Response of Biofertilizers and Primary Nutrients on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in New Alluvial Soil of West Bengal

The experiment was carried out at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during the years 2014-15 and 2015-16. The cloves were planted during middle of the October in 2.0 x1.5 m plot at 20 x15 cm spacing in with three replications. Two nitrogen fixing biofertilizers (Azospirillum lipoferum and Azotobacter chrococcum), two phosphatic biofertilizers (Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza - Glomus fasciculatum) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (Bacillus polymixa) and one potassic solubilizer (Fraturia aurantea) were included. Biofertilizers were applied @ 6 g per plot with 250 g well rotten Farm yard manure. Three levels of recommended dose of NPK i.e., 100%, 75% and 50% were included. Two way combinations of both nitrogenous and phosphatic biofertilizers were followed in Total 12 treatments along with control. Quantitative attributes like plot yield (2.85 kg/3 m2) and projected yield (7.12 t/ha) were noticed in NPK (100%) + Azospirillium + PSB +K solubilizer. Looking to economics of various treatments, maximum net return (Rs 165,043) and B:C ratio (1.55) was obtained from NPK (100%) + Azospirillium + PSB + K solubilizer. Whereas, minimum B:C ratio (0.60) was recorded under NPK (50%) +Azotobacter + VAM + K solubilizer. These results suggested that the optimum production of garlic can be obtained with combined application of 100% NPK and biofertilizers (Azotobacter @ 5 kg/ha +PSB @ 5 kg/ha). The results also indicate the scope of reduction of 25% of inorganic fertilizer through inoculations of biofertilizers.