The experiment was designed with eleven treatment combinations, including ZnSO4, FeSO4, CuSO4, and MgSO4, along with their interaction effects at concentrations of 0.2% and 0.4% using the foliar spraying method, alongside a control group. The experimental results revealed that the treatment T11 (ZnSO4 @0.4% + FeSO4 @0.4% + CuSO4 @0.4% + MgSO4 @0.4%) found best in terms of growth, yield and quality parameters of China aster, followed by treatment T10 (ZnSO4 @0.2% + FeSO4 @0.2% + CuSO4 @0.2% + MgSO4 @0.2%). Whereas treatment T5 (FeSO4 @0.4%) found the best results in terms of days to first flower bud initiation, days from flower bud initiation to anthesis, and days to 50% flowering. In terms of the economics of the different treatments, the maximum gross return, net return, and benefit- cost ratio were found in T11, followed by T10, while the minimum was recorded in treatment T1 (Control).

The field experiment entitled “Influence of 3G cutting in Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) for growth, yield and fruit quality” was conducted during kharif 2022 at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, (U.P). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments including control which were replicated thrice. The experiment results revealed that the treatment T1 (Primary branch cutting 25% of the length + secondary branch cutting 25% of the length) gave better results than other treatments viz, maximum number of female flowers (27.65), vine length (6.91m), number of fruits per plant (6.66), yield per plot (5.95 kg), yield per hectare (29.74 t/ha), TSS (3.60oBrix) and B:C ratio (3.6) were recorded significantly higher compared to other treatments.