Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers with Bioinoculants on Yield, Soil Fertility and Quality of Nagpur Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

The experiment was conducted to study the impact of integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers with bioinoculants on yield, quality and soil fertility of Nagpur mandarin (cv. NAGPURI SANTRA) during 2011-12. The experiment was conducted on 11-12 years old (Bearing) citrus (cv. NAGPURI SANTRA) orchard planted under high density (6 m × 6 m) comprising five treatments, viz., control (RDF as per package of practice), 100 per cent RDF + VAM + PSB +Azospirillum (100 g/plant), 100 per cent RDF + VAM (500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g/plant), 75 per cent RDF + VAM (500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g/plant), 50 per cent RDF + VAM (500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant)+ Azospirillum (100 g/plant). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The highest fruit yield (112.75 kg tree^-1) was recorded in recommended dose of fertilizer (100% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) +Azospirillum (100 g /plant) followed by 100 per cent RDF + VAM + PSB + Azospirillum (100 g/plant) (99.01 kg tree^-1). The yield was increased, respectively to the extent of 36 and 19 per cent over control. The fruit weight also influenced significantly with the application of RDF (100% RDF + VAM 500 g/ plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g /plant) (149.98 g fruit^-1). The fruit diameter also exhibited similar trend. Similarly, N (2.57%), P (0.36%) and K (1.69%) content in leaves were recorded maximum in RDF (100% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g /plant). Fruit quality attributes in terms of total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars and ascorbic acid were improved with RDF (100% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g /plant), however, maximum acidity was found in control treatment. The post harvest fertility status in terms of organic carbon (6.6 g kg^-1), available N (257.53 kg ha^-1), P₂O₅ (26.86 kg ha^-1) and K₂O (542 kg ha^-1) were improved with RDF (100% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g /plant).