MSc

A fi e I d ex per i men t was con d u c t e d at the De par t men t 0 f
Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani to find out the effect
of dual application of phosphate sources and microbial inoculants on
the quality of compost and to standardize an organic nutrient
schedule for bhindi. Two su c c e s s i v e experiments; (I)
standardisation of agro-techniques for enriching compost and (2)
organic nutrient scheduling in okra were conducted to achieve the
ob j e c t i v e s en vis age d . I nth e fi r s t ex per i men tor din a r y co III P 0 s t
(uninoculated a i.d unamended co mp o s t ) was compared with various
enriched composts prepared u s r n g phosphate sources such as
rockphosphate or bonemeal at var io us levels (5%, 10%, 20%) and
microbial inoculants (Azotobacter and Phosphobacter). The
experiment was laid out in randomised block design with n m e
treatments and three replications.
In the second experiment an o r g aru c nutrient schedule was
standardised for bhindi, variety Arka anamika by comparing the
e ff e c t s 0 f fi v e 0 r g ani c nit r 0 g ens 0 u r c e s [ F Y M a Ion e (S I ), F Y M +
poultry manure (S2),' FYM + neemcake (S)), FYM + greenleaf (S4),
and FYM + enriched compost (Ss)], three nitrogen levels [50 kg ha-I
(Nd, 100 kg ha-I (N2) and' 150 kg ha-I (N))] and microbial
inoculation (control and Azospirillum) on growth, yield and quality
of bhindi. POP recommendation of Kerala Agricultural University
(12t FYM + 50:e:25 kg NPK ha-I) was the absolute control used in
the study. The experiment was laid out in 5x3x2+1 factorial
randomised block design with three replications.

The results of the investigation are summarised below.
Addition of phosphate sources and microbial inoculants
reduced the decomposition period and improved the manurial value
of enriched composts as compared to the ordinary compost. Lowest
C:N ratio and ripening period and highest N, P and K content was
recorded by the compost enriched with 20 percent bonemeal and
microbial inoculants. Compost treated with 20 percent
rockphosphate and bonemeal was comparable with bone meal with
respect to C:N ratio, ripening period and P content. Ordinary
compost was the most inferior treatment in the study.
Among nitrogen sources, all organic nitrogen sources
(neemcake, green leaf, poultry manure and enriched compost) except
FYM (Sd were superior to POP recommendation. FYM + neemcake
(S3) recorded the maximum germination percentage and number of
fruits plane I , where as plant height, LAI, fruit weight and fruit
length were highest for FYM + green leaf (S4), which also took the'
minimum days for 50 percent flowering. All the growth and yield
parameters were highest at N3 level of nitrogen and with
Azospirillum inoculation.
FYM + neemcake recorded the maximum yield (158 q h a") and
was on par with FYM + green leaf. Yield was maximum at N3 level
and with Azospirillum inoculation.
Crude protein content and ascorbic acid content were maximum
for FYM + poultry manure and FYM + enriched compost
respectively. FYM + enriched compost and FYM + neem cake
re cor d e d co m par a b I e and low est c r u d e fi b r e con ten tan d h i g h est
keeping quality of fruits. Various quality attributes were better
under N3 level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation.

Nand P uptake were highest for FYM + neem cake where as K
uptake was maximum for FYM + poultry manure, at N) level of
nitrogen and with Azospirillum inoculation. The available N, P and
K status of the soil were highest in FYM + neemcake, FYM +
enriched compost and FYM alone treated plots respectively, at N3
level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation.
FYM + neem cake recorded the rn a x i mum profit and was
comparable with FYM + green leaf and FYM + poultry manure. B:C
ratio was highest in FY M + nee m cake. P rofi t was max I mu m at N 3
level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation.
In the case of interactions S3N3A (FYM + neem cake at N3
level and with Azospirillum) recorded the highest fruit yield and
profit ha-I and was comparable with S4N3A (FYM + green leaf at N3
level with Azospirillum) and S2N3A (FYM + poultry manure at N3
level and Azospirillum)
The present study revealed that the substitution of chemical
fertilizers with organic manures such as neem cake, green leaf,
poultry manure and enriched compost was beneficial for increasing
the yield and improving the quality of bhindi.