Influence of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and their combinations on growth and quality of radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

A field investigation was carried out during rabi season of 2015-16 at Vegetable Research Farm, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (MP) to study the influence of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and their combinations on growth and quality of radish. The experiment consisted of 10 different treatments of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and their combinations i.e. T1 RDF(100:80:50 kg NPK/ha), T2 (100% N through FYM), T3 (100% N through vermicompost), T4 (100% N through poultry manure), T5 (75% NPK + 25% N through FYM), T6 (75% NPK + 25% N through vermicompost), T7 (75% NPK + 25% N through poultry manure), T8 (50% NPK + 50% N through FYM), T9 (50% NPK + 50% N through vermicompost), T10 (50% NPK + 50% N through poultry manure). These treatments were evaluated under Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications. Application of recommended dose of fertilizers through combination of fertilizer and organic manures significantly increased the crop growth and yield attributes and root yield as compared to other treatments. The application of 75% NPK + 25% nitrogen through vermicompost (T6) resulted in maximum values of growth attributes viz., fresh weight of shoot (91.5 g), dry weight of shoot (9.2 g) and SPAD value (57.49) at harvesting stage. The quality attributes viz. fiber content (763.67 mg/100 g), TSS (5oBrix) and ascorbic content (37.17 mg/100g) in roots were also reported maximum by the application of 75% NPK + 25% nitrogen through vermicompost.