Vol. 18 No. 1
Nutrient dynamics of China aster (Callistephus chinensis) cv. Kamini with organics, inorganic and biofertilizers
Author(s): B. S. Marak and S. Kumar
Abstract: An experiment was conducted for two successive years 2016-18 during fall to assess the influence of nutrients applied into aster on plant and soil nutrient dynamics. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and thirteen treatment combinations comprising of FYM, vermicompost and biofertilizers viz. Phosphate Solublising Bacteria (PSB) and Azospirillum. All the treatment combinations showed significant response on plant nutrient uptake and soil nutrient availability during entire investigation. The treatment combination T12(Azospirillum+PSB+vermicompost+50%RDF) showed highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium uptake in flower (97.01kg ha-1, 15.60kg ha-1, 73.02kg ha-1), Potassium use efficiency in plants (80.52kg kg-1), apparent phosphorus recovery (39.31%) and post-harvest available phosphorus of the soil (105.64kg ha-1), whilst phosphorus uptake in soil at harvest (99.91kg ha-1) was observed with T11 (Azospirillum+PSB+FYM+50%RDF). Maximum nitrogen use efficiency (58.01kgkg-1), phosphorus use efficiency (108.78kg kg-1) and apparent nitrogen recovery (185.04%) was recorded to be the highest with T10(Azospirillum+PSB+50%RD’N’ and’P’+100%RD’K’). The study showed prodigious potential of organics and biofertilizer that could be used for integrated nutrient management in aster.